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

Val’s eyes became tender. She kissed me but then her brows pulled together in thought. “Like I said, I wouldn’t attack the Famiglia right away. Except for a few smaller raids on labs or clubs near our borders perhaps, just to keep them on their toes. I’d focus on the Fabiano situation for now. Maybe send a team who captures him and brings him to Chicago so you can question him. That way you’ll find out what really went on.”

I smiled.

“What?” Val asked with a hint of embarrassment.

“You should be my Consigliere, not Rocco.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I mean it. You’d be the better choice. You are clever and your heart is in the right place.”

Val pressed a kiss to my chin. “My heart could be a problem when it comes to the bloody side of the business.”

I trailed my fingers down her spine. “But mine won’t. I’m capable of doing whatever’s necessary. But you are right. Maybe it’s a good thing that you aren’t part of the business.”

“I already help with the business. And the majority of your soldiers would go on a warpath if you made a woman, your wife, Consigliere. That’s not going to work.”

“They’d have to accept my judgment.”

Val shook her head. “We don’t need another battlefield within the Outfit, no less. Not to mention that there’s still Rocco. Or have you made plans to get rid of him?”

“You’d like that.”

“I do.”

I chuckled. “Not as innocent.”

“He deserves death for everything he’s done.”

“But so do I, Val.”

She huffed.

“Right now, I don’t intend to remove Rocco. I’ll wait until Fabiano tells us exactly why he’s joined the Camorra before I decide what to do with Rocco.”

Val nodded, then yawned. It was past two and we both had to get up early.

I extinguished the lights and kissed Val goodnight.

For several moments, Val didn’t say anything before her softly whispered words penetrated the silence, “You really think I’d be a good Consigliere?”

I smiled against her hair. “Yes, I have no doubt.”Sleep evaded me that night and so I got up at five A.M. and crept out of the bedroom with gym clothes. Val was still fast asleep. I changed into my running shorts and a T-shirt and went into the small gym room beside my office. I tried to run at least six miles every morning. This morning I decided on eight miles in the hopes of quieting my restless mind and banishing the lingering tension in my body.

After a quick shower in the guest bathroom and a change into a business suit, I headed into my office. It wasn’t even seven yet, but I had a busy day ahead of me. I needed to visit one of our weapons dealers and then head to the Trentino, one of our newest Underground casinos.

The photos of Fabiano still mocked me on my desk. I picked them up and shoved them into one of the drawers before I bent over the papers with our weapon orders.

A soft click made my head shoot up with narrowed eyes.

Anna hovered in the doorway, half hidden behind the door. Her hair was tousled and she was still in her white pajamas with a pink floral pattern. “Can I come in, Daddy?”

I put down the papers and pushed my chair back. “Of course, Anna. What is it?”

Something about her demeanor was off. She usually wasn’t this demure around us, even if she was reserved when strangers were around. She closed the door and tiptoed closer, avoiding my eyes. I pulled her on my lap and she nestled her head against my throat, her fingers fumbling with my jacket.

“You can tell me anything, you know that, right?” I said quietly.

She gave a sharp nod. “If I do something bad, Daddy, something you don’t like, will you kill me like Orazio?”

For a moment, my heart stopped beating. Grabbing her shoulders, I moved her so I could see her face. Her eyes held honest trepidation and it was the worst sight I could imagine. The shit with Orazio and Fabiano meant nothing in comparison to the fucking anguish I felt because my own daughter thought I might kill her if she displeased me. The mere idea…

I nudged up her chin. “Anna, no matter what you do, I’ll never hurt you. I’ll protect you with my life from any harm. You hear me?”

“Even if I become a traitor?”

“I won’t ever hurt you. Ever.”

She bit her lip. “Okay.”

“Who said something like that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice gentle.

“Leonas said you’d have to kill Orazio because he’s a traitor, and that you’d do the same with anyone else who betrayed you.”

I gritted my teeth. I kissed Anna’s forehead. “I love you more than anything, Anna.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” Anna said and snuggled against me once more. Despite my workload, I decided to spend some time with her. “How about we play a song together?”