Giaimo turned from the door and was closing the distance between him and Athena. Athena’s legs at last gave out beneath her. Giaimo caught her before she could hit the floor. Easily, he took her up along with the bag she still carried.
“Shh...it’s okay, bella...” he soothed while ascending the five flights. “It’s alright...it’s alright, you hear? Good girl,” he cheered when she put her head on his shoulder.
“Can you reach your key?” He asked when they stood before the apartment door. He rewarded her with a kiss to the temple when a shaky hand produced it from her coat pocket.
“Just drop it in my hand, bella,” he instructed, uncurling the hand beneath her knee.
Athena did as instructed. Somehow, Giaimo caught the key and unlocked the door all without sacrificing the security of his hold on her.
“It’s okay,” he soothed while leading them through the moonlit apartment. He placed Athena on the living room sofa and turning on a lamp which filled the room with soft light. He then reached for the bag of groceries. “It’s okay,” he assured her when she held fast to the bag when he tried to take it.
Athena eventually gave it over, but clutched Giaimo’s coat sleeve when he would have moved away.
“I’m only taking the bag to the kitchen, bellissima,” he promised and rewarded her with a smile when she nodded.
Giaimo returned with a glass of water. “I put the kettle on for tea,” he said while setting the glass between her hands. “Good girl,” he said when she took a long sip.
“You know how to make tea?” she croaked out, feeling somewhat steadied by the water.
Giaimo laughed. “I see why my brother loves you. You’re a feisty one.”
Athena frowned down into the glass. “I didn’t feel very feisty back there.”
“You were caught off guard,” a steely element underscored Giaimo’s words. “Anyone would be shaken by it.” His vivid eyes narrowed. “Are you truly alright, Athena? Did that filth do anything-”
“No,” she shook her head, closing her hands more tightly around the glass. “I don’t think that’s what he wanted-at first.” She began to tremble again.
Giaimo relieved her of the glass and pulled her into a hug. They were still embracing when Liam arrived. By then, Athena was content and toasty, warmed by the surprisingly good cup of tea her brother in law had produced.
Instant concern taking command of his features, Liam hurried to kneel beside his wife. “The baby?” he asked.
“The baby’s fine,” Giaimo answered. “She had a run in with one of the folks who don’t like your factory.”
Athena nodded when Liam looked to her for confirmation. Liam then asked to speak with his brother in the kitchen, but not before making sure Athena was cozy and content.
As Giaimo was in full possession of the facts, he shared them all with Liam. The chat ended with a suggestion to move his wife. Liam absorbed it all without comment. Giaimo made ready to leave soon after. He left the kitchen and headed back to Athena in the living room.
“Buona notte, bellissima,” he murmured into her cheek.
“Grazi,” she sighed.
“Thank you for not panicking,” Giaimo teased in a gruff tone that made his sister in law laugh. “Gave me time to get my thumb out of my ass and get in here.”
“You were perfect,” she kissed his grizzled cheek.
Humbled, Giaimo nodded, squeezed Athena’s hand and left with a curt ‘good night’ for his brother.
~9~
“If it’s a question of money, Li, it shouldn’t be. You’re our brother. Family helps family.”
“There’s always a cost. Even with family.”
Emilio laughed. “Spoken like a man who has forgotten the concept of family.”
Liam stirred the mug of tea he’d ordered at the cafe where he and his wife celebrated their wedding. He had wanted to stay close to home for Athena that day, but left to meet Emilio after calling to arrange the get together.
“Providing security for a factory will require many men and man hours. How do you intend to handle that if you don’t plan to charge me?”
“Reputation has a power that money can’t touch, Li.” Emilio scanned the cafe with a knowing eye. “The show of force it would take to secure that factory will put our business on a level that shows our clients we’re a force- one that will make them feel even more secure about trusting their lives and livelihoods to us. Securing your factory against the likes of the Americans...” he closed his eyes as though savoring the possibilities. “Boldness like that could reap unimagined rewards, Li.”
Liam began to chuckle. His dark eyes claimed a happy light.
“Have I gotten through to you then?” Emilio grinned.
“Nandi always labels me as the visionary. I’m beginning to see where I get it from.”
“Oh, I won’t take credit for that. It’s Ma and Papa,” Emilio said.
There was silence and then the brothers raised their cups to toast Luca and Constanza Tesano.
“I know you’ve discovered things about the way we handle our business-things that give you pause about working together.”
Liam regarded his tea cup, moving it to and fro a top the saucer. “Do you know the word ‘stereotype’, brother?”
Emilio arched a brow. “Can’t say I do.”
“It’s a belief, usually an unfounded and unfavorable one that serves to bolster negative opinions supported by another group. This stereotype gives this other group justification for its actions,” Liam explained. “Our people are already viewed as a violent presence. Sadly, that idea comes from some very real places-very real people.”
