Bibi smiled. “It was just… wow. I’ve never felt anything like it, as if every part of me is melting. I had so much trouble pulling away.”

I linked our fingers, not able to stop grinning despite my worry over Orazio and the war. “Then don’t pull away next time. Who cares?”

Bibi shook her head, looking determined. “No. I can’t be selfish about this. I want Luisa to have the best future possible and I don’t want people to talk behind her back about how her mother had an affair.”

I squeezed her hand. “Dario is a lawyer. I’m sure he’s got his ways to be sneaky about it.”

Bibi giggled but then she became serious. “I want to do this on my terms. I told him I’d like to see him again but that we need to go slow.”

“Do whatever feels right. I’ll support you no matter what.”

I leaned forward and kissed Bibi’s cheeks. “But Bibi, you deserve some man-made orgasms.”

Bibi gasped then burst out laughing and I fell in, feeling lighter than I had in a while.

Valentina was usually the peacemaker in our family. She didn’t like the lingering conflict between her brother and father, but this time it was my decision to invite Giovanni over for a clarifying conversation. With the war getting worse, I couldn’t allow fights among my own men, much less my family.

“I hope they don’t argue in front of the kids,” Val said with a sigh.

Orazio was the first to arrive in the late afternoon. He looked as if he hadn’t slept much these last few days and I wondered if the problems with Giovanni caused him so much stress or if something else was behind his obvious exhaustion.

He shook my hand briefly and gave me a tight smile. I valued his work but we’d never really hit it off. He was as closed off as me, which didn’t really help to form a closer bond. “Congrats on becoming a father again.”

“Thank you.”

His expression became more relaxed when he walked up to Val and Leonas. He hugged her briefly.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Val said, looking happy. Standing beside each other, it was unmistakable that Val and Orazio were siblings. They shared the same eyes and almost the same hair color.

“Anna!” I called. “Your uncle is here.”

Steps thundered upstairs then Anna flew down the steps almost stumbling and jumped into Orazio’s arms. He lifted her up with a smile. “Careful. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

I allowed him a few moments before I motioned toward my office.

Val’s expression pinched. “We want to have coffee and cake.”

“This’ll only take a few minutes.”

She didn’t say anything but I knew she’d give me a piece of her mind later. I appreciated that Val had her own head, but I was also glad that she knew when to keep up appearances.

Orazio set down Anna and followed me into my office. “What is it?”

“Where have you been these last two days?”

Orazio’s eyebrows rose slowly. He chuckled and shook his head. “First my father, now you? Why does everyone always interrogate me? I didn’t know I had to announce wherever I went.”

“Unlike your father, I’m your Capo.”

“So this isn’t just a friendly family visit, all right,” he said bitterly.

I gritted my teeth. “Just answer my question, Orazio.”

He met my gaze. He wasn’t overly nervous, at least not more than the situation warranted. He was angry, that was obvious. “I had a huge fight with my father two days ago then again yesterday morning. You know he can’t let it drop. Every time he sees me, he criticizes every single of my choices, especially my refusal to marry a woman he suggests. I’m fucking sick of it. I knew I was about to lose my shit on him and I didn’t want that to happen so I decided to clear my head. I went to a few bars, drank a few too many drinks, fucked a few girls… and now I’m here, Dante.”

“What bars?”

He laughed darkly. “The Voda and the Kamchatka. My father made it very clear a long time ago that he doesn’t want fellow Made Men to see my escapades, and nobody knows who I am in Bratva owned bars.”

I narrowed my eyes but I couldn’t detect a lie. “It’s risky for you to walk into these bars. Even if our war with the Bratva in Chicago lies currently dormant, that could change at any time.”

“From my looks, I could be Russian. Nobody questioned me.”

I nodded. “The main reason why I was trying to call you is that Rocco and I suspect a spy to be behind a few unfortunate incidents and since you’ve been working closely with the Famiglia, you might know who got too close to them or maybe one of their women and switched loyalties.”

Orazio shrugged. “Nobody comes to mind. The guys I worked with are loyal to you, Dante. I can’t imagine them to betray the cause. Maybe there isn’t a spy. Rocco can be a tad paranoid if you ask me.”

I had to agree but even without Rocco’s insistence I had suspected we had a mole. “Trust me, it’s not an idea I entertain lightly, but it’s a valid option and we need to be vigilant and find whoever is behind this.”

“I’ll keep my eyes open,” Orazio said. “Just tell me one thing, did Val invite our father over so we can make peace?”

“I did. But first, let’s have coffee and cake. I’m sure Val is impatient for our return.”

Val gave me a questioning look when Orazio and I walked into the dining room. I gave her a smile but I could tell that she was still worried.

Luckily Anna was eager for attention from her uncle and kept the conversation up with her chatter. Leonas slept in his crib in a corner of the room, entirely unimpressed by our conversation. He seemed an easy-going baby. I hoped this would continue into his teenage years but most boys had a phase of rebellion, so I was prepared for it. It either ended when the boy reached manhood or extended into their adulthood and turned to resentment or even hatred as it was between Orazio and his father, or me and my own. I wanted things between my son and me to be different, but Leonas too would feel the burden of being a Cavallaro and heir to the Outfit early.

The bell rang and Orazio let out a sigh. “Peace is over now.”

“Don’t be so negative. Please try to make peace with Papa. For me and Mama at least.”

Orazio nodded but his expression made it clear that he doubted it would work out. Giovanni and Livia entered the room, followed by Gabby.

“Do you need anything else?” Gabby asked. Since Val had taken it upon herself to school her, Gabby had become less shy around other people, especially men.

“We have everything we need, thank you,” Val said as she rose from her chair to greet her parents. Orazio and I stood as well. Anna had already dashed toward her grandparents and hugged one after the other. Her relationship toward my own parents wasn’t as close but they weren’t the affectionate types, and Anna was a child that needed plenty of affection.

Livia headed over to her son and hugged him tightly then kissed his cheek. “Why do you have to worry us so much?”

“Mother,” he said quietly but firmly, and pried her hands off his face. “Maybe you should ask father why.”

Giovanni’s face flashed with anger but after a glance at Anna who watched with wide, curious eyes, he only smiled stiffly.