VINCENZO POV ~~~Someone handed me a Campari and soda, and I saw it was Marco. I sent him a grateful look and drank half the cocktail in one swallow.Inside the room were the members of La Provincia, the board of control. The one person missing was Dante Armani. It was smart of him not to show up, because I would have strangled him on the spot.Finally all the leaders sat, with our men standing behind us. I was sandwiched between the dons from Reggio Calabria and Platì, both men I knew well.Pasquale Borghese was the capo crimine, also the diplomat and mediator of the group, so he called the meeting to order. “Signori, let us begin, as we are all anxious to return home. Some more than others.”“Yes, the ones with girlfriends!” someone shouted, causing everyone to laugh.Borghese held up his hand. “We must start with the most recent conflict among us, which has escalated and turned ugly. Too ugly, in my opinion, and I know many at this table feel the same. Morreti, would you care to ex

VINCENZO POV ~~~Four and a half years later.....The door knob rattled, followed by a thump. More rattling.As Marco started to stand from his chair, I put my hand up. “Wait,” I mouthed and hid my smile.A few seconds later my office door opened and the beautiful face of my two-year-old daughter, Noemi, appeared. She strode in like she was in charge. “Papà! Zio Marco! Mamma says it is time to come.”I pushed back from the desk and patted to my lap. “Polpetta! I’ve been waiting for you. Come, give me hugs and kisses.”“Ah, me first!” Marco scooped up my daughter before she could get to the desk and spun her around. She squealed with delight, her short blonde curls flying.When he set her on her feet, she grinned and wobbled. “I’m dizzy.”I gave her a second to get her bearings. “Now may I have my hugs and kisses?”She ran right over and jumped on me, squirming onto my lap. Noemi was aggressive and energetic, just like her brother. And her mother, now that I thought about it.Noemi stoo