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Vito flinches, Rocco’s smirk falters, and Gabi’s knuckles whiten around his glass.

But Gabi says nothing.

A long pause swells among us.

Then he clears his throat, leans back, and steeples his fingers. “You’re to be confined. Until the Capos can decide what to do with you.”

My pulse spikes, and blood roars in my ears. Every muscle coils, ready to strike, but I don’t move. Can’t afford to. Not yet.

I unbuckle my gun and hand it over, then my blades, the metal cold against my palms as I surrender them one by one. The ankle knife stays hidden, tucked where they won’t think to look, as does the razor in my belt buckle.

Knowing Gabi, resistance tonight would be dangerous, and he’d already have guards stationed around the mini villa.

Resistance gives him an excuse to attack Sophia and me tonight, and while I can handle myself, she could lose her life. Blame it on me going rogue.

Being locked up doesn’t scare me.

Losing her will hurt more, so I surrender myself and allow them to lead me into custody.

They take me to a cell in the main villa’s subbasement featuring reinforced concrete and no windows. Eight-by-eight feet of nothing but a cot, a bucket, and the smell of bleach mixed with old sweat.

One naked bulb flickers overhead as if it’s afraid of the dark, casting shadows that slither across the walls. When I sit, the cot creaks. I force myself to remain still and think about how all my decisions have led to Sophia. My mind wanders to her stubborn eyes and the way she clutches my wrist as if I’m her salvation rather than her captor.

Foolish girl.

Time crawls, and when the door finally clicks, I don’t budge. The heavy sweet and floral scent announces my visitor before she speaks.

Izzy strolls in, her stilettos echoing across concrete, her hips swaying as she approaches.

“You really did it.” Her voice is thick with venom. “Tied yourself to that pathetic little woman and wrapped a noose around your own neck.”

I give her a smile but remain seated, my elbows on my knees and my fists tight.

“Gabi’s furious. You embarrassed him. Us. Me.” She glides closer. “Tell me something,” she says softly. “Did you ever even care about me? Or was I just warm skin to cool the blood?”

My voice comes out flat. “Thank you.”

She blinks. “For what?”

“For speaking to the Capos. I know you’ve done that, and you’ll have them exonerate me tomorrow.” As Gabi’s right hand, and with her Benedetti blood, Izzy’s got pull. The Capos listen when she talks. And if she wants something badly enough, she can bend them to her will.

Her lips purse.

“You’re a fool.” She runs a one-inch nail across my jaw until I flinch and scoot back. “You think she’s safe with you? This won’t last. She’ll break. They all do because they aren’t made like us.”

I glance away from her and start to clench and unclench my clammy hands. “She’s my wife now. You know I don’t break my word, much less my vows.”

I look back to find her face flushed red. She pivots and storms out, her heels striking the floor like gunshots. The door slams shut behind her hard enough to rattle the frame.

When it clicks again, Gio enters, his face pale, his trembling hands holding a food tray. “She’s okay.”

My eyes lift toward him.

Gio adds, “I checked. She’s fine. The staff’s keeping her close. Marco too.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

He places the tray in front of me and leaves. I abandon the meal, determined not to risk even a bite brought in by a friendly face. Gabi’s got me locked up. Who’s to say he hasn’t slipped some poison into the food?