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“I think I remember that.”
He nods. “It was cold, and you took off your little jacket to cover her. Then there was a puddle, and you didn’t want her to dirty her little white shoes, so you took your jacket and placed it over the puddle but made Jace hand over his jacket to keep her warm.”
Nonno’s eyes light up as he chuckles. “I say this to say. You have been determined from the beginning to keep her safe and happy. Changing our world for her will be a light thing in the end. For now, you can’t allow anyone to know she’s your weakness. If they want to think you are in love with a boy, allow them to believe that.
“Let me ask you a question, Michelangelo. Can a man with no hands still strike?”
I narrow my eyes at my grandfather. I know he’s testing me. “Of Course.”
He pats my cheek. “And this is why you will be great. No one else would answer this way.”
I stare down into my empty glass. They’re never going to expect me to become Don as long as there are rumors of me being gay. No one would expect Nyla to train assassins for me to use someday to crash my enemies. We’re kids, but they will never expect my army to be all women.
“All odds are against me. Just like they were with Ma. That was her plan, to make it so women and others could run the family with her, am I right?”
Nonno winks. “That you are.”
“Then it’s done. I’ll make happen what she couldn’t.”
Nonno stands and pats me on the shoulder. “Remember, everyone has a role, and they should play that role well. Choose wisely who you place where. Don’t fall into what others think you should do. Do what you do well, but always know how to do everything.”
With that, he leaves me to think to myself. I know exactly what I need from Ny and Jace. It’s time I make that call. I go to the phone on Nonno’s desk and dial.
“Hello.”
“Is she still awake?”
“Yeah, she’s right here.”
“Let me talk to her.”
* * *
Nyla
I sit curled up in Jace’s lap as he holds me. We’ve been like this for hours, sitting in silence. Jace never speaks much, but this is comforting.
He’s lending me his strength. Nothing needs to be said. He knows my pain. He’s been here before and Gio and I were there for him.
We were too young to know the right things to say so this is what we did for him. I still remember how Gio took care of him. If you didn’t know any different, you would have thought they were brothers by blood.
Jace’s phone rings, breaking into the silence. I shift so he can answer it. My mind is on the fact that Gio didn’t come back.
“Yeah, she’s right here.”
Jace hands the phone to me. My heart races as I take it from him. Placing it to my ear with a shaky hand, I take a deep inhale.
“Hello.” My voice comes out in a whisper.
“Hey, you okay?”
“I miss you. I’m so lost, G. I thought you would be here for me. Why are you breaking my heart?”
“Ny, come on. You’re smart. You understand this all has to look a certain way. I need you to do something for me.”
“What? Can I come see you?”
“In time. Are any of your soldiers male?”
