We enter Siena and the drivers start looking for parking as we bump over the cobbled streets and approach the piazza. When we get out, the guards are on high alert and Dante holds my hand as we continue on foot to what I assume is the Duomo Di Siena, judging from the architecture and the stunning mosaic floor. We are unarmed as we make our way through security.
My anxiety is through the roof. Standing in the church with Dante and his entourage is the least of it. It’s not just the two of us or four of us anymore. Men are arriving in similar vehicles from all directions, and I don’t know if they are on our side or our enemies. I suddenly feel cold despite the heat of the day and dread overwhelms me. How do I know I can trust Dante? Or Conti?
Dante takes my hand and begins to walk with me, but I find my feet glued to the ground.
He turns. “What’s the matter? This is not a time to be obstinate.”
“I . . . I can’t move.” The paralyzed look I give him makes his hard exterior crack.
“Oh, Juliet.” He moves closer to me and wraps his arms around me. He feels me shudder against him and uses one hand to push my hair back as a father would if they were soothing a hurt child.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” I start, and he drops a small kiss on my lips.
“You’re fine, baby. I promise you,” he assures me, and with an arm around my shoulders, he walks again. This time, I find I am able to go with him.
“We won’t have guns inside, but my men are everywhere.”
“So are Conti’s.”
“True. It’s something we have to do from time to time. I’m sorry, but it is necessary. Come, babe, it will be fine.”
We start walking. No doubt Conti’s men are doing the same thing.
21
Dante
Igo crazy when I stumble into the living room to find Riccardo and Juliet sitting so close. I trust Riccardo with my life, but nonetheless I can’t help but go berserk.
Riccardo is a father figure to me and surely more than old enough to be Juliet’s. This jealousy is new and unfamiliar to me. I chalk it up to a stressful day that I can’t wait to be over, even though it’s barely started.
We have a long drive to the meet and I’m on edge all through it. There are many meetings like this in the history books where one or the other sides gets shot. I promised Juliet I’d keep her safe and I will do everything I can to keep that promise.
When she asks me about my mistress, I can’t tell her that I don’t have any feelings for Alessia. Friends, sure, but I don’t feel more for her, nothing like what I’m trying to stifle with Juliet.
It’s getting harder and harder to hide the attraction and I’m sure Riccardo has picked up on it by now. It’s normally not up to him to challenge me on what I do, but at this point, he should. It involves the mission we’re on.
Juliet occupies my mind constantly and it’s not like me to let anyone get this close to me. The long ride sitting beside her is exhausting as I yearn to caress her tanned leg and I can’t.
She must have similar feelings if she’s jealous of Alessia, but her dark eyes can hide so much. I can tell she’s not used to trusting herself or men. Now that I know she was adopted, it might explain the issues she has connecting with people she hasn’t know for very long. Friends, to go out, sure, but she’s never had a long-term serious boyfriend. I have the file on her with details of her entire life. It’s my job. I’m sure she’d view it as an invasion of privacy, and I smile to myself at that.
I say a silent prayer after I get Juliet to walk towards the duomo. This is actually one of my favorite churches in all of Italy. At times, I feel regret that I’m not a practicing Catholic, but my work comes first and I’m not going to add being a hypocrite to my considerable list of sins.
We make our way through security to a safe area in the back, where we can keep an eye on who is coming in, and we wait. Barely a few minutes pass before I locate Conti coming in with four men. His obnoxious flashy suit makes him look more like a throwback to the seventies than the don of a powerful mafia family in southern Italy. I’m sure he’s wearing a top designer, but there is nothing subtle about the man.
Juliet stiffens beside me, so I casually place my hand on the small of her back for support without broadcasting it to the other side. As Gio Conti approaches, we shake hands, though it’s not the same dismissive shake he used before he knew I had Juliet. But I know better than ever to underestimate my enemy and I will never let my guard down around him.
His eyes are flint.
“Hello, Dante.”
“Gio.” I take his hand and nod.
He looks at Juliet and extends his hand. She takes it, trying not to be tentative about it, but I can tell she’s not getting good vibes.
“Hello,” she says as neutrally as possible. He raises her hand to his lips and kisses it.
“I’ve longed to meet you for so many years but never could find you. I have to thank Dante for that.” He turns to me and adds, “You never said how you found her.”