“I… um…” What did one say to a proclamation like that? It wasn’t as if Faith didn’t know the score. It was possible she knew more than half the women in the family, given the activity she’d caught Angelo in on the night they’d met. But Gemma wasn’t one of the naïve lambs, nor was she content to keep to the family code of silence.

Leo’s sister looked Faith over. Once she’d seen whatever she was looking for, she said, “He killed my husband. And I suspect he wasn’t quick about it.”

“Why would he…?”

Before Gemma could answer, Leo ambled over. Another nephew, Michael, got him in the back of the head with a snowball when he turned from the group. “Cheap shot!” he called over his shoulder.

“Whatever,” Michael said. “There are no rules with snowballs.”

Leo’s attention turned to Faith and his sister. “Gemma,” he said, nodding. But his face was tight, his eyes cold and narrowed. If Faith had any doubt before, it was gone. He’d killed Gemma’s husband. She took an involuntary step back and Leo’s sharp gaze shifted from his sister to Faith. In a fluid blur of energy, he took her arm and pulled her back against him in a parody of an embrace.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” he whispered against her ear.

Faith froze.

Leo returned his focus to his sister. “What interesting gossip have I missed?” His grip tightened on Faith with each syllable out of his mouth, though it appeared to be an unconscious action on his part.

“That’s on a need-to-know basis. Like every fucking thing else in this twisted family,” Gemma retorted.

“Don’t test me,” Leo said. “What did you say to her?”

By now, family members had dropped their clumps of snow and drifted closer to hear the commotion, except for the few adults who’d herded the children away into their cars—sensing things were about to turn very mature. The other parishioners had left during the snowball fight, and the priest had retired to the rectory. It was just adult family members now. And Faith.

“I don’t think you want to open that can right now,” Gemma said, “Not in front of the whole family.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Leo said. The warning in his tone was unmistakable.

“Let’s put it this way. You’re the only member of the family I’m a hundred percent sure is a murderer.”

There was a thud as a body hit the ground.

“Grammie!” Leo shouted.

“It’s okay,” Sal said when he reached Alba. “She just fainted.”

Gina crossed herself. “It can’t be true. My Leo’s such a good boy. He would never hurt a fly.”

“Fuck,” Leo muttered. “He broke Gemma’s jaw and one of her ribs. She was a mess the night she came to my house. And it wasn’t the first time. He would have killed her eventually, and none of you did a goddamn thing about it!”

“Language!” Uncle Sal said.

“Fuck language. Emilio deserved to die. Nobody touches any of my family. Being married in won’t keep you safe from me if you hurt someone I love. I don’t care if it’s not my business.” He let go of Faith and stalked toward the car.