The Rocchetti Queen - Bree Porter Page 0,6

Ophelia watched me, but didn’t say anything.

When Dante was on my breast, I said, “It is a life-changing opportunity, Ophelia. You know that.”

She nodded. I could see the internal battle in her mind. Ophelia didn’t want to associate with the Outfit, didn’t want to be on our radar, but she also couldn’t possibly give up the chance to earn a good wage and pay back her debts.

It didn’t take long for her to sign the contract.

“Wonderful,” I said, once she had passed it to me, her name signed and neatly printed at the bottom. “I’ll introduce you to Nicoletta.”

The soft melody of the piano was the only sign Nicoletta was awake.

I often checked on her throughout the day, worried by her silence. Except for her musical talents, Nicoletta was virtually silent. She was always happy to talk to Alessandro and I—or Beppe, her most beloved visitor—but other than that, she was quiet.

Once Dante had fed, I ushered Ophelia up to Nicoletta’s room. I held Dante to my chest, patting his back softly, trying to get him to burp.

“You are more than welcome to live here,” I told her, as I led her through the house. “However, I understand wanting your own space.”

“I would prefer that,” she ventured.

“Of course. We plan to move Nicoletta to her old home once news of her...well, in due time.”

Nicoletta was still presumed dead by the Outfit. Alessandro had let me be in charge of sharing the news, and none of the other Rocchetti men had disputed that. It was not petty gossip—in fact, it was startling news. Planning when to share it had proven to be difficult.

“If you ever need anything, just let me know.” We reached Nicoletta’s bedroom door. “Now, you’re not an idiot, Ophelia, and I would not treat you as such. It goes without saying that what you hear, what you see, is nobody’s business—not even your own.”

Ophelia nodded. “I know.”

I smiled and patted her arm. “Wonderful! You’re going to be a great addition to our household.” I knocked on the door, calling to Nicoletta softly.

The piano quieted and she called back out to me.

I opened the door and was greeted with the sight of Nicoletta sitting at her instrument. She was dressed in a white nightgown, gray hair unbound and eyes glassy. When she spotted me, she smiled in greeting—a smile which widened when she noticed Dante.

“Oh, you brought the baby!” she said in Italian, clasping her hands together.

Ophelia glanced at me but didn’t say anything.

“Nicoletta, please meet Ophelia. She will be with you from now on, instead of Elizabeth.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Ophelia said politely, her Italian mixed with American dialect.

Nicoletta rose from her piano, shakily. “Let me see Alessandro,” she said. “Little baby Alessandro. Where is his brother?”

“Sleeping.” I stepped closer to her, twisting my shoulder to the side, so she could see Dante’s little face.

She completely brightened.

To Ophelia, I said, “Any questions?”

“When was she diagnosed?” Ophelia asked, no longer afraid but now clinically aware of her patient.

“It is hard to say—there are no real records and medical science is abundantly better than it was. But she was suspected to have schizophrenia very young...perhaps early thirties? However, recently it has been updated to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s.”

Ophelia nodded, expression calculating. “She seems fairly advanced.”

“There are good and bad days,” I replied. “I hope you’re not reconsidering your job.”

“No.” She smiled at Nicoletta. “No, I’m not.”

Nicoletta reached out and stroked Dante’s head lightly, the soft blonde hairs sticking up. She muttered something in Italian that I didn’t quite catch, but from the adoring look on her face, I couldn’t imagine it to be anything bad.

“Beppe will visit her often. But other than that, call me before letting anyone else visit her,” I said. “And if you leave the house with her, I need to know, and you will be set up with a security detail.”

“I understand.”

“What happened to the girl before me? Elizabeth, did you say her name was?”

I threw Ophelia a smile. “Elizabeth was a bit of a loudmouth.” And though Elizabeth had never shared a secret—that I knew of—it was more the principle of the act.

Plus, I was trying to gain as much control over this family as possible. And having an employee who was more loyal to Nina Genovese than I was not going to work.

“Are you not tired?” I asked Nicoletta. “It is the middle of the night.”

“No, no.” Nicoletta took sudden interest in my hand. “That is my wedding ring.”

I twisted