“Let’s get you something to drink and maybe a pastry,” Evangeline said. “I’m sure we can find somewhere quiet to sit.”
The moment she was outside of Mitya’s protection, Alessandro Caruso came over to her with his father, Marzio. Ania would have avoided Alessandro if possible but knew it would be terribly rude to do so with his father. She let him take her hand and lean over it as if he might kiss her knuckles with old-world charm.
“Ania. You remember me? You used to come with your grandfather or father and sit on the floor playing while we talked. My beautiful Ann would sneak you treats your father said you couldn’t have.”
She managed a wan smile. “I do remember those times. They were wonderful.”
“Your father was my friend for many years. I should have visited him more often, but these last few years have been tough on my Ann, and I left most of the business to my boys and just stayed in with her. I regret that.”
“My father loved Ann. He wouldn’t have wanted you to do anything else.”
Marzio Caruso looked around the room and then caught her wrist very gently. His sons were suddenly there, all four of them, making a pathway for their father to the little room off the great room, the one few people had entered. She saw immediately that it was held by the Caruso security force.
“I would like to speak to you alone, Ania, and the matter is extremely private,” Marzio said.
She gripped Evangeline’s hand, her lifeline, and looked at Ashe, hoping both would stay close. “I’m not certain it’s a good idea right now,” Ania replied, keeping her voice steady. “I’ve been upset over my father’s death. I have no other family, and losing him has been a terrible blow.”
“I know how close the two of you were,” Marzio said. “But surely so many years of friendship warrants me a little bit of your time.”
She didn’t know how to graciously refuse him. She nodded to Evangeline and reluctantly let her allies go. Evangeline and Ashe moved just a little distance away.
The moment the two women put distance between them, Kiriil and Matvei moved close. “Ania,” Kiriil said gently. “Mitya gave specific instructions.”
Ania lifted her chin at Marzio, grateful beyond anything that Mitya, even out of her sight, was looking after her. “If you wish to speak to me, my bodyguards have to be with us.”
Marzio frowned. “They will report every word to Mitya.”
“There is no choice in this matter.” She was already on emotional overload and she was fearful of anything Marzio said to her. She was okay with not having the conversation, and the head of the Caruso family could clearly see that. He nodded abruptly.
Ania entered the room with both Kiriil and Matvei, who immediately took up the two best positions in the room. Once the Caruso family entered, everyone else left, leaving her alone with Marzio’s sons and their personal bodyguards. She was extremely grateful again for her two bodyguards, something she hadn’t thought possible.
Ania decided she had to come out of the fog she was in and take charge. She indicated the two armchairs. “Would you care for something to drink?”
“No, no, cara, I know you have spoken to Alessandro and he has indicated to you that Donato would like to purchase your business. That is for another discussion. This one is one I don’t wish to have because I fear it will ruin our friendship, and that is very valuable to me.”
She tried to keep her frown from showing. She didn’t have Mitya’s expressionless mask. “Please continue, signor Caruso.”
“Marzio, Ania. We won’t be formal. It is your alliance with Mitya Amurov that is distressing me. This man is not a good man. His father is one of the worst of the bratya. Everyone fears him. There are rumors of this man coming here to either kill his son or do business with him. In any case, you cannot win with a man such as Amurov. They are violent and have no problem killing women and children. They deal in things we would never think to deal with. They kill rather than keep their word. These are not good men.”
He patted her hand. “I don’t say these things to you lightly or to upset you. I weighed whether or not to approach you but could not neglect my duty to Antosha’s beloved child.”
“I appreciate that you care enough to talk to me,” she said, uncertain how to reassure