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“I have done everything you have all asked of me. What have I done now? That you or Dominic or Frankie haven’t already done? What danger have I put our family in that all of you haven’t already?”
“What we did was for love,” Alessandro says. “And you said you two don’t love each other.”
“We don’t…”
He cuts me off, “It’s one thing to love someone from another family. It’s an entirely different issue to mess around with someone who is the daughter and heir to the most powerful Russian family.”
I want to speak back, but his sigh stops me. It’s like a knife cutting into me. He sits back at his table. “No more seeing each other until further notice.”
“Alessandro…”
“I mean it, Luigi. No sitting together on Sundays, no messaging each other on social media and absolutely no sneaking off to secret locations to shack up.” He looks at me seriously until I nod.
“Yes, Don. May I leave?” The words are colder than I intend, and I see something, emotion, flash in his eyes. Not anger, more like a disappointment.
Alessandro waves his hand. “Go, and stay out of trouble. Dominic, you can stay. Back off Luigi.”
Dominic’s eyes meet mine, and I see the anger there. I leave without another word, trying to remain calm as I go to my car. I slam the door, just a little, in a childish attempt to express my anger. I rev my car and reverse one-eighty, so I’m facing the gate. It opens, and I am soon flying through traffic at top speed. I check my phone and see messages from Ana.
She’s explained where in the back I must park. I play a voice note she has sent. She is in a car, obviously on her way to the church.
“Hi, Luigi. I found this secret exit at the back of the church when I was a little girl so no one will see me leaving. The priest will cover for us, don’t worry.”
The sound of her voice drives my defiance. I have an inherent desire to prove to Alessandro and Ivan that Ana and I can do great things together. Mateo is a threat to both our families, especially since he is in league with that sleazy Irish politician hellbent on overthrowing my cousin.
Mateo and the politician both have to be dealt with.
I’m a little hyped up as I wait outside the church. It feels like forever is passing, and we’re going to be late, but every time I glance at my watch, barely any time has passed. I glance up when I see some movement, and sure enough, Ana comes out of the bushes nearby. She pulls off her church clothes right there, and I sit up, but she’s wearing her street party clothes underneath. She opens the door and climbs in.
“You look perfect,” I smile at her. The outfit is revealing and sexy. I would be lying if I said I didn’t love it.
“Obviously, I do. We’re going to a party,” she buckles in. “Let’s go, we have to be back before my father, or we’re both dead.”
I drive us to upper East Harlem. The streets are packed with cars, and it takes a while to find a parking spot. We join a throng of people making their way to the party. We’re already late. I’m praying we haven’t missed the speech yet, or we’ll have to improvise.
I take Ana’s hand, and we go from stall to stall, pretending to be interested along with everyone else. There’s a round of applause, and we glance at the stage. We start to walk toward it, along with the crowd. We reach the front of the stage and see a man in a suit walk up and across the stage.
“Welcome! Welcome! It’s delightful to see so many wonderful voting residents out here tonight. Now, this man has done so much for the East Harlem community I doubt he needs an introduction. He does, however, need to join me to receive his community award.” It’s the Irish politician I was supposed to take out for Alessandro.
He looks down and meets my surprised gaze, but what worries me is the smile that spreads across his face. I immediately take Ana’s hand and lead her through the crowd, apologizing as we go. I don’t want to draw attention, but I also know we need to get out of here as soon as possible.
We’re almost to the edge of the crowd, ready to break free, when a large Mexican man steps out, arms folded in front of his body. He smirks at me, and I know he works for Mateo.
I smirk back and raise my gun, firing it suddenly.
He is taken by surprise as everyone screams and starts running. I’m jostled back and forth, holding tightly onto Ana’s hand, when suddenly it’s ripped from me. I look around desperately for her. I fight my way through the crowd.
“Anastasia?” I shout. “Ana? Where are you?”
Over the panic, I hear my name being screamed, and I follow the sound.
Ana is being dragged to a car, the back door is open, and Mateo Catalan is sitting inside with an evil smile on his face.
I hand-delivered Ana to them.
I force my way through the crowd toward them.
“Ana!” I shout, and the guards turn and fire in my direction. I duck down as more panic ensues, and I realize they are shooting above my head not to hit any of the people. Mateo can’t look bad.
