***

Ori packed her bag carefully. Fewer weapons than usual, since Tattaglia didn’t allow them in his place, but she still had her gun and a couple of knives. It was strange, remembering who she was. Two different women seemed to be packing her bag: Oriana picked one thing for Francesco, then Ori selected a different one for Tara. She felt more like herself, her real self, her Tara self, but this trip to Naples would be difficult.

She wanted to see Tara.

She was also scared to see her.

She wanted to run away.

She also wanted to make sure the girls weren’t hurt. Some of them were too far gone, but some were almost normal.

She wanted to kill Francesco.

But she knew she couldn’t. 

Despite her progress, she suspected she’d freeze again. There was a wide chasm between resisting someone and destroying them. Ori would go to Naples, try to find a way to talk to Tara. Together, they’d put a plan together. Ori could return to the compound, make sure the girls were safe. And maybe Ori couldn’t pull the trigger on Francesco- but she’d happily put the gun in Tara’s hand and watch her blow him away.

Chapter 10: Recovery

“He’s on Sicily," said Oriana, "in the mountains near Cefalu.  I don’t know exactly where; it was hard to see when driving. I need to go back, Tara. Directly. Or he’ll kill the girls. There’s a passage I can sneak out of in the basement. Serena might be gone already or she might be staying for dinner. But I need to report in tonight before Francesco gets suspicious, and just hope he doesn’t notice anything when I go back. Two days from now, right at sundown… hit the compound. I’ll talk to some of the girls I think I can win over. Three… four at most. Some of them are going to fight for Francesco, and I can’t do anything about that. If everything goes according to plan, the girls I win over will take out the ones I can’t- then I can trap Francesco somewhere where you can finish him off. Or maybe I just get the girls to safety and meet you.” She shrugged. “I’m an agent, not a general.”

She stood up, dressing herself again in Tattaglia’s negligee. 

“Tell me about the team you have- all the people on it, what they can do. I can tell that to Francesco, make him believe that I was using you for information.” She glanced at the door. “Serena will know how long I’ve been in here.”

Tara listened to Oriana’s story, enrapt by it, and horrified at times.  Relieved as well. It was as good an outcome as she could hope for really.  Far better than the ones she’d had nightmares about coming to pass.  

Tara gave Oriana a run down of the team while Ori drew her a rough map of where the compound was located.  Telling her about the team felt a small bit like betrayal, but the truth was that Oriana was right - the man would know.  She was confident he already knew and this was as much a test as anything else. In fact, maybe how far she was willing to take things here in this room - behind closed doors, was a test too.  A man like that? Serena would tell him about the screams if she was as competitive as Ori seemed to indicate.  

“I need to go, Tara.”

“Listen to me.  Two things, then you can go.  The first… most important, I love you.  Second. He knows. He’s been watching my team every step.  He knows how I feel about you and I am going out on a limb and gonna guess if he didn’t know before he’s going to know after Serena tells him about our screams that you feel the same about me.  So… best lies are closest to truth. Ori if you have to…”

Ori shook her head quietly. “I’ll tell him I manipulated you.”

“Ori.  If you have to, tell him.  It doesn’t matter. Tell him I love you so much that I’d follow you to hell which… I pretty much think that place is.  Tell him you think you can convince me to come willingly.” She watched Ori’s reactions carefully.

“Okay.” Tara would never get within a hundred feet of Francesco, unless it was for her to kill him.

“I don’t want him to hurt you.  Whatever you need to do to survive this, Ori.  That’s what you do. Promise me that?”

“Okay. Two days. Right before sundown. Enough light to see, but people will be tired.”

“It’s a date.”  she smirked. “Not an ideal first date but um… maybe we can count this as t-”

“This was our first date, idiot.”  She smiled, then looked away.

“Go on now.  I’ll come for you, Ori.  I promise. I’ll always come for you.”

“Okay. I know. You already did. Twice.”

Tara smirked and blushed.  “We’ll start keeping score after we’re done with this shithead, okay?  Go before I change my mind and become one of this guy’s brothel girls for life.”

“Oh… you’re going to be late for dinner. There’s only one good excuse for being late for dinner- fortunately for you, you won’t have to lie.” Ori reached out and kissed Tara one last time, then turned and, without looking over her shoulder, walked out to the hallway.

Tara went back into the room, washed herself quickly and put her hair up as best she could before throwing on her dress and leaving the only heaven she’d ever known here on earth behind with a heavy sigh.

***

“You”, said Stefano Tattaglia, “are late for dinner.” He was seated at a long table. Brigitte was sitting across from him, staring at the blonde woman seated next to Stefano. Crupi was in the seat next to Tara’s empty one. 

Tara blushed, “You must forgive me this insult, Mr. Tattaglia, I’m afraid I was studying very hard and I am a dedicated student and a quick learner.  I … was overwhelmed by knowledge.”

Tattaglia scrutinized her. “I see. Well, we all know you aren’t lying.”

“I left your company a girl and return to you a woman.  A very, very, hungry woman. Might I join you at your table?” 

Tattaglia smiled. “Eat then. Learning always makes me hungry as well. And wine! More wine for all, if we’re celebrating!”

Across from them Serena stood up and bowed toward Stefano Tattaglia. “My apologies, but it’s time for me to go. I simply want to see your other guest for myself. I was curious who could make such… noises as we heard earlier.”

Tara blushed, “Won’t you stay, Serena?  I’d like the chance to get to know you too.”

“Oh, I’m sure we’ll have the opportunity to get to know each other soon. But I’m afraid I’ve left my car running so long outside- the poor machine must be burning by now.” Cold, snakelike eyes flashed at Tara before Serena bowed again to Tattaglia. Brigitte shifted in her seat, but the blonde assassin made her way to the door with Tattaglia wishing her farewell.

“So tell me, Tara Mastrosimone,” said Tattaglia, oblivious to any friction, “what do you enjoy the most about my palazzo? Outside of the chance for you to learn, of course.”

“In all the earth, of all the places I’ve ever been, this is the first one that I wasn’t afraid to be authentically myself.  Honest. And… I find myself dreading the moment I must leave.”

Tattaglia rested a hand over his heart. “Did you hear that, Pippo? She understands.” He nodded at his bodyguard, who might as well have been made of stone.

“Here I’ve been loved and have loved.  I do not know if I will ever feel this way again and…”  Tara felt true emotion behind her words as she poured forth honesty all over this man’s dinner table.  “... it scares me.”

Tara’s eyes briefly connected with her sister’s and when she was sure her sister knew she was being honest, that Ori had been here too, she looked down to the plate in front of her.

“Then stay. Learn. Why leave?”

Tara exhaled a ragged breath and intoned, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”  She picked up her fork then and began to eat.

Tattaglia sighed. “I understand. You must go- but know that my doors are always open to you. Both of you.” He nodded at Brigitte. “But first, eat, drink, and be as merry as you can. You will come back and visit me, yes? I’m sure there’s so much more for you to learn.”

“If I am able, yes, I should love to come back here and see you again.  As happy as you have made me, I should be a patron to this shrine all my life.”  She smiled at Tattaglia.

“Bring your friends,” said Tattaglia as he raised his wine glass. “Well, the attractive ones.”

***

When Tara, Brigitte, and Crupi walked out of the palazzo, a car immediately pulled up to them. They were startled until they saw Ren and Jo, then everyone climbed in. As the car drove down the road, Crupi sighed contently and said, “Now that was fucking amazing. You two should have been there.” Above Ren and Jo’s protests, Brigitte looked intently at Tara, questioning her sister with her eyes.

Tara fell then onto her sister’s shoulder.  Her head resting upon her as she sometimes did when she was younger and they’d sit up in bed together after mom and dad had told them to be in bed sleeping.  Brigitte would tell her and Gavin about the cities they’d never seen, and all the wonderful things of the world outside the woods. The stories seemed as fanciful as the ones from the books about pirates and fairies.  Staring out the window, feeling her sister’s warm body beside her, she longed for everything to be so simple and safe again.

“We need to talk.”  She said softly. “I … I know where we’re going.  And when. And I’m really … tired.” It wasn’t what she was going to say, afraid was the word she nearly said, but she couldn’t let the team hear that.  She sighed. She had never been so happy, content, and fearful all at the same time in her whole life.  It, like so much since she met Oriana, was complicated.

“Well, let’s get back to base and you can fill us all in,” said Brigitte, before leaning closer and whispering to Tara. “After that, you can fill me in.”

She nodded against her sister’s arm and held it as if holding her.

 ***

Oriana and Serena had taken a mostly silent plane from Naples to Cefalu, then took a truck from the garage up to the compound in the mountains. During the hours of travel, Serena sat with a superior expression on her face, as if she was just waiting for Oriana to say something. Ori didn’t give her the opportunity. As she threw the truck into park, she slid out of the car and walked confidently toward Francesco’s room. She walked in and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Two was there, pointing a gun at Oriana as she walked in. Two was the girl that Oriana had had the least luck winning over. Oriana took her seat in the chair across from Francesco’s bed; she was joined by Serena a few moments later.

“Report, girls.”

“We saw the Mastrosimone girls,” said Serena. “And a large man- a bodyguard. Oriana spent a lot of time with Tara Mastrosimone.”

“True,” said Oriana with a dry acknowledgment, “one of us had to do our job. Anyone could have sat at the dinner table and counted the guests. I leaned on my connection with the girl for information.”

“Your connection?” asked Francesco. Serena smiled. Oriana nodded, keeping the panic from her face.

“The girl is infatuated with me. I used that to gain information.”

Francesco slowly sat up in bed and turned to rest his feet on the floor. “And what did you learn, Oriana?”

“There are several members of her group. Tara Mastrosimone and Brigitte Mastrosimone, largely noncombatants. Zetico Crupi, a bodyguard and an experienced fighter. An Italian named Renato who seems more like a thief than a fighter. A soldier-for-hire named Parmentier, a capable fighter. There’s also a two person medical staff.”

“And what are they planning? How much do they know?”

“They know a lot. It’s only a matter of time before they’re here, although we’ll have at least a week. Tara was convinced that you were based on Sardinia, and I encouraged this thought by planting some hints.”

“A lot of time together,” said Serena.

“A lot of information,” said Oriana, staring at her “partner”.

Francesco was quiet for a few moments. He seemed torn on what to think.

“Good work,” he said after a long pause. “Take a couple hours to rest, then head back up to the town. We have some guests arriving this evening.”

Oriana bit her tongue; it would be to suspicious to ask. Thankfully, Serena did.

“Who?”

“Let’s call them alumni. Women that I worked with in the program before either of you. I’ve invited many of them, and I’ll feel much more secure regardless of how many arrive in the next week or so.”

Oriana and Serena both nodded, but in her head, Oriana was hoping that Tara’s team would bring enough firepower to deal with more assassins, albeit older ones. There was nothing for her to do now but wait- and be ready to react.

***

The team gathered together in the small living area of the hotel room.  Tara had showered and put on her usual jeans and t-shirt combo. The dress was packed safely away.  She walked into the room and felt all the eyes on her. Instead of speaking to them she went to the phone and picked it up knowing they would hear her side of the conversation.  She dialed and waited.

“Hello?”  Aurora’s voice.

“Just the person I wanted to talk to.”  Tara said with a hint of a smile.

“You okay, Squirt?”  She asked.

“Alive.”

“Team?”

“Down Viola.  Laurent and Brigitte recovering nicely.  Nothing they can’t handle.” She imagined her mother nodding.

“Status?”  Aurora’s voice was all business and it made things easier for Tara, no emotions like her father had walked her through.  Right now she wasn’t sure she could handle that.

“Holding pattern.  We move in two days.  I have a location. It’s not an address, a map.  I’ll have it sent to you in case we don’t get lucky.”

“You don’t need luck.”  Aurora said flatly. “Go on.”

“We’re traveling to Sicily.  Oriana is alive and I believe she’s going to be okay.  A help to us.”

“Good to hear.  I knew she was a strong girl.  Seeing you probably helped.”

“Yes, but I think she’s got a seriously dangerous blindspot with this guy still.  She’s likely to give away too much when she goes back. Our interactions were observed by others, I think he’ll know how much we care about each other.  He’ll exploit it. He’ll target me.”

“Make sure you have some surprises, then,” said Aurora.

“Yes, Ma’am.  It’s why I wanted to talk with you and not Dad.  We’re going to Sicily. You bailed out some people there.  You helped a big family gain a lot of power recently. I thought maybe we could tap them for supplies, if not re-enforcements.  Oriana can’t spill the beans about what she doesn’t know is coming. And she won’t have to worry about lying well to hide anything I didn’t tell her to expect.  So… surprises were exactly what I had in mind.  I’m thinking about reaching out to Great Grandpa Luciano’s family.  Instead of sitting on my hands two days and traveling, I could go to them, spend a day cajoling them, but it would be easier with a phone call from you beforehand.”

“Consider it done.  Their debt is considerable and what they don’t feel obligated to offer you as blood, we’ll pay for in cash.  The Luciano family is powerful now because of us, in more ways than one. Just make sure none of your distant cousins gets any ideas and your sister goes and agrees to get married or something foolish, okay?”  Aurora was attempting at levity. Tara smiled.

“I don’t know, she has a habit of making me work.”  She winked at Brigitte. “I’ll try to keep her focused on the mission.”

“Your father expressed to me his worry about things, but I want you to know, Tara, I don’t share them.  I know you’ve read my journal and your grandmother’s. Both of us, in our time, faced things far bigger than what we thought we had the skills to handle.  In my experience, it’s not the training alone that made the difference in the success or failures we had. You have everything you need to do this. When you come home, everything will feel like it’s changed, but the truth is that you… you will have changed.  You’ll know better what you’re capable of, you’ll never again feel quite the same doubt as you do now. Keep your mind not on what could happen, or what has happened in the past, be present. That is the best advice I can give you. And never, ever, give up. If you can breathe, you can fight.  Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“If it bleeds.  It can die.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”  Then before she could say another word, Aurora had hung up.  Tara paused, then hung up the receiver and looked at the group.

“We’re going to Sicily,” She said to the group putting down the map in front of them.  “Francesco Bianchi has a new compound built in the mountain and a new class of girls he’s training.  It’s not quite as bad as I feared, but I strongly suspect that Oriana isn’t as trusted as she thinks she is.  He won’t trust her completely until Brigitte and I are either a part of his program as he claims is the agenda… or dead.  I suspect the latter. I think he told Oriana what he needed to tell her in order to see what she would do. Very likely he’s confirmed now that I represent a threat to his hold over his best operative and I must be removed.”

She stood up, “So we’re going forward.  Oriana knows the details of the team as it stands.  I don’t think her handing over that information will be too helpful to Francesco.  As we’ve discussed already I think he’s been watching us closely since we arrived. Chances are good after a month, he knows who the hell we are and what we’re capable of.  It did put Ori at ease… so, I let her think that it might be enough to spare her Francesco’s suspicions.” She shook her head.

“What I didn’t tell her is what you just heard.  One key advantage we have in going to Sicily is that my family is connected.  There are many Dons there who owe debts to my family and would like to be out from under them or to give us favors so that they can shore up alliances… especially since Dad’s been making no secret about trying to make me his protege for the future of the Mastrosimone family.  They will want me to look favorably upon them and that means we should be able to get our hands on weapons and supplies and perhaps even extra soldato.”

“More men means no sneaking in, but I think that ship has sailed.  Our enemy is well aware of us, our numbers and that we’re coming. There’s no way in hell he doesn’t plan for that.  Oriana, I’m afraid, is being naive in hoping we can get in and out with a bunch of young girls with only one man’s death.  He knows that we know who he is and what he’s capable of… he knows we’d be fools not to come armed to the teeth.” She shrugs.  “I think we have to plan for the worst.”

She looked to her right-hand, “Brigitte, I know we have our moments as sisters but if it wasn’t clear before, you’re my right hand in this thing.  If at any point I can’t make a call… the team is to follow your orders. Laurent… consider yourself tapped as left. The mission is always this: Francesco Bianchi dies.  Secondary to that the rescue of Oriana Montini and ideally escaping with our lives and as many innocent girls as we can safely secure. I don’t think that all our objectives will be obtained perfectly… but we’ll do our best.”

“Ren, you’ve been the best damn scout a girl could hope for.  You’re a gentleman and were I so inclined, I would be lucky to have such an admirer.  I don’t know that your skills will be needed in the heat of this thing… if we’re going in the front door and we’re not worried about being subtle, it might be that your work for us is completed.  I don’t want you dying needlessly. I leave the call to you. You know the cause we’re here for… if you think you’ve done for us what you can, there’s no shame in shaking hands and letting me pay you for your services.  Honestly, you’ve been a true MVP.”

“And what sort of friend would I be if I left you now? I’m in,” said Renato.

“Doc, I sure as hell hope we don’t need you.  I hope this whole trip is you having done almost nothing and being bored as fuck, but somehow I doubt it.  Two days from now I need you on your a-game. So… there’s that.”

“I’ll make sure to be at my best,” said Dr. Magnotti.

“Jo, I think I’m going to regret bringing you before this is over.”  she smiled warmly at the other woman. “You’re one hell of a nurse, but a spitfire, and I can’t deny how thankful I am to have you at our backs.”

Jo smiled back at Tara. 

“Crupi,” She said looking to her loyal bodyguard and put her hand on his - giving him a fond look of appreciation, “If my luck runs out, I expect that you’ll do everything in your power to make sure my mother doesn’t bury two daughters.  That’s the whole of what I want you thinking about. Okay? I trust you to get one if not both of us home.”

Crupi nodded.

She looked back from Crupi to Brigitte, “Do you have questions for me with the group here?  Any input? Advice? I sure as hell welcome it from any of you, of course, but you have more than proven your stripes Brigitte.  As my older sister, I want to hear anything you have to say.”

Brigitte beamed at Tara, but said nothing for a good solid moment. “Il Duce.” She waited to see if anyone else would get it and then sighed. “You’re not the only one who talks to dad you know. He says that his senator doesn’t want to get involved. It’s mafia business and the way the government is turning, they are supporting Il Duce. The guy hates the mafia and everything it stands for. But if the Sicilian families are smart, they can point out that he lost control of his part of the government, and that he can’t do anything about it. They can. They get on his good side, and he leaves them alone for a little longer in exchange for removing a problem. Option two with him? Send me to him directly. It’s a risk, yes, but if someone has proof that Francesco has been working with the mafia? Senator Mussolini isn’t going to let that stand for long, especially since, from what dad says, Francesco doesn’t work for the government anymore. You know what a man’s ego and pride can’t stand? Being turned on by a traitor.”

Tara’s face slowly turned from grim to amused.  “You’re gunning for my spot showing you’re so much more than a pretty face like that.  Damn you really are the total package.  Fuck. I guess I owe you an apology for all these years of teasing…”  She inclined her head playfully, “I’m sorry.”  

Her laughter died down and she got serious again, “It’s good… really a good plan.  Question is do we have time to pull something like that off and what are the potential risks?  What might go wrong? Two days doesn’t leave us a big window.”

Brigitte shook her head. “No it doesn’t. It means either you’re going to have to send me on my own, or you’re going to have to play the Sicilian Dons we’re going to visit to get them to force his hand.” She stood and went to Tara then, taking her by both hands. “And you never owe me an apology. I wouldn’t change my sister for the world. Though, if you’re naming me your second in command, I might as well do something to earn my keep, so that’s the best I could come up with.” She gave Tara a hug. “Sorry it’s not more.”

Tara nodded.  “Nearly getting stomped to death… helping me not look like an idiot at every turn, I’m pretty sure you’ve earned your keep.  Still, I can’t see any harm in letting you try. If our mission fails, maybe you turn the Italian government on this asshole.  They can finish what we started and this travesty is put to an end and no more girls will have to endure what Oriana has. The senator might have people who will know that you’re tied to the mob but the intelligence you can bring them might make them overlook that and, but Uncle Will was a civilian.  A politician. Francesco’s top girl, Serena... Oriana confirmed she planted the bomb that killed him.”

Tara realized then that Brigitte had known all along.  The expression on her face, the look in her eyes… she’d never trusted Viola either.  Tara felt a little more ashamed that she’d overlooked the detail when clearly both Brigitte and Aurora had not.

“That means Francesco either had the Italian government’s okay to assassinate a top-ranking American politician or… and this more likely, the man isn’t just in bed with the mafia, he is trying to start a damn war.  If the Americans learned what we did while we were here… the public outcry would be huge. Uncle Will was young, handsome, charismatic… he and his lovely wife died very gruesomely and they left behind a young orphan who will play well in the news.  All the things you said are true but combine that with it… I don’t know how they could ignore you. To say nothing of you being you.” she smiled at Brigitte. Not only was her plan brilliant but it would get her sister out of harm’s way.

“You have my blessing to go take care of this. Call dad.  Work with him. Find the best way to move forward and do it as fast as you’re safely able.  You might prove to be of assistance to us in the assault, or the plan b if we fail. One way or another, we are going to stop this monster.” 

***

Oriana had spent her first day back keeping busy, trying to keep away from Francesco without making it look too obvious. She’d fooled him so far, in the briefing with Serena, but she was arrived of what would happen if he sat her down and looked her in the eye to push for answers. Hopefully, thinking of Lucia and Tara could get her through. Hopefully. 

For now, she’d left the compound and hiked to the east, doing some “training”, which meant finding a tree to sit in and try to make sense of things.

Oriana sighed, thinking of Tara. Part of her regretted how things had played out in Naples. She didn’t regret the sex; rather, she regretted the emotional mess. It had caused Oriana to feel some things that were better off buried. And while trying to navigate New York with Tara having a crush on her danced on the line between amusing and problematic, this was… something else.

She loved Tara, although she wasn’t sure if she and Tara would use the word in the same way. She’d easily kill for her- and she knew the reverse was true. If their situation was reversed, Oriana would have led a team to rescue Tara. And yet… what would Tara expect from her now?

Oriana shuddered. No, she’d probably die. It was good that she’d enjoyed herself in Naples. If only that had been the night before the battle. Instead, she was just… stuck. She wished Tara was here. 

Part of her also wished that Tara would just go home. Less messy, that way. There was something about the girl that kept surprising her. She got inside Oriana like a… weed. Or water damage. No, Oriana had let her guard down in Naples. If she lived, things would have to be different. 

Sometimes, Oriana what she’d be like if she’d never met Sister Cristiana, Lucia, or Tara. Things would be simpler. Colder, but simpler. Restless, Oriana dropped down from her tree, landing on the grass without a sound.  For the seventh time, she considered trying to end things on her own. Oriana could kill Serena, win some of the girls over… but killing Francesco was the harder part. Oriana could do it. She froze before, but things were different now… probably. And those other assassins, Francesco’s “alumni”... they made things worse. Oriana was good, but she wasn’t good enough to beat six. 

Still, being out under the sky had given Oriana at least one good idea. On the day of the attack, Oriana would take the girls north toward the peak. From there, they could hopefully see the attack before it happened. Perhaps they could rendezvous with Tara and link up early, getting the girls somewhere safe? Oriana grimaced. They’d be close enough to see an attack, but far enough away that Francesco couldn’t attack them without expending resources. It was the best she could do, without knowing Tara’s plans- not that she wanted to. Tara would figure something out, whether it was charging across the bridge with an army, a sneak attack, or anything else. Oriana, at least, would be ready.

Chapter 11: White

Tara crossed the courtyard to family she had never met before.  A man came towards her with arms opened wide. His smile was as brilliant as her mothers.  Tara knew from the journals that both Bella and Aurora had suspicions that Aurora had not been a Luciano - but at a glance, Tara could not say.  These people had a way about them that seemed familiar to her. Perhaps it was her imagination or a want to connect with someone in a time of trouble, but that she was one of them felt, in a word, right.

“Tara! Sei bellissima quanto tua madre mi ha detto che saresti stato!”

“Don Luciano, grazie per il tuo caloroso benvenuto. Sono felice di visitare la tua casa.”  She hugged the man who was a slight bit younger than her parents and kissed both of his cheeks as he kissed hers.

“Let us speak in English, if it is easier for you.  And please it’s Mario. We’re family. Come. My wife has lunch waiting for you and your friends.  I am sorry that I did not get to meet your older sister as well. Tales of her beauty and charm are legend even here in old Sicily.”  The man chuckled.

Tara allowed herself a small smile, “I’ll have to tell Brigitte what she missed out on.  She’ll be quite sad she did not get to meet you as well, Mario. I trust that my mother filled you in on the situation?”

The Don nodded, leading Tara across the grassy front lawn and up towards the house under a canopy of old trees with wide limbs that seemed to reach up impossibly high.  It wasn’t the forest, not by a long shot, but the shade of those trees was a strange comfort to Tara.

“I would say that it surprises me that her son Gavin is not the one who she sent on this task, considering both his age and that he is the namesake of a man well-known to us for his skills, but after your mother’s exploits… well, who am I to judge?  Some of the old men think it is foolish that I indulge you, but you are family and your mother has done more for the Luciano name than the last three Don’s combined. Well, maybe I stretch the truth… but only a little. Old man Messina passed a month ago.  May that bastardo rest in peace, his Grandson lacks the authority the old man had and it will be years before he is trouble to us. And with Conti gone and having taken much of DiCaprio with them… we have become quite well established. It is my honor to assist you as best I’m able in gratitude.”

The Luciano’s had become kings of their little hill because of survival and nothing more, that was the truth of it as far as Tara was concerned.  Perhaps Nona Bella and her mother’s actions had helped them to get there, but it was clearly not intentionally done. Bella and Aurora’s actions had been for their own reasons, and none of the Luciano’s.  Still, she would not decline their aid.

Crupi held the door as Tara passed through, behind her the team entered one at a time and found their way to the large dining room where a meal was set out for them to enjoy.  Tara could barely think about food but did not want to seem rude and so she sat down and accepted the glass of wine offered. Putting a bit of bread and pasta onto the plate she watched her friends digging in and loosening up.  Chatting again, as they always did in those moments where they were not in the line of fire and felt safe. It was a good feeling and it gave her something more of an insight into what it was Nona Bella felt with Race Street and Trust, and her mother felt with every crew she ever wrote about in her journal.  It was this sense of belonging which made the life all the more appealing. So often she felt on the outside, looking in at what was ‘normal’ or ‘right’ and here among her friends - she never worried what they were thinking now that they knew who she was. They would die for her.

Tara smiled at Laurent who, she realized, was staring at her as if he meant to read her mind.  Laurent, among all the members of her team, was the one who most often went into his own head and kept his own council.  Of late, he was watching her, often. She wondered what he thought about in those moments. Sometimes it was easy, like when he was waiting to see if she would shoot the sniper, but now?  What was he watching for now? What did he seem to be searching out in her?

“Aside from your purpose here, have you enjoyed our country?”  Mario’s wife spoke to Tara breaking her out of her thoughts.

Tara gave her a smile and a nod, “There have been some good moments.  I certainly won’t forget this trip and I think maybe one day I’d like to come back, when I’m not working.”

Mario tapped the table, “Well, when you do, you know that you have a place here.  We’d love to give you a place to rest your head while you tour the countryside. Just say the word and our doors are open.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Tara said, turning her attention to business, “Of course, what I really need from you isn’t a bed.  It’s weapons. Soldato. I’d like to sit down with you when we finish here, look over some maps if you have them. Discuss logistics.”

Mario nodded and waved a hand, “Yes, yes, but not on an empty stomach.  Come now. You are as thin as a fence post. Pretty girl like you, you need to be healthy.”  He chuckled. “I won’t send you back to your mother half-starved. Not when my wife is such a good cook, eh?”

Tara smiled at Mario, looked down at her lunch and forced herself to take a bite before looking up to Laurent and meeting his eyes she thought then she finally understood.  This time he wasn’t searching for something - he was trying to communicate.

Excusing herself to go relieve herself, she walked towards the bathroom, took care of her needs and lingered a moment before exiting to find Laurent already waiting.  She smiled at him. “I wondered…”

“Speak quickly.”

Tara spat out, “He’s a farmer.”

Laurent nodded.  “You expected something else?”

“They’re not at all like the wise guys back home.  They’re just…”

“Men fighting for their homes and families.”  Laurent finished her thought.

Tara nodded.  “I don’t know if I can take them, I don’t know if they can do it.”

Laurent nodded.  “Men will die.” He didn’t pull the punch.  “But experience isn’t the only thing that determines a battle’s outcome.  Look at your sister in the arena. Your sister had little else going for her but her heart and a reason to fight.  Still… I share your concerns. The question is, do we even have time for anything else? Perhaps tactics and superior weapons can make up the difference?”

“At this point I’m thinking that we have what we have.  Throwing it all at him it’s not ideal but he’s got to know we’re coming so what other play do we have?”