Fine line, he reminded himself. Push too hard and all his efforts would be for naught. Erik waved him forward again and shook his head. "I'm frustrated by the riot, and that isn't your fault. There is so much at stake here, now. But you must trust that I am doing all I can and that you are of far more use to me here." Although his tone was repentant, his gaze was shrewd. It was not enough, he realized now, to simply make Pietro believe his wife was dead. There could be trouble later on. No, he had to take it further, ensure that there were no complications. Even then, once he believed in his wife's death, his son still needed something to have faith in. Erik was beginning to understand that his dream was not enough.