Vee smiled as she looked at Luca. He stood across the hall, surrounded by men he would someday lead fully, his face arranged into that calm, serious mask he wore. Black suit. Tired eyes. Still somehow commanding enough that older men leaned in when he spoke.
But she saw what they didn't. He had not eaten. Since morning, he had moved through ceremony, greetings, condolences, and tense conversations with nothing in his hand. Everyone else had been fed. Everyone else had wine, juice, pastries, espresso, something. Luca had nothing.
Nonnina had always handled that. Vee's chest tightened, but she swallowed the ache and turned toward the serving table. She quickly grabbed a small tray and placed little savoury snacks on it. Then she added a glass of juice.
She walked toward him. One of the lieutenants was speaking when she arrived.
"Excuse me," Vee said softly.
Every man turned. Luca's eyes landed on the tray first then on her.
She held the tray out to him. "Eat."
