Dante’s demeanor shifted at once, becoming vigilant and focused. “He did? Where is he now?”

I pursed my lip. “I suppose in Chicago? Isn’t he helping my father?” Dante’s question threw me off, and at the same time worried me.

“Neither your father nor I could reach him since yesterday.”

“He said he had a fight with Papa. Maybe he needed time to cool off.”

“That’s what Pietro said.”

“You asked Pietro if Orazio had returned to Minneapolis.”

Dante looked down at Anna who’d begun drawing on one of the papers on his desk. But I had a feeling he was also doing it on purpose to avoid my eyes. “I prefer to know about the whereabouts of my men.”

Then it dawned on me and indignation rose in me. “You can’t seriously consider Orazio doing anything against the Outfit. He’s my brother, Dante. For God’s sake, please don’t drag our family even more into this war than we already are.”

Dante looked up with a pained expression. “I never meant to drag you into this. But it’s inevitable.”

Anna glanced between us. We tried not to argue in front of her and I already regretted my outburst but since the war had begun Dante suspected enemies at every corner. If his paranoia now extended to family that was simply too much.

Dante stood and set Anna down on his desk chair. “Can you draw a picture of us?”

Anna nodded and bent over the sheet with a look of acute concentration on her gorgeous face. Leonas shifted in my hold and I rocked him gently so he wouldn’t start crying.

Dante righted his vest before he headed my way, touching my shoulder. “I don’t suspect Orazio, Val. But his conflict with your father is something that concerns me greatly. He needs to make peace with him and step up to his duties.”

I didn’t catch a hint of deceit on Dante’s face but still a small part of me stayed worried. “I know,” I said quietly. “Dad expects a lot from Orazio but my brother wants to have a little freedom. Maybe that’s why he’s not willing to settle down with one of the possible brides Dad keeps pushing on him.”

“At some point, he needs to marry.”

“Not everyone wants to settle for less than love,” I said, even if I wasn’t sure if a wish for love held Orazio back or if he just wanted to keep having fun.

“We didn’t settle,” Dante said firmly, pulling me closer but careful not to squish our sleeping son. “We worked for our love, and we were rewarded.”

I cocked an eyebrow with a teasing smile. “We?”

Dante sighed and kissed my mouth. “You did all the work in the beginning, I know. If it wasn’t for your stubborn streak, I’d still be—”

“…sulking in your office?”

A hint of exasperation flickered in his eyes. “…caught up in the past.”

“Done!” Anna exclaimed.

“I’ll talk to Orazio,” I promised.

“I’ll have a word with him today as well.”

“Don’t go all Capo on him.”

“I am his Capo, Val. I doubt he’ll ever see me as anything else.”

I nodded. “All right. Bibi is supposed to come over any moment for lunch. Will you join us or are you going to work?”

“I need to work. I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about.”

Anna hopped off the chair and rushed over to us, brandishing her drawing excitedly. “Look!”

Dante squatted beside her and regarded her artwork patiently as she explained every stick figure to him. I stifled laughter at his serious expression. I loved seeing him with Anna, how he tried to make her feel validated with everything she did.

Fifteen minutes later Bibi arrived at our mansion for a playdate. Luisa and Anna loved each other, a fact that made me deliriously happy. I was glad that Anna had one of her best friends living close by because she was always sad that she couldn’t see Sofia very often due to the distance between them.

I nodded toward the guards sitting in the car in front of our house who’d driven Bibi over. She didn’t have a license unlike me but even I hardly ever drove anymore now that I had kids. Dante didn’t want me to go anywhere without either Taft or Enzo, or preferably both anyway.

Bibi looked splendid in a formfitting wool dress with her auburn hair down as she strode toward me, holding Luisa by the hand who was dressed in a cute pink dress. Luisa looked exactly like Bibi as a child, a fact for which I was very grateful because Bibi didn’t need any more reminders of her dead brute of a husband. Holding Leonas, I hugged her with one arm then cocked my brows. “You look stunning. Who are you trying to impress? Now I feel underdressed.”

I had opted for comfortable chino pants and a blouse that allowed quick access to my breasts for nursing.

She flushed, looking around in embarrassment as if someone might overhear us, and I ushered her in. Anna and Luisa hugged then they rushed upstairs, probably to play in Anna’s room.

Bibi crooned at Leonas, pointedly avoiding my eyes.

“Bibi, spill.”

“You just gave birth, Val. You should be the center of attention, not me. I can’t tell you about my dates.”

I shoved her lightly. “Bibiana, you’ve spent years living in misery and had to listen to everyone’s happy stories. Now it’s your turn. Please, I need the distraction.” I really didn’t want to worry about Orazio and my father anymore. Then I realized what she’d said. “Dates, as in more than one? I thought you needed me as a chaperone.”

Bibi looked mortified. “I know… but you had Leonas…”

“And you couldn’t wait to meet Dario as soon as possible.”

“We’ve been only been on two dates,” she admitted with an embarrassed laugh as we walked into the living room.

“And?”

“He’s very charming.” Her cheeks turned even redder and she focused on Leonas once more. It was adorable how embarrassed Bibi was about her dating life. She’d never had a crush or been in love, so this made me deliriously happy for her. “Can I hold him? He’s absolutely adorable!”

I nodded. She took Leonas from me and rocked him gently, looking absolutely smitten. Maybe Bibi was getting baby fever again. We sank down beside each other on the couch. Gabby had already prepared a pot of tea and an assortment of Bibi’s favorite macarons. It felt like I’d been eating constantly since I’d returned home.

“Bibi, you’re holding out on me.”

She bit her lip then met my gaze. “I let him kiss me after our second date. I didn’t want to—”

“He forced—”

“God no,” Bibi said quickly. “I mean I promised myself not to allow closeness because I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression but then I just… I don’t know. He stood so close and smelled so good and it just happened.”

“So you kissed,” I said with a grin. “So what? You’re a grown woman. And you deserve to enjoy yourself a bit.”

Bibi shook her head. “You know what people are going to say if they find out I kissed a man I’m not married to.”

“Nobody’s going to find out and if they do, they better keep their opinion to themselves. Nobody deserves this more than you. So how was it?”