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His gruff voice is strangely comforting, and I say in a deep voice, “We’re home.”
He exhales sharply.“Is she there?”
“Yes, and still playing her usual games.”
“What about your, um, companion?”
“Playing her part.”
“What do you need me to do?”
I hesitate for a moment and then say gruffly, “I need you to come home, Domenico, and bring Flora with you.”
The tension builds as I wait for him to refuse. We will all be at the reading in a couple of days’ time, but it was agreed we would spend the night on neutral territory. I rented a house not far from the city that only we know about. A refuge if you like, but I’m now of the opinion we need to show strength in numbers.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”He says with a moment’s hesitation, causing me to snap. “Of course, it’s fucking necessary, or I wouldn’t have asked.”
“OK. We’ll be there.”
He cuts the call, no doubt pissed at my attitude, but I don’t care about that. I need to keep my brothers close because this fight is about to get dirty.
For a moment, I stare out at the waves crashing to the shore and remember times when I played on the sand as a kid along with my two brothers. Even then, we were competitive and that has never changed. It was always understood that I was the heir to the Ortega empire, and they were my closest allies. My enforcer and my consigliere. All three of us working together to expand our business and live to enjoy it.
Diana tore us apart with the flutter of her lashes and the promise of affection. It was the one thing we craved and the most damaging thing that ever happened to this family. It’s no wonder I locked my heart away, never to be opened again because I have seen first-hand what happens when you allow it to control you.
Sighing, I make the next call and Matteo answers on the second ring.
“Leo.”
“It’s time to come home, Matteo.”
I don’t waste any words, and, like Dom, there is a brief silence before he says in his lazy drawl,“For what reason?”
“Listen…” I heave out a sigh because I know Matteo is methodical in his preparations and will want to know every detail of why this is such a good idea.
“Diana is planning something, and we need to show solidarity.”
“And Carlos?”
Matteo asks the one question he really needs an answer to given that he was responsible for murdering Carlos’s son, Mario. There will be recriminations for that and showing up here at the reading of our father’s will could be suicide for us all, but we have no choice.
“My plan is to take him out before it gets that far.”
Now I’ve said it outside of my own thoughts, there is no going back. Carlos Matasso must die, and I have the perfect weapon to make that happen.
“How?”he says quickly, causing me to snarl, “Trust me, Matteo. Come home and bring Abigail. It’s time this family stood shoulder to shoulder and put their shit behind them.”
“We’ll be there.”He cuts the call, much like Domenico did and for some reason my thoughts turn to the one person who will be absent from our reunion.
I turn to the sea and picture the gentle face of our sister, Eliza. Like my mom, she was let down badly by the men in this family and if I could change one thing from the past, it’s that I didn’t protect her. If I had, she would still be alive today and I will never forgive myself for failing her.
I walk for thirty more minutes deep in thought and then head back to the house, things a lot straighter in my mind.
The first person I see is my hated stepmother who wastes no time in blocking my way and saying in a soft voice, “Leo. Please. I really need to talk.”
“Where’s Chastity?” I say, running my fingers through my hair, weary of this whole situation.
“She’s gone to her, um, your room.”
