Page 4 of The Capo's Nymph
Or maybe I do. I am my father’s daughter, but I’ll take enough satisfaction in them being dead.
“There were other girls in Chicago.”
Gia gives me a sad smile. “My father wouldn’t help them even if they were here in Vegas.”
We enter the Capo’s office where he sits behind his desk like a viper waiting to strike. Gia holds her chin high while her father tells her he’s sending her back to her husband in Chicago, but I know she’s not happy. He’s a horrible old man, she says. She’s been here since Alessio’s marriage to Caterina over a month ago.
His pale blue eyes shift toward me, and I suppress a tremble. “Leave us,” he tells his daughter.
He switches to Italian once she’s gone.
“I’ve been in touch with business associates of mine in Paloma. Cerniglia was a respected soldier under Don Cicero, but your father had his dirty little secrets, didn’t he?”
I nod, wishing Silvio De Luca’s tentacles didn’t stretch so far but unable to do much about it.
“I know why you came to this country, and Chicago is where you’ll find it. I suppose that’s why you were there to begin with. I knew Elena. Once.”His eyes slide down my body in a way that makes my skin crawl.“Her daughter, Maddalena, you’re not identical but the resemblance is very close.”
I can scarcely breathe.“Please, what can you tell me about my sister?”
“I’ll help you find her… and you already owe me a favor, don’t you?”
I owe Alessio, but I’m not dumb enough to argue the point.“What can I do?”
“Quite a bit of damage, I hope. I’ve decided on a use for you. Nico Morelli needs a nanny…”
***
“Oh, that’s cold!” Sofia De Luca squeals later that night. She’s Alessio and Gia’s younger sister and the prettiest girl I’ve ever met. She’s to marry the future Don of New York soon, though she says she doesn’t want to.After I learned why, I couldn’t blame her.
I rub the aloe balm over her sunburnt shoulders, trying to block out the memories of cold gel and the doctor’s gloved hands. We spent toomany hours by the pool today, but it’s my last day in Las Vegas. I’m going to miss these girls and Valdo. I won’t miss their creepy father.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Sofia asks.
“I am. Your father hates Caterina’s brother, yes?”
“Nico Morelli killed his heir, our older brother, Sil, Jr.” I can only imagine how terrified Caterina must have been when she was given to Alessio in an arranged marriage considering that.
“What can you tell me of Nico?”I ask in Italian.
“Caterina adores him, but he’s cold as ice from what I’ve seen. He never smiles. Some say he's like a human lie detector. The men all agree he’s the best with a blade in the Trio. Sil, Jr. found that out.”
“What was his wife like?”Margareta Morelli was shot and killed during a Bratva attack at Caterina and Alessio’s wedding reception. She was eight months pregnant, and her twins were delivered via c-section after the horrible battle.
“Beautiful and stylish, but I never knew her well. She was originally from New York. Their marriage was arranged for the peace pact two years ago.”
“Your mother says Nico should be the one called the Beast instead of his brother Dante.”
Sofia frowns, switching to English. “That wasn’t kind of her. She meant his scarred face. Nico’s scar is… memorable. But the nickname suits Dante better.”
“You know him well?”
“Better than I should,” she mutters. “As for Nico, you should be safe living under his protection as long as you’re loyal.”
As long as I’m loyal.
I shiver, knowing what her father expects of me. He’ll help me find my sister… if I’ll act as his spy in Nico’s household.
4
