Page 36 of Sandro

Abel sighed. “I know. I just miss home sometimes.”

Rio had let me know what the story was with Abel, and although I was incredibly grateful that he and Mazzi had rescued me, I did feel bad for him to some extent. He’d been brought here against his will, and although he could have left, he chose to stay with Marcello. The choice had been given, and he’d made his.

“He’s not from here. I got that already. Where is he from, exactly?”

“He was living in Montana with the paranormal council. They had rescued him and some others. Marcello scented him when he was there when we were helping them look for a set of cousins from here.”

I offered Leo one of my steak bites, and although he seemed to hesitate, he eventually took it. I’d never seen anyone take a nibble at one before, especially not a shifter, but he was pregnant, and red meat could sit heavy in the stomach.

“What are your plans now that you are back?” Master Vincent asked. “Do you and Leo plan to stay here at the coven?”

It was difficult to not laugh when Leo sent me a terrified look. “I believe so,” I said, answering. “We’ve not discussed moving elsewhere.” I placed my hand on Leo’s thigh. “Have you changed your mind, mio amato?”

Leo shook his head. I grinned, then turned my attention back to Master Vincent. “I believe we are planning on remaining here at the coven. Obviously, Leo’s pride isn’t a possibility. Unless there is a reason you are asking and you wish for me to leave?”

Master Vincent narrowed his eyes. I had already known the answer before I voiced my question, but I’d expressed it anyway. Since Rio’s arrival, my services for the coven weren’t exactly required. He was more helpful to the coven than I would ever be. I wasn’t upset about that; it was simply how things were. He had abilities that I didn’t, and that was simply how it was.

“No, Leo’s pride is not an option. You know that the two of you will always have a home and family here with us. There shall be no more of that nonsense talk. Understood?” Master Vincent said, then threw in a smile for Leo’s sake, because I knew it certainly wasn’t for me. “Please spend some time talking some sense into your mate, Leo. He has been moody of late. I had hoped that perhaps finding you would help bring back the old Sandro. At least to a certain point.”

“Uh…I…” Leo looked at me with a terrified expression.

I gave my beloved a gentle smile before I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. “Leo has done remarkable things for me,” I said so everyone at the table could hear.

“That is good news, then. Everyone, enjoy the rest of your meal. I have an early meeting this morning,” Master Vincent said as he stood. “Welcome to the family, Leo. Please feel welcome here, and if you don’t, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“Grazie, il padrone Vincenzo.”

I was certain the smile Master Vincent just gave Leo completely cemented Leo’s place in the coven, even if I were to no longer be here. I could not ever remember him smiling in such a way, other than when he was playing with little Luci. If anyone ever needed a daughter, it was Master Vincent.

Movement grabbed my attention as Marcello stood, leaned down, and kissed the top of Abel’s head, and after giving me a look that said I needed to follow sooner rather than later, he followed Master Vincent out the door. Nicolo stood, and I had to assume he, too, was joining them in Master Vincent’s office. I sighed.

“Mio amato, will you be all right here for a bit with Rio and the others?”

“Meeting time, huh? Family business not for me?”

“Possibly. I’m not normally in the meetings either. Marcello said he needed to speak to me.”

Leo grinned. “I’m good. I’ll either be here or somewhere not far, I’m sure. I have no idea where anything is.”

I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss before I quickly followed the others. I wanted to know what it was that Marcello had found, and I had a feeling that, most likely, that was what the meeting actually was. I had, of course, been in Master Vincent’s office before. We all had. But it was unusual for me as I wasn’t necessarily part of the inner circle. Not like Marcello and Nicolo were.

I found Master Vincent sitting on the front of his desk, while Marcello was sitting on one of the sofas, and Nicolo, I discovered, was leaning against the wall. He was armed, and that too was something that was new. Was there a threat of some sort that I was unaware of?

“Close the door behind you,” Master Vincent said.

I did, then looked at the others. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that I was about to be eliminated.” I turned my attention over to Marcello. “You said you needed to speak to me.”

“I do,” he replied. “You said Leonardo’s father’s name was Emilio Mosca, correct?” I nodded. Marcello sighed. “His wife’s name was Sofia, and they married in a rather large wedding in 2008. I had hoped that the name was wrong, but I don’t think so. When they had their son, Leonardo, Emilio and Sofia took their son and fled Sicily, leaving his family behind.”

I closed my eyes. I knew the name had sounded familiar, but I didn’t know if it was a coincidence or not. Apparently not. I opened my eyes and looked directly at Marcello. “Do they know where Leo is?” I asked. He was my only priority.

“I’m not sure how it was that a snow leopard shifter got mixed up with a Cosa Nostra heir, but she did. In fact, she somehow married him and then managed to get him away from his family.”

I moved over to the sofa and sat down with a rather undignified plop. “I swear, Leo knows nothing of his dad’s family. His mom’s as well apparently. I don’t believe the pride is her birth one because they were the only snow leopards in it.”

“We already know the Rome pride isn’t her birth pride. She’s actually from Russia, and her pack is outside of Moscow. She is the offspring of a snow leopard that mated with a wolf. She was born Sofya Agapov. Her pack recorded her mating to a human, and they also recorded the birth of her one and only offspring. A boy, born in 2008.”

I nodded. “What do we do? Leo has no idea about any of this. What if he wants to go home to Russia?” I would, of course, follow him, but this was home. These people were family. They had been there for me more than those who had given birth to me.