Bound by the Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles 7)

“Giovanni had a fight with him, so I assumed he returned without a word.”

“Oh, well, he hasn’t called me yet. I’ll let you know if he shows up here. Maybe he just needed some time to calm down. Doesn’t he know Leonas was born?”

My suspicious nature reared its head, but I pushed it down. “Val sent him a text message. He congratulated her but hasn’t called or showed up. Maybe he wants to avoid Giovanni and plans a surprise visit later today or tomorrow.”

“Maybe,” Pietro said. “Giovanni gave him a hard time because of that girl of his. But he broke it off so many years ago I thought he’d have made peace with him by now.”

“They tolerate each other at best,” I said. I hadn’t gotten involved in their family matters. Giovanni had wanted to keep the thing hush-hush, I hadn’t told anyone but Pietro because I valued his input. Valentina and I hadn’t even been married yet when things between Orazio and the girl happened, and I’d been in mourning then.

Pietro sighed. “You don’t think…?”

He didn’t voice what I didn’t want to consider. “He’s a good soldier and family. Orazio would never betray the Outfit.” It was a fact I had to trust in because the alternative was absolutely unacceptable.

“He is.”

But he’d also worked very closely with the Famiglia during his time in Cleveland, and he’d talked a long time with Matteo at Val’s and my wedding. I shoved the thought aside.

“He’s family, and family sometimes fights. He’ll come around. Giovanni can be difficult.”

I stared at the photo frame on my desk with a photo of Val, Anna, and me during a day at the Great Lakes last summer. Val had the same photo on her desk in her office upstairs as well as a photo of our wider family, including Orazio. She’d tried to intensify their contact and they had talked on the phone at least once a month. Since Anna’s birth, Orazio had even visited every other month. Val loved her brother even if they weren’t as close as she wanted.

If Orazio was the traitor…

My chest tightened considering what I’d have to do. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. I would question him personally. It would be cowardly not to do so, and even if I didn’t do it with my own hands, Val would be devastated all the same. Could she live with it? Could she forgive me if I killed her brother? And what about Livia?

“I’m sure he’ll surprise you in the afternoon.”

“Let’s hope so.” My voice was steel but my insides were an all-consuming inferno.After breakfast the next day, Leonas was asleep beside me on the couch while I read a picture book with Anna who was curled up against my side. She’d hardly left my side since Mamma and Papa had brought her home yesterday. I could tell that she was worried I wouldn’t have time for her anymore now that Leonas was born. Stroking her hair, I flipped the page and continued reading.

My phone rang, startling me but luckily not Leonas. I picked up when I saw it was Orazio.

“Hi little brother,” I said with a smile. In recent years, our relationship had improved again and it made me deliriously happy.

“Hey Val. How are you? Sorry I didn’t call sooner.”

“Don’t worry. I guess Dad’s keeping you busy so you don’t get in trouble.”

He made a non-committal noise, which could only mean that they’d had another fight. “I’m not on speaking terms with him at the moment.”

“Again? But I thought you’re helping him with the new drug lab?”

Another grunt. “Let’s not talk about that now. I wanted to come over in the afternoon to see my nephew, is that okay?”

“Of course. Will you stay for dinner?”

“No… no, I can’t.”

I didn’t ask why. Orazio always made himself scarce. He was a ladies’ man, or so rumor had it and I assumed he’d rather spent the night with a conquest than with his sister and her two small kids, or his boss. He and Dante had never really become family. It was difficult for Orazio to ignore the fact that Dante was his Capo.

“I need to hang up now. See you later.”

“Until then,” I said. It sounded as if Orazio was in a car.

“Who was that?” Anna asked curiously.

“Uncle Orazio. He’s coming to visit this afternoon.”

“Yay!”

I grinned at her obvious delight then grabbed Leonas and stood. “Come. Let’s find Zita to tell her she needs to bake Orazio’s favorite cake.”

After talking to Zita and Gabby, I headed into Dante’s office to tell him about Orazio’s visit. He preferred to know who set foot into our mansion. His protectiveness hadn’t really lessened since he had two small kids to worry about. I knocked then stepped in. Anna immediately rushed toward her dad and he hoisted her up on his lap.