Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

Vittorio turned his full attention to his mother. She sounded so tired. Weary was a better word, as if her exhaustion wasn’t just physical, but mental and emotional as well. He understood. They lived in the shadows, giving up their lives to training, killing, and living alone without much hope. They had all the money in the world, and to the world appeared as the spoiled useless playboys Grace and her partner thought them. In reality they led lives of extreme discipline.

Eloisa’s life had been harsh. There had been no love in her marriage, no one to care for her and now she wouldn’t accept care, not even from her children. If anything, she did everything she could to drive them further away. None of them understood, but the two people most compassionate with her, Emmanuelle and Francesca, were the worst treated. He might feel compassion, but not in the way Grace would. He would never allow Grace to put herself in the position Francesca had, where Eloisa tore her to pieces. He was far too protective already over his woman. He could feel sorry for Eloisa and even understand, but Grace wasn’t going near her.

“Do the police have any idea who killed the kid?” Ricco asked.

“No, and neither do we at this point. Uncle Alfeo and Aunt Rachele are investigating Bruno’s murder.” Alfeo and Rachele Greco were actually their mother’s first cousins so therefore their first cousins once removed, but the family never split hairs over how they were related. They referred to the older couple as their aunt and uncle. “We will find out.”

“You know the Saldis are behind it, don’t you?” Eloisa demanded, glaring at Emmanuelle as if her daughter was somehow responsible.

“No, Eloisa, I don’t.” It was Stefano who answered. “It looks bad, but until all evidence is in and I have a chance to weigh it, I am not taking our family to war, and neither will you.”

“Theresa will come to us, and she has every right. Her grandson was under our protection.” Eloisa made a choking sound that had all of them sitting up straighter. She coughed to cover up the shocking sound of emotion.

Emmanuelle stirred as if she might get up to go to her mother, but Vittorio put a restraining hand on her shoulder, preventing her from rising.

“He was under our protection, yes,” Stefano agreed. “We had multiple talks with him about selling drugs in our territory. We actually, at Theresa’s request, handed out a few lessons. He tried to lure Nicoletta into the same business, but that didn’t work out in his favor. Bruno, of his own free will, chose to go into business with someone else and he was killed so he wouldn’t talk to us, or because he double-crossed them. He was quite capable of something like that. He had few scruples.”

“That doesn’t mean he wasn’t ours,” Eloisa insisted.

Stefano nodded. “That’s why we’re investigating, Eloisa.”

“She’ll need care. For all his sins, Bruno did see to her care,” Emmanuelle said.

“The Laconis own the kitchen shop. Their daughter Angelina is a nurse and I’ve asked her to oversee Theresa for now. Our family will pay for her private care. I’ve asked Angelina to find a second nurse willing to help her with round-the-clock care. Also, the Laconis have a son, Pace, in high school. He’ll help Anita Laconi keep the Fior A Bizzeffe open for now. Theresa needs the income and the Laconis can use the extra income. We’ll see about selling the shop for Theresa and adding whatever amount she needs to her account.”

“We’ll take turns visiting her,” Vittorio said. “Make all the funeral arrangements for him. I can talk to her if you’d like, Stefano.”

“I’ll do it,” Eloisa said. “She’s been my friend for more than forty years. She was one of the first people my mother ever took me to visit.” Her voice broke and she shook her head.

“Unfortunately, Bruno was not the only victim,” Stefano continued, covering up for his mother’s unexpected show of emotion. “This was undoubtedly a purge of employees. There is no way it is a coincidence that Bruno and three others disappeared and then their bodies were found a day later.”

“Who?” Ricco asked.

Eloisa turned fierce eyes on him. “Where’s Mariko? She’s a rider and should be here. She may be a woman, but she is every bit as good and deserves her place here. I think she’s earned the right to be a Ferraro.”

Ricco leaned toward his mother. “I agree one hundred percent, Eloisa. Thank you for acknowledging that my wife is a true member of our family. All of us believe the same way. She’s guarding Francesca.”

“Of course. In the middle of a war, where is your wife, Stefano? I would think she would be here, instead of lounging at home . . .”