“I don’t know if I can do this, sir.”
“It’s all set, Evan. You’ve got this. You can handle anything.”
“You have too much faith in me.” I shake my head and look to Rinaldo’s pale face. “There isn’t a lot of time. Lucia and I haven’t even dated, much less talked about anything else.”
“I’ll tell her it’s what I want. She’ll listen.”
“It might not be enough.”
“It will be enough for her.”
I don’t share Rinaldo’s confidence. Sometimes his ideas are a little too old school, and Lucia is a modern woman. If she sees herself becoming her mother—sidelined and raising my children while I do the dirty work—she might not consider it enough in the least.
“I have my doubts,” I tell him.
“It will take her time to get used to the idea,” he says, “but she’ll get there. She’s always liked you, and I don’t think the arrangement itself will be a point of contention.”
I take a deep breath and hope he’s right.
“What’s the status of everyone else?” he asks.
“All the accounts are set up. Lele and Margot will be on their way to Italy as soon as”—I can’t bring myself to say the word funeral, so I don’t—“as soon as possible. It’s all arranged.”
“Keep the wedding quick and simple. Lele won’t be up for a lot of planning.”
I nod.
“There’s one last thing.” His words are expected.
“Nick and Milena,” I say.
“Yes.” Rinaldo shifts in the bed, trying to get comfortable. I lean forward and help him with the pillow.
“They will both need to leave Chicago,” I say.
“I’m not leaving him anything,” Rinaldo says, “at least not officially. That’s where you come in.”
“I’ll get an account set up. I’d like him somewhere within reach just in case I ever need him but definitely out of the state.”
“Where are you thinking?”
“Seattle, LA, and New York are out of the question. He may not be an obvious target, but those cities are too risky. I’m thinking of sending him off to Georgia.”
“Georgia?”
“Outside the Savannah area.”
“Why there?”
“Because Sebastian Stark is there. Nick would have some protection if he needed it, and the area is pretty secluded.”
“You’ve talked to Stark?”
“I have.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Enough.” I lean back, and Rinaldo stares at me pointedly. “I told him we’re brothers. I told him I might need a favor. I’m not completely sure where that leaves us, but I’ll go out there and make sure everything’s okay before I send Nick.”