Page 61 of Dangerous Intent

“What?” She shook her head. “You can’t go back there. What is Marchello thinking?”

“It will be okay.”

“You got shot the last time you went.” She paced in front of the desk, then turned back and shook her finger at me. “No, I can’t let you go back.”

“Ma.” I reached for her arm. “Let’s be realistic. Given who my husband is, I can get shot anywhere. It doesn’t have to be in Miami.”

“God forbid, Lissia. Don’t say such things.”

“It’s true.” I moved closer to her. “I can’t live in a bubble. Dad was the one who ordered that hit last time. Marchello will keep me safe. I have faith.”

“You’re an Accetti.” She pursed her newly filled lips. “Do you know what that means?”

“That I’m safe.”

“No.” She caressed my cheek. “Marchello may have thought that by rushing to marry you, he was keeping you secure, but he made you a bigger target.”

“Marchello will take care of Danny.”

“It’s not just him you have to worry about.” She looked at the floor. “Your father and I sheltered you from this life because I didn’t want you to know the constant danger you were in. We were at peace for so long, but circumstances have made being a mafia bride much more dangerous. Let’s not even talk about the risk of bringing children into the mix.”

Don’t go there.

“Thank goodness we don’t have to worry about that now.” My mother smoothed out her hair.

“Yeah.” I twisted my hands.

Little did she know, making a baby with Marchello was all I had been thinking about ever since that damn pregnancy test came back negative.

“What I’m saying is, you are in a unique situation. You’re from both families now. People will see you as a way to get ahead. You are Marchello’s weakness, and they will come after you when they need to get to him.”

“Ma, I don’t want to deal with hypotheticals.” I threw my hand in the air.

“These aren’t hypotheticals,” she said. “The fact that Nico left again tells you all you need to know. I don’t believe he would have left his sons for a second time if they weren’t dealing with a dire situation.”

“It is dire, but he has it under control.”

“The most powerful man in the organization went to deal with the problem? That’s not how it’s done.”

“That’s the kind of man he is.” I trusted Nico to fix the problem. “You said it yourself, these are different times. They call for drastic measures. If Nico believes he has to be the one to protect his family, then I trust him.”

“Don’t go to Miami.”

“I won’t send Marchello alone.”

“I know that.” She pulled me into a hug. “I can see the determination in your eyes.”

“No sense in arguing with me.” I held her a little longer. “It’s all going to work out. You don’t have to worry.”

“I’m your mother. I worry about you. That’s my job. You’ll understand that when you have your own children.”

“I appreciate it.” I let go of her. “I’ll text you as soon as we land.”

“You tell Marchello I will kill him myself if anything happens to you.”

“You can’t threaten my husband.” I walked her to the door just as Dom and Angelo came down the hallway.

“Angelo.” My mother stood in front of me. “What brings you here?”