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I make my way to the derelict warehouse. The roof doesn’t offer any protection from the elements any longer, but the weather has held for the meeting tonight, so it’s not needed. The doors are guarded by De Rossi men and they offer me a nod when I saunter by.
Inside, Valentino is talking to a handful of our soldiers who have no doubt been brought here to keep us safe. These men will die for me, and for their capos. The loyalty that lies within a Familia is strong, second to none.
“You’re late,” Valentino says, his tone icy, as I reach him. His dark eyes lock on me, taking me in from head to toe, and I can feel his annoyance at my apparel.
Shrugging it off, I offer him a smile. “I had things to do before I meet my wife.” The chill in the air drops to below zero when Valentino’s stormy expression pins itself on me. “I’m serious.”
“Don’t fuck this up, it’s what your father wanted,” he murmurs as footsteps sound from the door. But it’s not what I wanted. But I don’t bother arguing with him. “It’s the only revenge we will get,” he tells me. “And make sure to leave with her as soon as possible. I don’t need her knowing anything more than what she should. Once you’re gone, we will handle Tommaso.”
I can’t say anything in response. I can’t ask what his plan is, because the Cavallones have arrived, causing Valentino to straighten as if he wasn’t just perturbed at my tardiness and lack of suit. He’s nothing if not composed around others, especially when it comes to our enemies. Just like my father was. I don’t look at them for a long while as they come to a stop in front of us.
“De Rossi,” the deep baritone of Tommaso echoes, and I offer a silent nod. “You’ve taken many of my men, and you’ve made sure I can’t do anything about it. My brother would be heartbroken to see his clan in such disrepair.” The anger in his voice is pure fire as he delivers his words.
That’s when I meet his gaze and smile. “When you start a war, you should be prepared to finish it,” I tell him, keeping my tone cool, aloof, as if I’m not at all concerned about the lives we’ve taken. And I’m not. I learned from my father, and I will never feel guilt for this life. Salvatore De Rossi never concerned himself with acts of the past. It’s the future that always had his focus.
“Let it be known that I will get my niece back,” Tommaso hisses through clenched teeth with a jaw ticking, vehemence cutting into his voice, into his words.
The corner of my mouth tips upward, a satisfied smirk circling my lips as I take a step forward. “Who knows, perhaps I’ll return her after I’m done with her.” My promise is filled with danger as I take another few steps toward the man who won’t live to see another day. Only, he doesn’t know it yet. He’s much shorter than I am, and when I stop inches from him, I tower over the older man. “But when I do, she won’t be in the same pristine condition you delivered her in. Now, tell me, Tommaso,” I murmur, ensuring he cowers from my tone. “Where is my little wife?”
Anger vibrates through him, his hands fist at his sides and his jaw ticks with barely restrained violence, but he won’t lash out. He knows that if he tries something, he’ll be dead before he can blink.
We’ve surrounded them. Our men are ready, waiting for something to go wrong. My hand is trained on my knife that’s comfortably sheathed at the small of my back. I don’t go anywhere without it. And meeting one of my enemies is more than reason enough to ensure I can slice into his wrinkled, tanned flesh before he can spew his venom.
“Bring her in,” he orders, and I take a step back, but I don’t look away from the old man. Every small nuance he emits, I take in. He’s afraid. I’ve become accustomed to reading people, and he’s not at all difficult to read.
Too bad the men will kill him before he walks out of here tonight. I wish I could be here to watch, but like Valentino said, I need to keep Luna away from the violence for as long as possible. It will make it easier on her when she learns she’s alone in this world with only me to lean on.
I briefly wish it was her father before me. He died thinking his daughter will sleep beside a Moretti, but instead, she has me. I wish he knew her last name will be De Rossi, it would have grated at him because if he knew I’ll be the one fucking her, making her cry and scream would have most definitely made his blood boil. Even so, a smile cuts across my face.
