Page 19 of Corrado

“I understand. It’s what they want, Dare.”

“Or is it—”

“Barring Christopher, let me point out something about Corrado I am sure you and Cree don’t know—since he’s the one who feeds you information, and you get in your feelings about it. Corrado has never fit in anywhere with the rest of us. He’s been under my feet, and men like me, for his entire life, and yet … he’s not found the space where he belongs. He’s not a normal boy, and he won’t live a normal life. He can’t when he has just a little too much of me and my blood in him, if you understand.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“He might find where he belongs here, and if he has to sacrifice to do it, then so be it.”

“And the other one—Chris?”

Gian made a dismissive sound. “Selfless. It’s his path to choose, Dare.”

“I see.”

“Have we said all we need to say, then?”

A chair squeaked before Dare replied, “It seems so. They’ve already signed the contracts, but I haven’t yet. I will now. It’ll begin tonight once you’re gone.”

“I expect the same for them that you have given to Alessio,” Gian added. “Put in as an addendum to their contracts for me—I will look for it.”

“Which is what?”

“Independent contractors for The League—they only choose the auction route if they want when training is finished. If they decline the auctions when it is all said and done, I will pay the training fees to recoup the costs.”

“Cree does want to make a team that he can use for his contacts.”

“So, that’s a yes, then?”

“That’s a yes, Gian. I will add it in.”

Gian hummed before adding lower, “He’s scared of water.”

“Which one?”

“Christopher. He almost drowned when he was two—slipped off the side of the dock at the small lake at his uncle’s vacation home. A relative jumped in after him, but it was touch and go. The tank and the dark room are phase one for training, correct?”

“You expect him to react badly.”

“I’m explaining why he might, yes.”

“And yet you’re still willing to allow him—”

“It’s what he wants.”

“But without knowing what will happen, Gian.”

“He’s not stupid, like Corrado isn’t, as well. He has to know anything is a possibility here. I think … it might help him to control that fear of his because I know it’s overwhelming to him at times.”

“All right. I’ll be in touch, Gian.”

“I expect it—regular updates, oui?”

“Absolutely.”

Alessio didn’t have time to move away from the doorway so that the men inside wouldn’t find him eavesdropping on their conversation in the hallway. Gian’s footsteps came toward the door far too fast for Alessio to figure out something, or somewhere, to hide.

So, he just stayed there leaning against the wall.