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want to be
practical.”
    “I am practical.”
    “Of the two of us, when have you ever been
described as the practical one?”
    Enrico heard a hint of humor in Dom’s voice.
But what he said was true. “You’re right. As usual. My head’s in
the clouds looking at lofty goals, not at the situation on the
ground.”
    “So will you listen to me? We already charge
Carlo and the others more to deal with their dirt. We cannot cut
off all the families. If we’re to deal with Carlo, we’ll need all
the friends we can get—or at least no more enemies.” Dom paused for
a second. “You do agree, yes?” When Enrico gave his assent, Dom
continued. “You ought to be smoothing things over with Carlo. I’ve
been thinking about it, and since your marriage to Antonella kept
the peace for so long, what about marrying Delfina?”
    A bolt of surprise hit Enrico in the chest.
“Dario’s Delfina? She’s far too young. And she’s my niece.”
    “She’ll be twenty-two next month. And she’s
blossomed this last year. I saw her recently, and it’s been on my
mind ever since to propose the match.”
    Enrico turned the idea over. Kate was an
impossibility. And, if Carlo would agree to it, marrying his
granddaughter would solve Enrico’s problems—it would end Carlo’s
threats to his life and his business, and it would provide him with
the heir he needed. What was there not to like?
    Nothing. Except that Delfina wasn’t Kate.
    “Rico, are you there?”
    “I’m thinking.”
    “So it’s not an automatic no?”
    Enrico didn’t miss Dom’s hopeful tone. “It’s
not a yes, either.”
    “Fine. But in the meantime, let’s not upset
Carlo further. Or any of the other families. We have enough trouble
as it is.”
    “All right, all right. I’m listening to you.
As usual.”
    “As you should. I didn’t get to be your right
hand based solely on my good looks.”
    Enrico laughed. He and Dom looked so much
alike people often mistook them for brothers. “Remember, I’m the good-looking one.”
    Dom sighed in mock sorrow. “Don’t I know it.”
He paused, then continued, his tone serious. “Please do consider
Delfina. It’s the perfect solution.”
    “I know.” Enrico sighed. “I’m just not sure
I’m ready.”
    “Antonella’s been gone a year. You know she
wanted you to remarry. And to keep the peace with her father. I’m
sure she’d approve of the match.”
    Dom had him there. After all, Antonella had
been the one who’d proposed their marriage to Carlo, all those
years ago. The fact that Carlo had taken her counsel, even though
she’d been only fourteen, spoke more for her wisdom than anything
else Enrico could think of. Could he find a similarly developed
mind in Delfina or another young girl? Unlikely. But Kate… Kate had
shown him glimmers of her mind, how she thought, who she was. And
he was hopeful.
    But he shouldn’t be. Not if he wanted peace
with Andretti.
    “Rico?”
    “You’re right, Antonella would approve.”
    “So, should I speak to Dario and Carlo about
it?”
    “Give me a little more time.” He needed to
get used to the idea. “I need to talk to her first.”
    “I’ll arrange it.”
    Enrico chuckled at Dom’s eagerness. “I never
realized you were such a matchmaker.”
    “I want you to be happy. And I don’t want to
see you shot down in the street like a dog.”
    Enrico’s mouth twisted at the image. It
reminded him of the crime-scene photos from when his mother and his
brothers were killed. Primo’s body pocked with bullets, lying in a
pool of blood beside their car, Mario slumped halfway out the open
door to the back seat. It was an image that haunted his dreams. “I
don’t want that either.”
    “Good. I’m glad you’re seeing sense about
this.”
    “One of us has to be the practical one.” They
both laughed and then said their goodbyes.
    After he ended the call, Enrico felt a
niggling uneasiness. Delfina. Could he seriously contemplate taking
her as his wife? Then