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“Stay by our side,Stellina. I will keep you safe,” he murmurs against my ear before stepping to the front of the group. Vito is hot on his tail, while Enzo offers me his elbow to link arms with him as we make our way into the restaurant.
It’s dark and quiet as we enter, like the place isn’t open, and my assessment is confirmed as we step further inside. There’s just one table set up in the middle of the room, the rest of the chairs are tidied away on top of the other tables, confirming no one else will be joining us.
But the matter causing me the most trouble is the reason Luna told me to abort. The meeting the De Luca brothers have brought me to is bigger than they realize. The entire reason I’m herewiththem is because of the person already sitting between four men at the table.
Luna.
My heart threatens to pound out of my chest as I keep my face neutral, my pulse ringing in my ears uncontrollably.
Roman, Parker, Luna, Kai, Oscar.
The five of them are sitting around the circular table, and four seats remain free. Matteo takes the one across from Luna, Vito to his left, while Enzo offers me the chair beside Matteo, leaving him to sit next to Oscar.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I’m unsure why you feel this meeting is necessary, Miss Steele,” Matteo starts with a bored tone. “I’m aware you’ll do anything to interfere, but there’s nothing you can say or do that will make me listen. You’re wasting our time and yours.”
I look at Enzo, not wanting to seem like this is completely normal for me, and to my surprise, he places his hand on my thigh and offers me a reassuring squeeze in comfort.
If only he knew.
“It’sMrs.Steele,” Oscar grunts, slumping back in his seat, his body language matching Matteo’s tone as Luna places her elbows on the table.
“We’re trying to keep the peace, Mr. De Luca, and whether you believe it or not, we’re trying to keep everyone safe,” she explains, her green eyes widening with the truth as Roman scoffs.
“Well, everyone but the Russians. They’ve already gone too far,” Roman spits, his lips twisting in distaste. It’s weird seeing him now, sitting across from me like he’s done so many times. Only this time, I don’t have my mother forcing me to push myself on him.
It’s a relief, a weight lifting from my chest that I never knew was there. I expect these people to hate me forever, and that’s something I can live with.
“We can work together. Then we can discuss whatever it is Totem promised you,” Luna offers, her voice remaining calm as she looks at each of the brothers, completely overlooking me as she waits for a response.
“None of this would be an issue if you hadn’t killed him. The day I learned of his death, I vowed to avenge him,” Vito spits, and my blood runs cold. My eyes squeeze shut before I can stop them, but Enzo’s hand tightens, like he assumes I’m scared by Vito’s words.
This is a mess.
A huge fucking mess that I should never have agreed to.
I’m tangled in lies, a web of my own making because I suddenly felt something for the first time in my life.
Sitting at this table now, I know I have a decision to make.
Loyalty.
But to whom?
Lust or redemption?
It’s one or the other, no in-between.
“Let’s not waste time on such bullshit. In fact, maybe I should be done with you now?” Matteo grunts, pulling a gun from his pocket and training it on Luna. Each of her men are about to move, but she raises her hand, halting them in place against their will. “An eye for an eye, Mrs.Steele. The consequences forkillingTotem.”
Luna’s eyes land on mine for the first time since I walked through the door, and I immediately know what she’s saying.
Show me I wasn’t wrong for trusting you.
Lust or redemption?
Redemption or lust?
