CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE – THE PROPOSITION

As they ate, Luca filled her in on the plans for the upcoming meeting with the other families. "It's set for next week," he explained. "Until then, we lay low here. I've got my best men on security, and the location is known only to a select few." Rebecca nodded, then hesitated. "Luca... what about my family? My sister Nancy... I haven't spoken to them in so long. They must be worried sick." Luca reached across the table, taking her hand. "We'll contact them, I promise. But we need to be careful. The less they know right now, the safer they'll be." Rebecca understood, but it didn't make it any easier. She missed her sister terribly. The days leading up to the meeting passed in a blur of preparation and quiet moments together. Luca spent hours on the phone, negotiating and planning. Rebecca used the time to rest and adjust to the idea of impending motherhood. One evening, as they sat on the villa's terrace watching the sunset, Luca turned to her with a serious expression. "Rebecca