“What? Really?”
“Yes.” I quickly fill him in on what’s been happening for the last few weeks and by the time I finish I swear he looks older.
“Oh my God,” he says bringing his hand to his temple. “You have his daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Tristan, that’s like stealing an egg from a dragon’s nest.”
“That’s why I haven’t told you until now. We’re going in to get him once and for all on Friday. If it goes well then great, but if it was that easy to get to a man like that I guess it would have been done already. I don’t expect to make it back out.”
“What are you saying to me?”
“Alfonse, we have to be real. I have to be realistic. I expect to die and it’s the price I pay for what I must do. So I pray I don’t fail. What I want you to do is escort her back to Rhode Island. I trust you that’s why I’m asking. Of late trust is a hard thing to come by. You’re the only person I can think of that I trust to take her home, safely.”
He nods with appreciation. “Then I won’t let you down.”
“Thank you. If something happens to me please make sure my brothers know I love them.” I’m the only brother who doesn’t have anything left to lose. Massimo has Emelia and there’s a chance for Dominic and Candace. I’m planning to sacrifice myself if I must to make their lives easier. Better.
“I will,” Alfonse replies.
“Grazie.”