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“When his father’s regime doesn’t have blood on its hands, sure, I’ll allow it,” I said.
“And that won’t be possible until we can bring peace. And that peace starts with Matteo. You see how you’ve bound our hands in this?” my uncle asked.
“Calm that tone of voice,” Enrico said. “Or this conversation is over.”
I watched my uncle take a few deep breaths before turning his back. He walked over to his desk and cocked his hip, then crossed his arms over his chest. I knew he was in a tight place. I could see it written all over his features. But Matteo wasn’t going to be a pawn in some game. There had to be another way to do this.
“If you don’t want Matteo to do it, then you have to do it,” my uncle said.
“What?” I asked.
“If you don’t want to use Matteo to smooth things over, then you have to suck down your pride and do it in his place. Talk things out with Romeo,” my uncle said.
“I’m not stepping within another inch of that man,” I said.
“Then why did you come back. Hmm? When I called you and told you of my plans and ushered you back into the city after your father cast you out, what did you think you were coming to do? Make a life for yourself? When I asked you to help me make peace with the Martine family, what did you think your role was?”
I clenched my jaw as my eyes gazed out the window.
“I don
’t know,” I said. “But I didn’t think it was this.”
“My great nephew—your son—is the only connection to the Martine family we have. You created a family with Romeo, whether you like that idea or not. And if you want to help me make peace and return this city to its glory days, then you need to recognize the part you play in that. I know you don’t like this lifestyle. I know you want to keep Matteo away from it, and I respect that. But making peace means making sacrifices.”
“I’m not sacrificing my son,” I said, hissing.
“Then you sacrifice yourself for the sake of your son. After all, isn’t that a mother’s job?” he asked.
I bit the inside of my cheek and turned my back on him. I didn’t like where this was going. Not one damn bit. But as hard as I tried to poke holes in his theories and his beliefs, I couldn’t. If I wasn’t going to bring Matteo into this, then I had to step up and play my part to meet the end my family wanted.
Peace in the streets of New York City.
I opened the door and walked out of the room before Enrico stepped out after me. He shut the door and grabbed my arm, then pulled me aside toward a concealed hallway. My eyes fluttered up to his, and he released his grip on me, and I could tell he had something on his mind.
“What is it?” I asked
“I want you to know I support you. Always.”
“I appreciate that, Enrico.”
“And if you don’t want to go talk to Romeo, you don’t have to. I can field your uncle. That’s not a problem,” he said.
“That’s sweet of you, thank you. But unfortunately, he’s right.”
“What?” he asked.
“If I don’t want to bring Matteo into this—even with my dedication to the idea of peace—then I have to step in. To talk with Romeo and hear him out and see what kind of agreement or conclusion we can come to.”
“Then you don’t do this alone,” he said. “I’m coming with you to this meeting.”
“That isn’t necessary, Enrico.”
“You said so yourself. He had six men with him last night, and you didn’t have a single one.”
“And I grabbed my weapon of choice and poised myself, just like you taught me,” I said.
“This isn’t a good idea, Julia.”
