CHAPTER 23
Going to Italy
Claude
I lookFredrico Gallo Sr. in the eyes as a storm rages within me. My niece was in a shootout and took a bullet for one of these motherfuckers. This is exactly what I was afraid of.
“I’m sending her back home,” I say tightly.
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Emilio says as he appears out of nowhere. “This problem is coming from New York. Oni is in more danger there than here with us. Once they figure out what she means to Rico, this will be a problem.”
I spin on him and glare. While I’m grateful to him and his men for getting Oni to the hospital safely, I know this man. This only happened because he allowed it. It’s one of the reasons I hate fucking with him.
This wouldn’t be the first time he could have prevented something concerning my family. He’s lucky I haven’t taken his head off. I’m close—the consequences be damned. I clench my fists as his words sink in.
“I’m not leaving her with you motherfuckers. You all have targets on your backs. She’s not safe here.”
“No, she’s not. That’s why she’s going to Italy with my daughter,” Emilio replies.
“What?” Fredrico and I say in unison.
“She will be going with Emilia to Italy. You did say she has a talent for the arts, didn’t you? This is an opportunity for her. She will be raised as a Gallo from here on out.”
“You motherfucker,” I snarl as I lunge at him. However, Fredrico holds me back. “You planned all of this. We all just played into your hands like my brother did, you piece of shit.”
Emilio fixes his cuffs as if I’m no threat, while his brother holds me off. I shove Fredrico and take a step back. I should have known. I should have seen this coming.
“You knew all about her, didn’t you?”
“Honestly, not at first. I had washed my hands. Your brother got the girl. He started the family they wanted.
“I never thought I’d hear anything else about a Raven after your brother’s death. I knew you were here, but you had walked away from ties to us. You’ve been no trouble to me, so I hadn’t planned on being any trouble to you,” Emilio says with a shrug.
“You’re an asshole. You could have gotten him out of that mess. You let him die in that jail because you couldn’t have what you wanted. Now you’re fucking with his baby girl. Why?”
“I’m not the villain here. Believe it or not, I did all I could to get him out of there. I wanted to help Brenda the moment I found out what happened.
“She didn’t want my help and wouldn’t talk to me. I’m not helping Oni because of your sister-in-law. I’m setting my nephew on the right course before it all blows up in his face,” Emilio growls back at me.
“What do you mean, Emilio?” Fredrico hisses.
Emilio rolls his eyes. “She is a sixteen-year-old girl. He is nineteen and being groomed to be Don. This is not the time for this distraction. She’s going to Italy.”
“He will follow,” Fredrick growls.
“Not if he thinks she didn’t make it.”
“What?” Fredrico stumbles back. “You mean to destroy him. I will not allow this.”
They begin to argue in Italian as I stand fuming. This motherfucker has lost his fucking mind. He thinks he’s going to bark orders and we’re all going to bow. Fuck that.
“The boy loves her. You’re going to cause him to snap. I’m not lying to my son for you.”
“Then you will go to Italy with her if I can’t trust you to stay here and keep your mouth shut. You go home and run the business there. Those are your only options,” Emilio bites out with finality.
Fredrico gives him an icy-cold glare. “You ruin everything you touch. Neither of them will forgive you. She’s in love with him too. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. This is why I have made this decision.”
