“I could really get used to this life.” Wyatt rolled his head on the velvet pillow and grinned behind his sunglass.
“Mm,” was all I offered because I could tell something was off. I wished I knew what the conversation was about with Elio and Mariano.
“Did you send the story to Georgio?”
“I did.” I rolled onto my back, letting the sun bake my front. “He was very pleased.”
“I’m sure.” He laughed but then went quiet. I looked over and saw him fiddling with his straw in the slushed ice drink.
“What?”
“I heard something from work, and I’m not sure what it means.”
“What did you hear?”
He shifted to his side and rested his head on his hand. “A woman was asking about you the other day.”
“Oh?” I sipped my drink, thinking the pool seemed very inviting at this point. “Who told you that?”
“Our bird lover.” He referenced our chatty secretary who we avoided like the plague. “It wasn’t just that the woman was asking for you, but how adamant she was on finding you.”
I stopped drinking my cocktail mid-sip and glanced over at him.
“Yeah.” He pointed to my face and moved to swing his feet over the side of the lounge chair. “So, I did something.”
“Wyatt?” I wasn’t sure where this was going.
“Normally, I would never meddle, but it got me thinking. Maybe your plan did work? Maybeshefinally found you.”
“Oh, my God,” escaped my lips as I flipped between scared and hopeful.
“She’s meeting us tomorrow at eleven, by the field where the little road meets the main road.” His hand covered mine, and I looked down at it. “I promised you years ago that I would help you track her down, but I can cancel—”
“No.” I stopped him. “It’s what I wanted, what I needed to happen.”
Suddenly, loud voices could be heard, so we scrambled to our feet and rushed inside, following them to the living room.
“Family meeting,” Elio said to us as we approached. He looked ready to kill someone as he pointed to the couch, and I sat, pulling Wyatt down next to me.
He tapped a button, and a strange sound blanketed the room.
“Helps drown out our voices to the staff.” Niccola filled in my unanswered question.
“What’s going on, Elio?” Mama asked as she took a chair next to Francesco.
“One moment, Mama, I’m just waiting for Papa.” He positively radiated anger, and I was filled with dread. Piero arrived a few moments later, then Vinni came in, looking rattled. The seven of us stared up at Elio. I couldn’t resist the thought of how magnificent he looked as he stood there behind a grand leather chair with the family crest on the wall. The crow stood tall on the shield below the crown behind him. I thought of Piero’s words—family, strength, loyalty, protection.
“My gut,” he started and pulled my attention from my thoughts, “always told me to be careful. Yet, over the years, I overlooked many things, thinking I was paranoid. After all, our lifestyle lends itself to that. But this one has really taken its toll.”
I glanced at Andrea. She was shaking her head, unsure of what he was saying.
“We have a traitor among us.” He cleared his throat.
“What?” his father boomed, and I knew we were about to witness the darker side of the mafia.
“Someone is human trafficking through our ports and using our ships. It seems a young woman was found in one of the containers. Apparently, she is from Serbia, and there’s more.” He looked at his father. “She has numbers inked on her upper arm, numbers that correspond to the paper we recovered from Antonio, the one he was to deliver. Papa, our traitor is not just anyone,” Elio’s voice was eerie, “it is one of our very own.” His gaze swung over to mine, and I felt like I was suddenly on trial. “I couldn’t see it before. I was blinded with my own wounds from the past, but it all makes sense now.” Holding a firm gaze on me, he spoke again. “Papa, what has always been your biggest weakness?”
“Your mother.” He didn’t miss a beat.