I sighed.
“I have to hang up now. Simona needs me.” I did not wait for her answer. Lowering the phone, I saw Daniele pushing pictures of the animals in the picture book together with Simona. The cacophony of meows, moos and woof-woofs made them laugh. I leaned against the backrest with a smile. Every day they captured my heart more and more.
I tried to wait for Alessio, but eventually fell asleep, awkwardly curled up in the armchair in front of the fireplace. I wasn’t sure what time it was when cold hands touched my arm, shaking me from my slumber. It was dark in the room, except for the dying embers in the hearth dancing before my tired eyes. Alessio hovered above me, smelling of gunpowder, smoke and whiskey.
“I told you not to wait for me.” “What time is it?” I mumbled, tongue and muscle heavy.
“Late.”
I tried to make out Alessio’s face to connect the strained note of his voice to his expression, but the darkness hid his features. Reaching out, I touched his arm. The crisp fabric of his shirt clung to his skin. He was stiff against my fingertips, encrusted with something. Alessio broke away from my grip with a loud gasp of air. I was momentarily fully awake.
“Alessio?” I sat up and Alessio took a step back from me, out of my reach.
“Go to bed, Gianna. Now.”
I stood up, moving toward him. The dying embers did not give off enough light to see much, but part of his white shirt was dark. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Gianna, in bed. Now.”
“No. I’m not a child, I’m your wife, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re all right.”
“Your insolence is bringing me to the brink.”
“I think you like my insolence.”
He sighed and walked out. I followed him. Even the lobby was dark. My concern increased with each step and Alessio’s continued silence. When we finally reached our bedroom, I turned on the light switch. My heart broke as I saw the blood on Alessio’s white shirt. Most of it had dried, only a small spot on his arm looked fresher. Alessio continued into the bathroom without saying a word, but his expression conveyed his disapproval as I followed him.
“What happened?”
Alessio unbuttoned his shirt and shook it off, but one of the sleeves stuck to his arm. I shuddered when I saw the wound he was attached to. I grabbed a towel and dabbed it in warm water, then pushed Alessio’s hand away. I soaked the bloody material on his sleeve, waiting for him to pull away from the long cut so that there would be no further damage. Alessio looked at me almost curious, no sign that anyone had evidently used his forearm as a cutting board. I carefully undid his shirt, and Alessio gave the slightest gasp, but made no sound.
“Not your first rodeo, huh?” I needed to defuse the situation before my concern for my husband led me to a panic attack. What if something happened to him? What would I do with two small children, a huge house and a somewhat twisted dog? “It’s just a superficial cut. I’ll survive.”
I laughed, but it seemed forced. Once the wound was freed from the confines of the shirt, Alessio dropped the ruined garment to the ground. “I can do this.” He took a first aid kit from a cupboard under the sink.
“Aren’t you going to tell me what happened?” He cleaned his wound, but when I didn’t look away, he sighed. “I’m not sure you need to know the details of my business.”
“I’m part of your life, so let me be part of it.” The hesitation remained in his eyes. He lowered his gaze to her wound and patched it with strips of butterflies. “Luke had to deal with traitors and an MC who gave us trouble.” To the confused expression on my face, he added:
“Motorcycle club. They are stronger in the South, particularly in Texas, New Mexico, and Florida, but chapters have popped up around here. Luca asked me to see what the local chapter was doing. We caught one, a strong fighter. He caught me with his knife.”
“Why should you be involved in this? Why don’t you send your men to deal with it? My father would never risk his life in an assassination attempt.” Alessio smiled wryly. “That’s why your father is not the best sub-chief. If you want your men’s loyalty, you have to show them that you are willing to fight alongside them.” I shook my head. “This is how people get killed.”
“Are you worried about me?” I wrapped my arm around his chest and pressed my cheek to his chest.
“Promise me to be more careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“The wound tells a different story.”
“We’ll put you to bed now. E…”
Simona’s cry rang out from the speakers.
“There is no bed for me.” Alessio pressed his palm on my lower back and pushed me toward the bed. “You go to sleep and I’ll take care of Simona.”
“You need to rest…”
“No. Let me take care of it.” I realized that she needed to do that, to hold her little daughter. Perhaps it was his way of reminding himself of the good in this world.
“All right.” I sank down on the bed, feeling completely drained. Alessio kissed me briefly before heading for the nursery. I had grown up in the world of the mob. Death and danger were constant companions, but Dad had never come home hurt. He knew how to stay out of trouble and let others risk their lives for him. I admired Alessio for his courage. Yet, at the same time, I wished he was a coward like Dad so that he would be safe. For his children-and me.
Gianna
Daniele and I settled on the floor. It was bonding time, not only between him and me, but also with Loulou while Simona took her afternoon nap. The last two nights Alessio had come home late, and I hoped it would not turn into a permanent thing. For now, I focused my main attention on Daniel, Simona, and Loulou. They have kept me quite distracted