Page 113 of Alessio

He pulled a folded up wash cloth sitting on a stand next to the tub and dipped it into the water before dragging the soft terry fabric along the column of Ginevra’s throat. Her sweet smile turned on Alessio, and Corrado decided to slip out while he distracted her, and he wouldn’t be missed by either of them.

Unlikely, but whatever.

He missed them constantly—whether they were five feet away, or five miles. It didn’t matter, a part of him felt their loss. Which, if he were being honest, was one of the most terrifying parts of this thing they all shared.

And not something he wanted to think about.

Corrado headed for where he’d dropped his coat, earlier. He found it draped over the back of the couch, and funnily enough, couldn’t even remember putting it there. They focused on getting into bed and clothes went wherever the fuck they went.

Like Alessio’s jeans in the hallway.

Corrado’s shoes at the end of the entrance.

Yeah.

He found what he needed in his coat—a small scrap of paper that Chris had written a phone number, and a name on.

Siena Calabrese, it read in his twin’s familiar scrawl. Apparently, Siena, the full-blood sister to Kev and Darren, and half-sister to Ginevra and her siblings … was tasked with looking after Ginevra’s younger sisters. Oh, and from Ginevra, Corrado knew Siena had been the person to help her get away that day of her arranged marriage, alongside Andino’s plans.

Not to mention, it seemed Siena had a taste for a certain Marcello herself. A very important Marcello, considering the man she was messing with, Johnathan, happened to be the nephew to Dante Marcello, the organization’s Don. It was no wonder Siena had helped Ginevra, and was now taking care of her sisters when, she had her own secrets to keep hidden.

She had things she wanted, too.

Chris figured, if anyone might be able to help Ginevra’s worries, it would be Siena. Was it a risk? Yeah. That’s also why Corrado picked up a burner cell phone—which he also pulled from his jacket—on their way to the dinner at his parents’ mansion as a just in case. It wouldn’t be traceable, and he could dispose of it when Ginevra finished her call.

Simple.

Mostly.

Or fuck, he hoped, anyway.

Corrado made his way back to the bathroom, but instead of going all the way in, he lingered in the doorway to watch Alessio and Ginevra chat. Alessio had sat down on the floor next to the tub, resting his chin on his arm sitting along the edge. Their quiet words, and soft laughter, had Corrado smiling to himself.

It didn’t take long for Ginevra to see him standing there though. And once her attention shifted to him, Alessio’s did as well.

“Find what you were looking for?” Alessio asked.

Corrado nodded and waved the paper and phone in his hand. “I did.”

Ginevra tipped her head to the side, considering the items he flashed at them. “What is it?”

“Something you’ve been asking for.”

Corrado crossed the space in the bathroom keeping a distance between them. Kneeling down beside Alessio, he took his time turning the phone on for the first time and getting it ready to use with the card that was attached to the back with a set number of minutes. Anymore, and he would have to buy another card.

Not that it mattered.

He’d grab a second phone instead.

Swiping his thumb along the screen to unlock it, he brought up the call icon, and typed in the phone number written on the paper. Instead of hitting the bottom to make it call through, he held the phone out for Ginevra to take after Alessio had dried her hands with a small towel.

She took the phone, glanced at the number on the screen, and froze. Her breath caught in her throat, and Corrado dragged in his own, anxiety slipping through his veins for reasons he didn’t understand.

Well, that was a lie.

He knew.

Perfectly well.