Something moved on the road. A pair of horse ears appeared.
“They’re here,” Nonna murmured. “Be ready, Leonardo.”
He rested his finger on the trigger, sighting down the barrel.
The head of a black horse appeared. Beside it also came the dark brown head of a bay. The horses walked calmly into view, nickering.
“Leo,” a familiar voice called. “Leo, we’re home!”
Leo jumped to his feet, a grin splitting his face. “Dal!” he boomed. He took the steps two at a time.
The horses fully crested the rise in the road and emerged into sight. Atop them were Dal and his baby sister, their clasped hands dangling together in the space between the horses.
“Lena!” Leo had never been so happy to see her. He dragged her off the horse, swinging around in a big hug. “Anton,” he shouted. “Get up, you lazy ass! Our family is back.”
Lena was laughing as Leo twirled her around.
“I just want you to know I’m sorry about that time when I put ants in your bed,” Leo told her.
“I was ten, dummy.” Lena punched him playfully in the arm as he set her down.
“I know.” For some reason, his worry for Lena had led him to regretting that stupid prank. Lena had been mad at him for weeks. “But it was a dick thing to do.”
“It was. But I forgive you.”
Anton and the others piled onto the porch. There was a huge commotion as everyone ran into the clearing at the same time.
Lena ran to Anton. She laughed when he, too, picked her up by the waist and swung her around.
“What the hell, dude?” Jim Craig said to Dal, slapping him on the back. “You scared the hell out of us.”
“You missed Leo and the guys savings our asses from Russian kidnappers,” Tate said.
“It wasn’t just the guys,” Jennifer said. “There was a gal who was there, you know.”
Twin frowns marred Lena and Dal’s face when they caught sight of Jennifer. They disliked her on his account. Leo loved them for that, but he needed to dispel the tension if they were all going to live together at the cabin.
“Jennifer was pretty badass,” he said. “She pulled a rad gymnastics move and took out a Russian with a knife in the back.”
“Don’t forget about the zombie she killed with a stiletto,” Anton added.
Nonna embraced Dal. “Thanks for getting my Angelina back safely,” she said, voice gruff.
“She got me back safely,” Dal replied.
Lena slipped in close to Dal and took his hand, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “We got each other back safely.”
Leo blinked, staring at the two of them. He dimly recalled them holding hands when they arrived here, but he’d been too distracted to process it. But now he saw.
So did Anton. And Nonna. And everyone else. You could have heard a pin drop.
Anton scowled.
Lena met the stares with a bold one of her own. Her hand tightened on Dal’s.
His best friend looked like he wanted to disappear into the ground, but he remained rooted beside Lena. He didn’t try to explain or make excuses. What he did do was tighten his grip on Lena’s hand like he never intended to let her go.
Leo grinned. “About damn time.” Dal had been crushing on his sister for years, but he was too decent to ever make a move. It must have been Lena’s doing.
“You’re seriously okay with this?” Anton gestured angrily at Dal and Lena’s linked hands.
“Take a chill pill,” Leo told him. “Can you seriously name one guy you trust with our sister more than Dal?”
Anton spluttered. “That’s not the point. She’s our sister.”
“Yeah, and I’m not a nun.” Lena shot back. Dal gave Anton an apologetic shrug, but remained firmly attached to Lena.
“Where’s my Giuseppe?” Nonna’s voice came down like a hatchet. “He went to find you in Rossi.”
The clearing went deadly quiet. Leo searched the road for his father. There was a third horse who had come with Lena and Dal, but the animal didn’t carry anyone.
Then he saw the stricken expressions on Lena and Dal.
“Where’s my Giuseppe?” Nonna repeated, her voice rising to a shout. Her fists were bunched at her side, her face white. “Where’s my son?”
“I’m sorry, Nonna.” Lena turned to her grandmother. Her voice hitched as tears spilled out of her eyes. “He—he—”
“What are you saying?” Leo demanded. “Where’s Dad?”
“He didn’t make it,” Dal said softly. He squeezed Lena tight, grief etched into his face. “He ... he died so we could get away.”
Silence. Leo could hear nothing beyond his own ragged breathing. The world tipped beneath his feet. He grabbed the stair railing to keep from collapsing.
His father couldn’t be gone. No way. It must be a mistake. Giuseppe Cecchino was the strongest, most steadfast man in the world. Soviets couldn’t get the better of his dad.
“Nonna, I’m sorry.” Lena broke free of Dal and went to her grandmother.
The older woman enfolded Lena into an embrace. Her chest shook with unspoken emotion. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, but she made no sound. Lena clung to her grandmother, weeping openly.
It nearly broke Leo to see their grief. He slumped to his ground, struggling to push down the howl of despair that rose in his throat. His chest heaved. Tears leaked out of his eyes. He slammed his fist into the ground.
Pain radiated up through his knuckles, but it didn’t help. He beat the ground a few more times and let out a garbled roar of pain and sorrow.
Dal slumped down next to him. His shoulder rested against Leo’s in shared brotherly grief. Leo knew he felt this as deeply as the rest of them did.
The fucking communist bastards had done this. They’d terrorized his town, murdered countless innocents, and stolen their father.
They had to pay. Leo was going to make sure every last one of those fuckers paid for what they’d done.
“Tell me how it happened.” It took Leo a second to realize he’d been the one to speak. His voice was strained. “Tell me.”
Dal drew in a breath and told
