Reno and Dante are toasting to Raffaele’s and Ivo’s good news. My parents believe babies are blessings and are patiently waiting for Dante and my sister, Elena, to have one of their own. Dante is the one who wants to wait. I think he likes the idea of having my sister all to himself. That doesn’t stop him from celebrating Raffaele’s and Ivo’s announcement.
I stand like a sentry by the booth. My job isn’t to partake, but to ensure that our capo, Reno, and Dante stay safe. I’ve been training under Sebastian and Reno for over a year, and they’ve started to give me more responsibilities.
People come in and out of the restaurant, but only one person catches my attention. A beautiful redhead with flawless, creamy skin, her nose dotted with tiny freckles. She can’t be more than eighteen years old, but she’s dressed more like a middle-aged woman, with sensible shoes and a dress from the 1990s. It’s something her mother might have worn.
She glances around the room and spots Raffaele. She swallows deeply, straightens her shoulders, and comes straight for the booth where Raffaele and the others are sitting. Before she can get too close, I step in front of her.
“Sorry, this is a private meeting,” I tell her. She looks over my shoulder and bites her lower lip.
“I have to see Mr. Di Morte, please.” Her eyes plead with me, and she grabs my arm. “Please.”
“If you’d like to take a seat over there, he might see you when they’re done.” As undeniably gorgeous as she is, I take my job seriously, and no one gets too close to Reno or Dante.
“Allegra, what are you doing here?” Francesco walks toward us. He knows this young woman’s name.
“I…I need to see Mr. Di Morte. It’s imperative. Please! I don’t know where else to go,” she says, her voice cracking.
“He won’t change his mind. He’s already told your brother so,” Francesco replies.
“You can’t condemn him for defending his father. He’s just a boy,” she begs. “Dad’s gone, and Vic is running with a wild crowd. All his friends are gone, and I don’t know what I can do to stop it.”
“Allegra, go home. Raffaele’s busy.” To his credit, Francesco looks guilty about sending her away. There’s more to this than meets the eye, but I’m not going to get anything out of Francesco. The woman turns around, totally dejected, and drags her feet as she leaves the place.
Suddenly, from behind us, Raffaele says, “What did she want?”
“The same as always,” Francesco says with a sigh.
“She doesn’t look dangerous,” I say.
“Maybe not, but her father was a traitor,” Raffaele replies.
“She says her brother’s in trouble,” Francesco adds.
Ivo’s jaw tightens. “The kid is out to prove himself, and he’s doing it in stupid ways. He’s going to get himself killed.”
“He’s a kid?” I ask.
“Looks can be deceiving.” Raffaele proceeds out the door with Ivo, Reno, and Dante following. I go after them, my gaze catching sight of Allegra wiping her tears and trying to get past several young hoods who are taunting her.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I turn and stalk down the street toward the punks who are giving her trouble.
“Shit! That’s the gang her brother has taken up with,” I hear Ivo say with a heavy sigh.