"Didn’t think Sicily was famous for its prosecco."
"This comes from one of our vineyards."
"Your vineyards?"
"We own them in Sicily. Also, in Argentina, Australia, and in the Napa Valley. In fact, we have had some interest from a UK-based investor, and we may be collaborating with them to grow the business."
"Ah," she takes another sip, "you mean, grow the legal aspect of your business?"
"Exactly." I take in her features. "You’re really good at piecing things together to get a glimpse of the big picture, aren’t you?"
"Thanks." She laughs. "You forget, I grew up in the lap of the Mafia; I know how you guys think."
"How we guys think."
"What?" She blinks rapidly.
I place my glass down, then reach for her left palm and turn it up. "How we guys think." I drag my thumb across her engagement and wedding rings. "You are one of us, Aurora; you always have been. You have the Mafia in your blood."
"I know," she whispers. "I ran from it for so long, and apparently, I was running to you all this time."
I link my fingers with her. "I know it’s wrong of me to ask you this, and these last few days, I’ve come to appreciate just how good you are at what you do... Clearly, your patients need you, and it’s so very wrong of me to ask this of you, but—"
"Yes."
"What?"
"I said yes."
"You mean…" I stare at her. "You mean…" I don’t stutter. I never do. But seriously, this woman, she’s pulled the rug from under my feet. "You mean—"
"I’ll come with you." She smirks. "That’s what you were going to ask me, right?"
I nod, unable to process what I’m hearing.
"So you’ll—"
"Leave my job and come to Palermo and be the medic for all of you undeserving Sovranos and your clan? Yes."
A hot sensation stabs at my chest. "But being here, living your life, finding your identity, all of it is—"
"It’s important," she nods, "but so are you."
"I could commute." I hold her gaze. "I’d spend alternate weeks here in London."
"But you are the consigliere," she points out. "I know that means you are not just their lawyer but often help to act as a liaison on the Don’s behalf too.”
“One of my brothers would have to step up a little more. I’d find a way to manage."
"But being away from thefamigliawould put you at risk, wouldn’t it?"
"I’d make sure to up my security presence, and that’d go for you too."
"You mean, instead of the two guards you have following me, you’d have four?"
"You noticed?" I laugh. "Of course, you did; in fact, I had made a bet with myself that you would."
"Yeah," she glances down at our joined fingers, "as you said, I grew up with the Mafia; it’s in my blood. Like it or not, I picked up on the signs to look for when it comes to having someone tailing me. I also know that you have, at least, ten of them surrounding my apartment building, and that both of my neighbors have been replaced by your people who’ve moved in."