~~~~~

She relaxed against the bed, acting as though she did not drop a bomb on him. Her family moved in the night last night. Angelo was gone. Nicolo held his head in his hands, focused on the shag red rug. Surreal did not do the feeling justice. No one called to inform him, then he recalled the knocks he heard last night. Perhaps someone tried to call for him. He glanced at his phone as it started ringing.

“That’ll be them.” She whispered, pointing at his phone on the nightstand. “If you want answers, I will be honest. I’ve no reason to lie.”

“Who?”

“Famiglia ben conosciuta di un tempo. Romano Family Boss? Angelo received a fatal wound last night. He died before his body hit the ground.” Nicolo’s hand fell from his face, the phone dropping with it but hitting the floor instead of his lap. “Boss…?”

“What do you know?” He was angry; beyond angry; he was livid. “Why?”

“Very simple, Nicolo. It is the Accardi Family’s job to protect the underworld. We keep all the Mafioso safe and create cover stories to protect the Dons and Donnas from death.” She replied with narrowed brown eyes. “It does not seem likely, but if someone is upsetting that balance… it could lead to an economic downfall, much like we’re facing now. Angelo was providing your enemies with enough data to bring about the downfall of most families across America and Italy. That is the reason my grandfather said to let me keep my position as Donna. You walk on the path of light ‘Amore Mio’ and let me handle the dark.”

Liliana presented him with the evidence, took all the steps necessary to ensure the deed done, yet Nicolo resisted doing what was necessary. She warned him. Of course, as his wife, she would have to mourn the loss of his cousin to the public, but this was her job. Something he would have to grow accustomed to. It proved how little she believed in people. Why did it have to happen on their wedding day, though?

She did not seem fazed by the news, as though it did not involve her, yet she was the one who called for his death. Piero filed a report on Angelo last night, including information on missing money and weapons that confirmed her story. Would the people not be suspicious over her addition to the family, mention of Accardi, and Angelo’s death? But when he turned his gaze back to her, he sighed.

“He was still my cousin.” Nicolo shifted closer to her on the bed, hoping she would comfort him. “Still blood. Family.”

“I know. Family is everything to me too, Nico. That is why I do what I do. To protect my family, including other Mafia that follow the Omertá.” Liliana put her phone down, meeting his gaze with honest eyes. “I hate convicting people to death, but it is part of this world. A necessary evil. Please understand.”

Nicolo could tell she was earnest, and that she hated that part, though she was right. If she had not been involved, Angelo would have got away with his misdeeds. If not escaping unscathed, and the family found out, he would face death, too. But with Liliana involved, he could have guaranteed protection. That would only be needed if the Italian or International Police investigated him, which seemed unlikely.

“It is being treated as a mugging gone wrong.” She answered his unasked question. “Angelo may be popular with women, but men hate him. He could not talk himself out of danger.”

~~~~~

Calling for death was not my favorite hobby, but it was what I had to do. Still, I offered a prayer up for his poor soul, however well God may take it. I could not say I never saw death despite my former position as a Mafia Princess and also having been one to hold the weapon a couple of times. But I still hated it. The mourning, the pain, the suffering. I was a bit of an Empath for emotions, so large groups in mourning bothered me.

But I had to stand there. Look worried and sad. Of course, his words bothered me, because I married into the Romano Family the day of his cousin’s murder. I knew it was a messed-up thing to do; but had to test how far Nicolo would go to let me do my job. If it caused a problem this early on, I would need to leave and explain to my grandfather.

“I knew. I confronted him with it and told him it had to stop before you appeared.” Nicolo answered with a sigh, his head falling in disappointment. “You warned me from the start. This is your job. I must learn how to manage that. But this one hurts.”

My jaw dropped as he continued to stare at the floor, his body sinking onto the sofa after we walked to the parlor. Now we were back home; the reality of it hit him, I supposed. Instead of leaving him alone, I felt he was begging for comfort, so I wrapped my arms around him from behind. I remained there for a while, barely hovering over the back of the sofa, but refusing to move until he told me more.

And even if he did not. If he pushed me away. I would remain as close as possible to make sure he knew he would not be alone. No matter what. Even though I was still sure he would stop loving me at some point. A huge hand rested over my forearm, where it crossed his chest. When I finally locked eyes with him, he gave me a grateful smile, needing the moment a little longer. We remained locked in the silence for a moment longer until I felt him shift away a little.

“Thank you. We must stick together. It is what Angelo would want.”

~~~~~

I had my doubts about that one. I gave Nicolo everything, yet he had yet to read any of the information on the case. Maybe he wanted to avoid the truth. According to the information I gathered, Nicolo and Angelo grew up alongside Piero. The three were close. It was exactly that reason Angelo started talking to outsiders, though. He hoped to find a way out of the Mafia because he didn’t want to die.

Angelo was to introduce Nicolo to a woman who worked for the C.I.A. Her task was to infiltrate and kill the Don. Fortunately for the Romano family, the Accardi family was way ahead of the enemy’s plans. The true entity the C.I.A. was after was a band of thugs Angelo paid to ensure the death of a Senator from the States who refused to work with him. It was a personal transaction to ensure his protection when he moved to the States in a few years.

That was his plan, at least. Only Angelo did not have near enough resources to cover his tracks, even when he stole shipments and money from the Romano’s coffers. He had his hand in too many pots at once, which led to his downfall. And Nicolo didn’t know how close he came to death because he refused to read the data. It felt illogical to hold on to the memory of someone who betrayed him.

“Donna Romano?” A new maid asked as she entered the room. “I am here to help you prepare for your day.”

“I appreciate it, but I don’t need your help, as I’m already ready.” I replied, standing from my vanity with a smile cast in her direction. “Has the Don called for me?”

“Yes, he wanted to have lunch with you in his office today.” The maid continued with a smile. “Shall I see you there?”

The Accardi family did not have maids or servants and there were only two groups to the family besides my grandfather and I. Gatherers and Enforcers. So I wasn’t used to having someone at my beck and call. I barely knew what tasks to give her since I handled pretty much everything on my own. Maybe one day I’d want someone to brush my hair or put on my makeup, but I could manage this much by myself right now.

“No matter how much you claim her as the Donna, the family won’t recognize her. She is a nobody, with no ties to any other family.” A voice echoed from Nicolo’s office. “What use could the Romano family possibly have for her? My Florencia would be a far better match.”

“No. It does not matter if the family does not recognize her, Lili is my wife and Donna to my family.” Nicolo stated without hesitation, and my heart swelled in my chest. “Florencia could not handle the duties that comes with being the Romano Donna.”

“Ma lei non sa nemmeno l’italiano!” Esposito stated as I entered the room and walked over to Nicolo. “Come capiranno i Soldati?”

“You shouldn’t concern yourself with how I run my family, Don Esposito. I’ve made my decision.” He confirmed, glancing at me as I sat next to him. “Lili is the Donna of the Romano family, and if that is an issue for you, I suppose we can end our business here. I will take no one else as my wife.”

Don Esposito’s eyes narrowed before he nodded his understanding and stood, then when his back turned, I heard him mumbling something in Italian about stupid females not knowing their place. Not like I didn’t understand. Everyone outside of the three main members, that’s Nicolo, Piero, and myself, did not have an idea as to who I was. Only the rumors from when I was a maid.

And it had been less than a year. Only new members to the family wouldn’t view me with some suspicion. I chewed on my lip before my gaze settled on the desk, where our lunch waited for us. I knew there would be many that opposed this, since they only saw me as a maid, but it was still annoying. There was a reason I didn’t want to get married. As the Donna of the Accardi, I needed to remain out of sight.

“My presence is only a hinderance.” I mumbled, making Nicolo freeze next to me. “You only put yourself into more danger by involving yourself with me.”

“If I wasn’t prepared for that, I wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage.” He whispered, his deep voice making my heart speed up. “You may be dangerous, but so am I. That is how it is in our world.”

I ordered the death of his cousin, yet he still did not hate me, or try to get out of this marriage. He welcomed me with open arms and did his best to guard me from others, even taking up my defense when necessary. It was nice, knowing he had my back. But I still hated not knowing what he thought of me. Behind all the confessions of his love, what did he really think about me? Maybe I was a little scared.

“I’m far more dangerous than you, Nico.”