Page 39 of The Capo's Nymph
“Are you still angry with me?” I murmur when she glances up.
Her lips purse in a familiar way, but the warmth remains in her eyes. “I know she was intended to stay under your roof when she arrived, but I confess I loved having Matilde here. It felt like having Caterina home again."
"You were happy enough to see her married to a future Capo," I remind her.
Mother sighs, and I know she didn't have a choice in that. "Your father-"
"It was my fault."
"Nico…"
I wave away her excuses for my mistake. I can't bring back Sil, Jr., not that I'd want to, just as I can't save Margareta now. At least my children will have more than a live-in nanny once Matilde graduates from high school.High school… fuck.
“Is Primo here? I need to speak with him for a moment.”
My mother tells me where he is and turns her attention back to the children.
I delayed my discussion with Primo for a few days until I could get my jealousy under control. Such a strange sensation I’ve never experienced to this degree. I despised it. Once I have him cornered in the room the guards use when they’re not patrolling, I pull out my knife to sharpen. It’s as effective as any truth serum.
After Primo’s shared everything regarding their trip to the brothel – the thought of Matilde setting foot inside The Gentleman’s Post makes me long to slaughter someone – and Mrs. Esposito’s apartment, I’m stunned. “Her sister?”
“Yes, Capo. We were to meet her at the pizza place the other night, but the girl didn’t come.”
How can Maddalena be Matilde’s sister if Elena never spoke of another daughter? Did Matilde know her mother was dead when she left Sicily? And what game was Silvio De Luca playing if he knew who she was? I feel like I have even more questions.
Then another thought strikes me –They must be twins.Such a strange twist of fate that she’s caring for my twins while seeking her own twin.
None of it changes my plans. If anything, it solidifies them. I gave Mrs. Esposito a generous amount of money to support Maddalena and pay for the girl’s education, but more than financial aid is due to the girl now. She will be my wife’s sister after all.
“Of all the fucking coincidences…” I mutter as I get a call from Dante. Dismissing Primo, I answer. “I didn’t expect you to talk to me for another week at least.”
“This isn’t a friendly chat. I’m at Spice.”
“For the cage fight, yes. What-”
“Unless she’s got a twin, your nanny is here, too. Figured you’d want to know.”
He abruptly ends the call while I stare at my phone in disbelief. That isn’t possible. She wouldn’t dare.
Oh yes, she fucking would, the little sneak.
But Iwarnedher not to leave the house without my permission. Itoldher where she was allowed to go. Spice would be at the very bottom of that list.
I call the guard parked outside my house and pull up the cameras inside it. No signs of Matilde stirring around the common areas. Her bedroom window has a trellis outside it. Distracted by the children, I hadn’t set the perimeter alarm as quickly as I meant to.
By the time the guard nervously confirms she’s gone, I’m so fucking pissed I can’t see straight.
***
Primo mutely parks the car at the back entrance. “Wait here.”
Bobo opens the door before I raise my hand to knock. “I wondered if we’d see you tonight, Capo. When the girl gave me your name…”
He fills me in as I stride past him to the secret entrance, shoving the wall back with all the rage I can no longer harness and hurrying down the narrow staircase. Giacomo. What the fuck is he doing with those girls? I should castrate him.
The red and purple lighting gives the hallway a sinister glow but not as sinister as I feel. Passing by the closed doors where various, less public aspects of the club are carried out, I realize Bobo is still following me. That’s just as well.
The steel door at the end of the hall swings open with a screech, but the roar of the spectators is louder. I cast one fleeting glance at my brother in the cage, blood splattered and bare chested as he squares off with his even bloodier opponent, before my eyes zero in on Matilde.
