“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “What matters is that what I feared would happen in time, what Luke was working on, is here now.”

“Luke? But—”

“He’s in the hospital, I know.”

“Is it Dominic?”

His face changed, and he looked just beyond me. “I’m not sure, Lucia.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“That the time for war, it’s dawning.”

Salvatore’s phone rang, and he reached into his pocket to get it. “I’ll call you right back,” he said and disconnected the call. “Let’s get you inside and settled. I’d rather have you at home, but this will have to do for now.”

We headed for the door. Salvatore slid the key into the lock and opened it. Effie went directly into the kitchen, leaving us alone for the time being.

“You’ll be safe here. I’m leaving four men outside. They won’t let anyone in.”

“Or out, I’m guessing.” He turned to me and took my face in his hands.

“Correct.”

He looked at me for a long moment.

“This is one I really, really need to trust you on, Lucia. I don’t have time to go looking for you, and I can’t keep you safe if you disappear.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good, because if you do, I’ll take my belt to your ass again, and this time, it’ll be a month before you can sit down.”

“I said I’m not,” I snapped, not wanting that memory.

He nodded then kissed my mouth, his hands still on either cheek.

After walking him out, I glanced once more at the cars parked out front. One man sat inside each one. I wasn’t sure where the others had gone. Probably around the house. I didn’t care as long as they didn’t come inside. I closed the door and went to the kitchen to find Effie had taken out flour and a big bag of M&M’s, but even she wasn’t snacking on them.

“I can’t reach the other stuff,” she said, her tone somber. “M&M cookies are Uncle Luke’s favorites. Mommy has the recipe on her iPad.”

I smiled and squatted down to her level, rubbing her arms. “The doctors are going to do everything they can to make sure he’s okay, understand?”

She nodded, but her face remained serious. “He and mommy had a fight last night. I heard them.”

“Their fight doesn’t have anything to do with what happened. You know that, right?”

“I’m scared, Aunt Lucia. What if he’s not okay? What if he doesn’t wake up anymore?”