"What do you think we should do?" he asks.
The question hangs in the air.
This is another test. I can feel it. Pietro wants to see how I handle this. How I think. How I lead.
I take a breath. Let it out slowly.
"Eraldo is a problem," I say. "But he's not our biggest problem right now. He's contained in New York. We know where he is. We know what he's doing. We can deal with him when he gets back."
Pietro nods. "Go on."
"Gianna is the immediate concern." I think through the options. "If she panics and does something stupid—calls the wrong people, shows up in New York, starts asking questions—she could expose things we don't want exposed."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Someone needs to talk to her. Calm her down. Make her believe her father is fine and just busy with work."
"Who?" Valentino asks.
I already know the answer. I don't like it, but I know it.
"Antonella. Gianna trusts Antonella. If anyone can convince her to stop worrying and wait for Eraldo to call back, it's her."
"And what do we tell Antonella?" Liam asks. "About her father's gambling?"
That's the harder question.
If I tell her, it will destroy her.
"We don't tell her," I say.
Pietro raises an eyebrow. "Don't tell her what?"
"About the gambling. About any of it." I grip the armrests tighter. "She doesn't need to know."
Valentino shifts his weight. "She's going to find out eventually."
"Eventually isn't now." I look at Pietro. "Right now, the priority is keeping Gianna calm. If Antonella knows her father isgambling again, she'll spiral. She'll want to fix it. She'll want to go to New York herself. She'll make this worse."
"So what's your plan?" Pietro asks.
"Antonella brings Gianna here. To the compound. Until Eraldo gets back."
Liam frowns. "Under what pretense?"
"Family visit. Sisters missing each other. Whatever story Antonella wants to tell." I think through the logistics. "Gianna stays here where we can watch her. She stops sending desperate messages to her father. She stops being a liability."
"And Antonella?" Valentino asks. "She just... doesn't ask questions?"
"She'll ask questions. But she doesn't need to know the answers." I meet his eyes. "Not yet. Not until we've handled Eraldo."
Pietro is quiet for a long moment.
"You're protecting her," he says finally. "From her own father."
"I'm protecting the family. All of it." I don't look away from him. "Antonella included."
Pietro studies me. I can't read his expression. Can't tell if he approves or thinks I'm making a mistake.