Page 221 of Claimed At First Sight

Every awful reason Isa might not be with Luca crowds into my mind.

“What kind of possibility?” I demand. “That she’s been arrested? That they’ve separated? That someone found them?”

“Mia.” Aldo’s voice is calm but firm enough to halt me before I can come up with anything worse. “We won’t frighten ourselves with guesses. Luca is alive, he’s coming to Chicago, and he intends to explain everything tonight. Those are the only facts we have.”

“He asked for Maximo,” I point out. “That has to mean he’s in serious trouble.”

“Yes,” Aldo says, without attempting to soften it. “A man in Luca’s position wouldn’t come into another family’s territory asking for the Don unless he needed something only the Don could give him.”

Mamma’s face pales. “Protection?”

“Possibly. Men, information, access to resources.” Aldo pauses, his gaze settling on her. “I doubt Luca’s choice of destination is accidental.”

A chill spreads across my skin. For several seconds, the only sound in the room is the faint crackle of the fire.

“What do we do?” Mamma asks.

Aldo straightens, and something in him changes. The warmth of the newly engaged man disappears, replaced by the quiet authority of Maximo’s consigliere.

“First, I’ll verify that the message came from Luca and make sure it can’t be traced back here. Then I’ll arrange for him to be met and brought here securely.”

“Should we tell Maximo?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“No. Luca will speak with me first. Once I understand what’s happened and where Isa is, I’ll decide what needs to be done.”

The certainty in his voice brings my panic under control, but something about his final words sends another flicker of unease through me.

I’ll decide.

After everything Mamma said upstairs about Aldo listening to her and respecting her voice, it’s impossible not to notice how easily he’s taken command of the situation.

A part of me is grateful for it. Still, what will happen if Mamma disagrees with whatever he decides?

“But Luca asked to speak with Maximo,” I insist.

Aldo’s expression grows more guarded.

“If Luca really is the man the authorities are looking for, anyone who assists him is at risk too. We don’t want anyone sniffing around in our business.”

Aldo may be about to become part of our family, but he’s also Maximo’s advisor.

What will happen when those loyalties pull him in different directions? I’m not sure which one he’ll choose.

Mamma reaches for the phone resting on the table. “Isa is my daughter.”

Her voice isn’t raised, but something in it changes the atmosphere in the room.

“If she needs help, we’ll help her.”

Aldo studies her for a long moment. The ease between them gives way to something more cautious.

“We’ll hear Luca out,” he says at last. “But I won’t make promises on Maximo’s behalf, Caterina.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Mamma holds his gaze. “I’m telling you that I won’t turn my back on my daughter.”

“I know that,” Aldo says, stepping up to her and kissing her temple. “Whatever Luca tells us tonight, you won’t face it alone. We’ll deal with it together.”