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“The hotel.” I felt like stone. “Wyatt,” I warned, “you have five seconds to explain, or my 9-millimeter will be between your eyes.”
“Your grandmother got Mariano to grab Sienna from your house that day. The day everything blew up.” His words came out in a rush. “He was at your house waiting for her. He grabbed her and threw her into Abramo’s car with your grandmother.” I stopped breathing as hate pumped through me. “She fought hard, but she wasn’t strong enough to fight them both off. I just think you should know Mariano was the one who did it. He was working for her. For your grandmother,” he repeated as he looked at me hard.
I held up my hand to stop his words. I needed a moment to process.
“Mariano hurt Sienna?”
“Yeah, he roughed her up pretty good, too. But like I said, Sienna did a good job defending herself.” He tried to smile, but his mouth gave up on the effort and he shrugged.
“Go on. What else?” I could feel my blood pressure skyrocketing and knew I needed to hear the rest before I blew.
“Sienna told me your grandmother dumped her outside of town, then she rushed to your place to tell everyone the story about who Sienna was. There’s more to it, obviously, but the point is Sienna got there too late to tell you herself. Then, I guess, your grandmother did a good job of spinning her tale in the worst way, because when Sienna walked through the door to tell you all what happened, she was basically dismissed by all of you.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Maybe not from your perspective, but look at it from hers.” He looked away when I glared at him. “Listen,” he took a deep breath, “two times now you’ve broken my best friend’s heart, whether you meant to or not. Every time you turn your back or question her it shreds a little off her core. So, the fact that I’m here, alone, telling you this must mean something to you. I would appreciate you not killing me either.” He tried to make another joke, but it was clear he was more terrified than anything else. I admired him for showing up, but my head was racing.
I worked like hell to steady my breathing as the events of that night came back to me. I had screwed up countless times now, and for what? The Don seat was mine whenever I wanted it, but none of that mattered if I didn’t have Sienna.
“Boss!” Vinni called as I slammed the door shut. “Boss, wait!”
“Don’t,” I shouted over my shoulder.
“Hey,” Niccola was suddenly in front of me, “I know that look. It means you need to spread some blood, and I’m game, but hold up.” He held up a hand when I went to move around him. “We’ve got company.”
The door opened, and Nonna stood above us with her rosary beads swinging.
“What happened to you?” Nonna demanded harshly, looking startled at our appearance.
“Stefano’s men jumped us at the dockyard,” Niccola said as I vibrated with anger.
“Oh, no. I think I might know why they were there.” She stepped back and motioned for us to join her inside.
“Oh, my God.” Mama raced toward me, and my father stood there, his face a picture of concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I folded my arms and gently pushed Mama aside. “Nonna, what do you know?” I took the napkin Mama handed me and pressed on the cut above my eye, feeling the swelling coming on.
“Yes, Greta, why are we all here?” Mama handed me a bag of frozen vegetables Donte had raced in with.
“I’m sorry to say, but Abramo stumbled across some troubling news.”
“Which is?” Papa stood impatiently.
“You’ve let a Coppola into our home.” Silence blanketed the room as we all absorbed her words. “Sienna is the daughter of Theodore Coppola.”
“Nonna,” I felt the air being sucked from my lungs, “tread very carefully here.”
“Grandson,” her gaze swung over to me, “she’s been lying to us, to you.” She waved a hand at me. “She’s a spy, and you just opened the doors and invited her in. Have I taught you nothing?” she scoffed at both me and Papa. “She was planted years ago.” She glared at Francesco, who seemed about to lunge at her, but Papa held up a hand to stop him. “She fed on your weakness and wormed her way into your heart. If you don’t believe me, then ask her.”
“Ask what’s in her hand,” Abramo said as he suddenly appeared. He threw a glance at Nonna, who looked unsure for a moment. “One of the guys called and said he saw something in her hand, and she seemed to be crying over it.”
“Whose hand?” Papa asked then stopped talking when the door opened and footsteps could be heard. Nonna moved to stand behind me. I put a finger to my lips in case it was Mariano, and Mama quickly changed the topic.
“And where are Anna and the notebook now?” Mama asked to quickly change the subject.
“No clue.” I winced at the pain that shot through my ribs.
Sienna slowly rounded the corner, and her eyes widened at all of us. Her hand slid behind her back as she spoke. “What’s happened?”
