Page 56 of The Mafioso’s Bride

"A rare compliment."

"It is a fact."

My phone rings on the dresser. The screen shows my Don's name.

I answer and put the call on speaker. "Tell me."

"Antonio gave Dario Giuseppe's location," my Don says. "I ordered Dario to kill him after we confirmed it. Dario shot him in your basement after Giada left the house."

Giada's finger stops against my skin. I cover her hand with mine.

Giada looks at the phone. "My father is dead?"

"Yes," my Don says.

Her fingers curl against my palm. "Thank you for telling me plainly."

"Mattia took Giuseppe alive," my Don says. "His alliance is gone. His people are scattering. Tommaso will take the capture as a personal insult."

"He should," I say.

"Mattia is bringing Giuseppe to your house before he moves him to our holding site. I told him Giada chooses whether she wants to face him."

I look at her. "Do you?"

"Yes. I want to tell him I would not choose him."

"He will remain restrained," my Don says. "When she is finished, his fate is yours."

"We meet tomorrow," I say. "We'll bring every financial connection we have."

"We?" my Don asks.

"My wife and I."

"Good."

The call ends.

She sits against the pillows with the blanket tucked beneath her arms. "You said we."

"I did."

"He did not object."

"He has learned not to waste time on objections he will lose."

I kiss her forehead. "Your answer on the phone does not bind you. You may change it before he arrives or while he is standing in front of you."

"I want him to listen to my answer."

"Then he will listen."

We dress. Giada puts on clean underwear, one of my white shirts, gray trousers, and her thick socks. I attach the silver tardigrade to a clean shirt before following her downstairs.

Mattia arrives with Giuseppe ten minutes later. Two men bring him into my office with his wrists bound behind him. His suit is wrinkled, and dried blood marks one side of his mouth. They place him in the chair across from my desk.

Giada stands beside me. I keep my hands at my sides.