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“Wait, you work for the family? What kind of jobs do you do?”
Icaro and Keturah exchanged glances. Zorah reached out, tugging Keturah’s sleeve.
“Wait, do you do the same kind of work Icaro does?” She leaned in close and whispered. “Like the killing thing?”
Keturah gave her a smile and patted her hand, “nobody would suspect a girl but Icaro and Vodingo himself trained me.”
“No way. Really? But you’re a –”
“Woman?” Keturah laughed at Zorah.
“No. I mean you don’t seem the type. I expect a femme fatale not a,” Zorah sighed as both Icaro and Keturah lifted their eyebrows at her. Keturah folded her arms over her chest. “I’m saying it wrong, aren’t I?”
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say but I’m not feeling you’re saying it well.” Keturah mocked her.
“I simply mean, you seem genuinely nice and kind. People were drawn to you at the club. You were the center of attention, and everyone wanted to dance with you. You also wear dresses, and I expect an assassin to wear pantsuits or something.”
Keturah giggled and kissed Zorah’s cheek. “I love you, cousin. I am particularly good at my job. I am very well trained. What I wear does not hinder my ability to do my assigned tasks.”
“I guess.”
“Are you judging me, Zorah?”
“I simply don’t understand the need to kill.” She whispered more to herself than her compatriots.
“There was this mark I was given in France. It paid me a million dollars.”
“A million dollars? Icaro said the running fee for someone from the family is two.”
“It is. Half to me, half to the family,” Keturah grinned at her. “I put a million in my bank account for one single little bullet.” She watched Zorah closely, “you’re curious.”
“No.” she denied it, though she knew she was lying.
“I’m a sniper, Zorah. I can hit a target better than most of the men in our army. Though I can do what I need to do up close and personal, I prefer to keep my distance.”
“Huh,” Zorah frowned.
“Amoré,” Icaro interrupted the conversation. “When we move back to New York, Keturah will be accompanying us, and she will be assigned to you for protection.”
Keturah looked to Icaro in surprise. “I will?”
“Do you want to stay here and get married to a Giarre man or do you want me to give you an assignment in America where you can sow your own oats on your downtime? I’m not happy with the team who has been covering Zorah to date. I’ve been considering replacements when we go back. I didn’t consider you, Keturah because I presumed you were happy here and in Rome but if you want.”
“Yes!” Keturah jumped up and down. “If Zorah will have me, yes.”
Icaro paused, “for now, Zorah and I are working through the next few weeks to see how things progress. If Zorah agrees to come back to New York with me and to move into the mansion, then you will accompany us back.”
“You are thinking of not going back with him,” Keturah commented to Zorah quietly.
Zorah noticed though, for the first time, one of the family wasn’t asking with judgement in her tone or accusations in her words. Zorah gave a sad shrug. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks.”
“You and I will meet for coffee. I will come to the villa, or you will come to me, and we will sit, and you will tell me everything you have been through. No matter what you decide though Zorah, we are friends, no? We should exchange numbers, and we can text and chat.”
“I would like that, Keturah.”
“Excellent. Icaro, whatever you’ve done, pull your head out of your ass and make it right. She is special.”
“I am trying, Keturah but I will try harder.”
“Good. Also, you can tell my parents how you’ve given me a new directive and I need to leave the country.”
He nodded. “I will call them this evening. I’ll also call my father to run interference. Zorah trusts and likes you. I think it will be a good fit for you both if you are working with Amauri to keep her safe.”
“I really hope for my sake, it works out so I can go but mostly I hope whatever happens, Zorah, you find your happiness.”
“Thank you, Keturah,” she accepted the hug. “We will definitely meet for coffee soon.”
Icaro nodded, “no matter what Keturah, I’ll ensure you go to America. Either as part of Zorah’s protection team or working on other projects. I won’t let your folks marry you off to a Giarre. As it stands right now, I’m half-tempted to go to war with the family.”
“Icaro, no.” Zorah put her hand on his forearm. “Enough. We agree he’s overstepping boundaries but he’s not worth it. I’m not going to allow you to ruminate on a man I won’t give a second thought.”
Icaro cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead, “you are too good for this world, Zorah Lucchesi. Come. We will let Keturah finish selling vegetables for her friend and I will treat you to my favorite café which is up just a bit further?”
“Maurizio’s?” Keturah made wide eyes at Zorah. “You will love it there. They make the most delicious pastries and the coffee is sublime.”
“I could use some good coffee,” Zorah nodded and let Icaro tuck her hand into his elbow, while she clutched her flowers to her chest. “Lead the way.”
Once they were away from Keturah, Zorah asked quietly, “arranged marriages still happen so much?”
“They do, especially here in Sicily in families such as ours.”
“You will make sure it doesn’t happen to her?”
“I will. No matter what, I will relocate her to New York or Boston.”
She stopped and tugged on his arm to kiss his cheek, “thank you.”
“For what?”
“For recognizing I would need a friend other than Sidonia. Sidonia is under Vodingo’s spell right now. I feel like Keturah is not as biased since she’s not a Lucchesi bride. Thank you. I know you made the offer for her to come with us for my benefit more than hers.”
He smiled gently. “Perhaps but she is also my cousin, and she didn’t lie. We did train her, Vodingo and I. She and Amauri went through the same regime, and she is tough as nails. She can protect you as good if not better than Amauri. I trust her implicitly. If she can keep you safe and be an emotional support for you, then I am all for it. It didn’t occur to me until we ran into her, but it makes the most sense.”
“Well, I am very grateful for the friend.”
He paused at the entrance to a coffee shop, little tables for two sitting outside. When Zorah’s stomach growled, he chuckled, “time to feed my bride.”
She breathed in deep, the smell of fresh ground coffee coming from the open doors of the shop.
Maybe today was going to be a good day after all.
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