Page 176 of Anti-Heroes in Love Duet

“Maybe,” I conceded, sitting across from him as Martina, Tore’s ancient housekeeper, appeared with an espresso and a fresh, homemadesfogliatella. I thanked her before turning my attention back to Tore. “But there’s more to this Mira situation than we’ve been told. Rocco used to love his niece, and now, he speaks of her as if she’s an abomination.”

“You know they prize virginity here.”

I hummed, but something about it still rankled me. “You know I’ll do what it takes to keep our family safe.”

“And Elena?”

“Always.” Anger reignited in my gut as I thought of Umberto endangering her last night. “She will always come first.”

“Her safety or her happiness?”

And wasn’t that the question.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure both,” I admitted. “Even if it means sacrificing my own safety and happiness. No one has ever put my woman first, and I am not going to make that mistake.”

“So, you won’t marry Mira.”

I downed my espresso, the bitter liquid heating my gut where a cold, hard kernel of dread sat. “I didn’t say that. Marrying Mira might be the only way to keep the New York crew safe from the di Carlos. You overheard the plan we made with Umberto Arno last night.”

“Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco.”

Not all donuts come out with a hole in the middle.

An old Italian phrase meaning not everything works out as planned.

I shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe, but I’ll find a way to make it work. I just need time. While I take it, I fully intend to make Elena fall in love with her country again.”

“And more in love with you so she won’t leave when she realizes there is never any end to our troubles?” Tore sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired mouth. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve ended up with a Lombardi woman. You’re very much like me after all.”

“Hopefully, we will have the happily-ever-after you didn’t get with yours,” I said softly, watching the pain move through his craggy face. It was still as bright and fresh as I imagined it had been decades ago when Caprice broke his heart.

“I love her still,” Tore said with a forced faux-casual shrug. “It’s not the end. Maybe one day, she’ll realize how much better life would be together. I don’t hold my breath. Caprice has always been stubborn.”

I laughed. “She gave that to her daughters.”

“You won’t tell her,” Tore questioned, almost sheepishly. “About Cosima and Sebastian being mine. Caprice wouldn’t want her to know, or she would have told Elena herself.”

“I don’t like keeping secrets from her. To be frank, Tore, Elena’s been made to feel like an outsider in her own family for too long. Secrets are only part of the reason for that, and I don’t want to play into it. I respect you, so I won’t say what isn’t mine to tell. But I warn you, there’s a time limit on this.”

“Fair enough,” he agreed. “I’ll give Caprice a call.”

“Will she answer?”

He sighed. “Maybe. She has been a little more receptive since Cosima has proven to be so happy with Alexander, but I’m a long way from being out of the doghouse. I don’t think she’ll ever be willing to forgive me for the part I played in Cosima being sold, even if I did it to save the entire family. Speaking of, Cosima and Alexander are on their way. She called when she read the news.” Tore tossed the folded copy ofThe New York Timesacross the tabletop at me. “She wants explanations.”

The Mafia Lord flees New York, the headline on the front page read above a photo of me on the steps of the courthouse. In the background of the grainy black and white photo, Elena stood with Yara, her poise regal, gaze tipped down her nose to stare witheringly at the reporters who’d been shouting questions at us. I touched my finger to the flimsy newsprint over her face and felt a pang in my chest, knowing I’d willingly ripped her away from her entire career.

“There’s no going back for her,” I muttered, rubbing at my chest where the ache emanated.

“Do you regret it?”

“No. I almost wish I did. But I’m too selfish. She was meant to be mine, Tore. I’m just sorry she had to give up everything she worked so hard for in order to be with me. It seems like a poor trade.”

“She’s a smart girl, so I’m sure she would disagree with that,” Tore said, staring at me solemnly over his raised espresso. “There’s no mention of her in the article. Yara is covering for her at work, saying she has extended medical leave. The public won’t connect the dots, but the di Carlos might. They know you’re gone now, Dante, they’ll make moves to take over what’s ours, and they’ll do it by hurting our people.”

“Jaco and Chen will hold down the fort. We have good capos in charge of good crews. I have faith in them. And when we give the go-ahead, Caelian Accardi and Santo Belcante are ready to move on the di Carlos.”

“Faith insoldatiis important, but you must not forget that while the cats are away, the mice will play,” he reminded me.