Blood War (The Don Sequel)

91

Kiara POV

As he wanted, straight from his mother's memorial I hopped on a flight to Sicily with my children. No one but the persons on the flight with us knew of our whereabouts. We didn't go to our home in Sicily. This was a brand new house that I didn't even know existed and it was 't registered under any of our names, it was under a foreign name. A dead man's name. My father's name. How they even managed to pull this off was beyond me. I reckon that Teresa had something to do with it. Occasionally I speak to her and Venice but I haven't been in constant contact with anyone else besides Marcellous and Camilla since that day. We're laying low as was instructed. We're alone, away from the family and everything we knew as home. I miss Milan but I know the time isn't yet right for us to return. We will know when the time is right. He will let us know.

It's actually been six years since Dario Romano was arrested. Six years since the Romano mafia has fallen. Six years since I've seen my husband. I was summoned once to attend a court hearing and that was the only time that I saw him after his arrest. I refrained from giving comments on the case at all costs and asked for privacy for my family at the time before I left Milan once again to join my sons. I never thought being away from Dario would allow me to feel this miserable. Never in my youth would I have ever imagined that a day would come where I was genuinely worried for the man, where I actually missed his presence. I never thought I would miss the lifestyle. We are still very much well off—money wise, but for now very much on the low. The house we're staying in is nothing like what we're used to. It's good that way, we live in a quiet neighborhood with retirees where nothing really happens. I only ever leave the property for grocery runs and beach days with the boys but occasionally. If the beach is crowded we head right back home to avoid being noticed and I always keep myself well covered to camouflage when I go to the market or mall. However, sometimes Teresa's men make errands for us as well. Luca, Leonardo and Danté never leave the property just incase they're recognized as one of Dario's associates. We don't want to lead any news reporter, paparazzi or anyone else to our temporary house. They're like our personal guard dogs. Surely they miss how everything used to be too. They haven't even tried to sneak a woman in here at least once. The thought of them having to please themselves while under the same roof as me and my sons are unpleasant but I try not to ever think about that. They are human so I can't blame them.

"Mamma, la colazione è pronta."
(Mom, breakfast is ready)

"Thank you Matteo, I'll be there soon."

My eldest has been a huge help in all of this. As Dario always informed me, Matteo would grow up faster than he should one way or another. After his father was arrested, he basically became the man of the house by the time he was ten. Now my young boy is fourteen years old. It saddens me that this is the life he has at his tender age. Taking care of his younger brothers and mother, living in a single parent household with his father behind bars and being educated by fucking technology. Tomorrow is Massimo's birthday but there won't be anything special about it. Every year has been the same for all the boys birthdays since we've been in Sicily. We get them a cake and a few gifts to excite them and keep them distracted, well all except Matteo. He never wants gifts nor cakes but I bake him a cake every year regardless. My other sons cakes are store bought but I try to do it different for Matteo. Sometimes I wonder if it's out of guilt for the burdens he had to bare at such a young age.

I closed the book I'd been starring at for the past God knows how long and made my way into the kitchen. "Buongiorno a tutti"

"Buongiorno mamma" (good morning mom) Enzo and Santino said in unison.

I took a sit besides them and Matteo placed a plate and cup of coffee infront of me. I thanked him kindly and asked about his brother's whereabouts.

"Training with Danté." He answered simply.