Page 154 of The Savage

Minutes pass. Maybe more. My breathing finally evens out enough for words to claw their way free.

‘He called me a traitor,’ I whisper.

Renzo goes completely still.

‘And?’ he prompts gently, deadly calm.

I swallow hard. ‘I asked him if he knew about Isabella. About Bonafacio. He didn’t say no.’

Renzo’s jaw locks.

‘He said Vittore’s in charge now. That I have to do what he wants or he’ll kill him.’

Renzo’s face freezes over. All warmth gone. All mercy burned out.

‘That’s it,’ he growls. ‘Enough.’

He pulls me into his chest, holding me so tight I can feel his heart slamming against my cheek.

‘We’re done waiting,’ he says into my hair. ‘We’re going to St Petersburg.’

I wipe my face with the heel of my hand. The tears stop as fast as they started. ‘Okay, but I’m coming too,’ I say.

He stiffens. ‘Giada⁠—’

I shake my head, cutting him off before he can finish what I know he’s going to say. ‘This started with me,’ I say, steady now. ‘It ends with me.’

For a moment, he looks like he might argue. Then he nods. Once.

Rafa appears at our side, already moving. ‘Jet’s ready. Go do your podium shit then we head out.’

Cesare grins, feral. Dante cracks his neck as Sofiya slips her hand into Rafa’s.

One hour later, the six of us board the military jet that shouldn’t exist and somehow does.

Destination: St Petersburg.

I fasten my belt and stare straight ahead.

No more cat and mouse and traitor nuns hiding behind habits.

This ends now.

* * *

Renzo

St Petersburg

Palinski’s stronghold is less a dacha and more of a zamok – a fucking castle. Stone walls thick enough to laugh at artillery. Towers. Floodlights. Cameras nestled in the snow like mechanical vultures.

Unfortunately for me and my brothers – and the treasure of my heart I brought along when I should’ve put my damn foot down, left her safe and sound back⁠—

No.

Fuck that.

The safest place for Giada is by my side. I grip the hand clasped in mine tighter, revel in the warm silk of her touch. ‘Repeat the instruction,’ I say.