Like Alessio’s jeans in the hallway.
Corrado’s shoes at the end of the entrance.
Yeah.
He found what he needed in his coat—a small scrap of paper that Chris had written a phone number, and a name on.
Siena Calabrese, it read in his twin’s familiar scrawl. Apparently, Siena, the full-blood sister to Kev and Darren, and half-sister to Ginevra and her siblings ... was tasked with looking after Ginevra’s younger sisters. Oh, and from Ginevra, Corrado knew Siena had been the person to help her get away that day of her arranged marriage, alongside Andino’s plans.
Not to mention, it seemed Siena had a taste for a certain Marcello herself. A very important Marcello, considering the man she was messing with, Johnathan, happened to be the nephew to Dante Marcello, the organization’s Don. It was no wonder Siena had helped Ginevra, and was now taking care of her sisters when, she had her own secrets to keep hidden.
She had things she wanted, too.
Chris figured, if anyone might be able to help Ginevra’s worries, it would be Siena. Was it a risk? Yeah. That’s also why Corrado picked up a burner cell phone—which he also pulled from his jacket—on their way to the dinner at his parents’ mansion as a just in case. It wouldn’t be traceable, and he could dispose of it when Ginevra finished her call.
Simple.
Mostly.
Or fuck, he hoped, anyway.
Corrado made his way back to the bathroom, but instead of going all the way in, he lingered in the doorway to watch Alessio and Ginevra chat. Alessio had sat down on the floor next to the tub, resting his chin on his arm sitting along the edge. Their quiet words, and soft laughter, had Corrado smiling to himself.
It didn’t take long for Ginevra to see him standing there though. And once her attention shifted to him, Alessio’s did as well.
“Find what you were looking for?” Alessio asked.
Corrado nodded and waved the paper and phone in his hand. “I did.”
Ginevra tipped her head to the side, considering the items he flashed at them. “What is it?”
“Something you’ve been asking for.”
Corrado crossed the space in the bathroom keeping a distance between them. Kneeling down beside Alessio, he took his time turning the phone on for the first time and getting it ready to use with the card that was attached to the back with a set number of minutes. Anymore, and he would have to buy another card.
Not that it mattered.
He’d grab a second phone instead.
Swiping his thumb along the screen to unlock it, he brought up the call icon, and typed in the phone number written on the paper. Instead of hitting the bottom to make it call through, he held the phone out for Ginevra to take after Alessio had dried her hands with a small towel.
She took the phone, glanced at the number on the screen, and froze. Her breath caught in her throat, and Corrado dragged in his own, anxiety slipping through his veins for reasons he didn’t understand.
Well, that was a lie.
He knew.
Perfectly well.
What happened when this was over here? When Ginevra had to go back to New York, and they left this penthouse behind? Where would that leave the three of them?
Corrado didn’t like to think about those things.
He wasn’t sure what she wanted.
And he’d learned, with Alessio and all of this, that he shouldn’t influence their choices. In order for them to be happy in this thing they had together, everyone had to make their own decisions, and be sure about them. Pleased about them. What he wanted didn’t always factor into their wants, too. They were all different people.
So, he said nothing.
Especially not on this.
If Ginevra wanted something, then she would have to speak up and tell him, or Alessio. It was as simple as that.
Even if it killed him.
“Siena?” she asked.
Corrado nodded. “Supposedly, she would be someone we could trust to talk to, yes?”
“Yeah, of course. She only ever helped me.”
“Call her,” Alessio murmured. “I’m sure she’d be willing to chat about your sisters and fill you in on what she can.”
“Right, yeah.”
Still, Ginevra hesitated.
Her hands trembled.
“Call,” Corrado told her. “It’s safe.”
Or as safe as it would get.
Ginevra nodded and pressed the call button before putting the device to her ear. Alessio and Corrado were quick to give her privacy but not much. They drifted just outside of the bathroom, their backs turned to the door.
Not that it mattered.
They could still listen.
“Siena?”
Her voice ached.
So close to tears.
Corrado stared at the floor.
Alessio leaned against his side.
“Yeah, it’s me,” Ginevra whispered. “How are my sisters?”
“Who takes care of her?” Alessio asked.
Corrado glanced at him. “Hmm?”
“She takes care of everyone else, but who takes care of her?”
“I think it’s supposed to be us.”
21.
Ginevra
“Ah, they let you out of the penthouse again to spend time with the rest of the world, did they?”
Ginevra grinned at Marcus’s teasing. He ignored Alessio and Corrado behind her, who no doubt, were glowering at Marcus for his comment. Not that it was a lie.
“I came to dinner last night, too,” she pointed out.
Marcus nodded. “Right, but does a dinner really count?”
“They’re working on it.”
“Well, that’s what counts.” Corrado’s oldest brother laughed, and stepped in close enough to press a quick kiss to each of Ginevra’s cheeks. “Thank you for coming—drinks are on the house, yeah? Have fun, Ginny, I am sure you deserve it with those two.”
She smiled. “They’re not so bad, actually.”
“I’m sure.” Marcus kept an arm around Ginevra’s waist as he turned them both, so he could greet Corrado and Alessio behind her. “Behave tonight, huh?”
Corrado smirked. “When do we not?”
Marcus arched a brow. “You want a rundown?”
Alessio tapped his temple with one finger. “No need.”
“Listen,” Marcus said, his gaze drifting over the people lingering near the bar, “I’d like for this opening to go off well, if you wouldn’t mind. So, if someone opens their mouth about something the two of you don’t like, let me handle it.”
“I’ll try,” Corrado murmured.
Marcus looked to Alessio displeased with Corrado’s answer. Alessio only shrugged like he didn’t have an opinion one way or the other, saying, “It’s a sore topic.”
Right.
Ginevra understood now.
Made men.
The famiglia.
Corrado joining The League.
Him and Alessio.
Yeah.
“You would think the two of you would try to keep each other out of trouble more often than you do,” Marcus muttered.
Alessio made a dismissive noise under his breath as he rocked back on his heels. “You would think that, but no.”
“Marcus!”
His arm slipped away from Ginevra as he turned to see who was shouting his name behind them. Quickly, he found whoever he was looking for, raised a hand, and then shot a look over his shoulder at the rest.