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“You don’t think he’ll hurt them, right?” I ask Luca.
His throat bobs, and I don’t miss the glimmer of sympathy and despair behind his eyes.
“He’ll hurt her. He’ll hurt them both,” he replies emptily as a tsunami of terror washes over me, forcing my lungs to deflate with crippling agony.
“They’re mine,” I choke out through fractured breaths as I keel over, struggling to control the panic bubbling inside me.
“We’ll get them back, brother.” Owen’s hand clasps onto my shoulder in support while, surprisingly, Luca’s hand finds my other shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“They’re both yours,” Luca states. My gaze lifts to meet his. The familiarity behind those black orbs no longer appears so cold. They feel safe.
They feel like home.
Like Emi. And I’ve just had the seal of approval from her brother.
I raise my head with a newfound vigor, giving Luca a meaningful nod. “Hand me a weapon.”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, his lip tips up into a brief smile, and he strides toward a bookcase that slides open when he moves a book, unveiling an arsenal of weapons.
“I’ll have a Subnose thirty-eight.” I point toward the top shelf, and Maxim chuckles, my knowledge taking him by surprise.
“You surprise me, Shaw.” Luca turns and holds out the loaded gun. “I wonder if you will continue to prove yourself?” he muses to no one in particular.
I snatch the weapon from him. “I want my family back,stronzo,” I snipe back, making them all chuckle lowly. The noise sounds ominous among the tense silence.
“In blood we’re bound, in trust we live,” Enzo says to Luca.
“Si. In blood we’re bound. In trust we live.”
Maxim repeats the words, “In blood we’re bound. In trust we live.”
Owen gives a sharp nod.
And when all eyes settle on me, I load the magazine in the handgun before turning my eyes on them. “Abso-fucking-lutley. Let’s get my family back.”
THIRTY-TWO
EMI
When Aldo first showed up at the house, it was easy to leave. Knowing security knew and trusted him so well, we were able to formulate a plan that he was trailing me on my brother’s command.
We had a brief encounter with Franco, my personal guard, but Aldo somehow had a voice note from Luca giving him strict instruction for him to bring me to his mansion. Franco eyed us skeptically before his body eased and he nodded for us to leave.
My body melted against the car seat with the built-up tension coiling inside me so tight it was a relief to finally break out.
Aldo rested his hand on my knee, and where it would have in the past been a comfort, it now felt like a thousand insects creeping over my bare skin. I pushed his hand away in discomfort, only for guilt to edge in when hurt flashed behind his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” My broken voice longed to fix the pain I had created in so many people, but deep down, I knew it was an impossible feat.
“I understand. I’ll protect you, Emi.” He lifted my hand and dropped a gentle kiss onto my fingers, making me resist the urge to slap his cheek.
Jesus, what have I done?
My eyes flare open on a panicked breath, realizing I fell asleep.
“Hey, relax. We’re almost there.” Aldo smiles coolly toward me, but the hairs on the back of my neck rise as I glance out of the window to unfamiliar terrain.
“Aldo. Where exactly are we going?” His nostrils flare at my question, making my throat go dry with unease.
