"You took the first strike," Bastione continued, "attacking me in my own home. Thank goodness I had a heads-up, or I would already be in the ground."
"We gave you a few of our territories as a truce," Marco countered.
"True." Bastione lifted his glass. "And then you kidnapped my son for no reason."
Marco's jaw tightened. There were many things he could stomach but pretending Renato had been dragged from a church choir was not one of them. "He kidnapped Nonnina."
"An ordinary nanny for my son?" Don Bastione drawled. "That's not a fair trade."
Marco went cold.
Ordinary?
Nonnina had never worn a crown but she had been a tremendous mother. She had raised boys who grew into monsters and somehow still made them feel loved.
Ordinary?
Marco stepped closer to the desk. One of the guards by the wall shifted. Bastione did not move, but his eyes sharpened with interest. "Nonnina was much more than a nanny to the entire famiglia...She was a mother. She was the pillar behind Luca."
