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“I haven’t heard anything yet on their scanner. So far it’s hush-hush.”
Good. Cops make shit messy. “What’s the status?”
“Maria slipped out. Antonio is dead. An armored SUV is waiting outside for extraction. Frankie has Dante in there already.”His voice gets muffled as he talks on another line.
I let out a huff of air. “Any injuries? Do we know where Romano is?”
“One dead, boss. No updates yet on Romano.”
“Who?”My heart races.
“Rico.”
As bad as it is, relief washes over me at the fact it’s not any of my family.“I’ll send a payment to his family. Recover the body when this is over.”
“Will do.”
“I’m taking Rosa to the safe house now. Thank you.”After tossing my phone into the center console, I gather her hand back in mine.
We have guys stationed there twenty-four seven. They understand they die before anyone touches our women, our families.
I turn to Rosa, who's staring blankly out of the window, shaking like a leaf.
“You saved me,” she whispers.
“I will always be there to save you,il Mio Tesoro.”I squeeze her hand tighter. “And I will always be there to love you.”
As soon as we are in the clear, I pull over on the gravel shoulder and take her face in my hands.
I drop a kiss to her lips. “I hope you know how brave you are.”
I thought I knew her strength. But today, she showed me how truly powerful she is. How big her heart is. The fact that she would sacrifice herself to save her sister makes me love her even more.
“W-we need to find Eva. He said he’d kill her. Maria is in on it with him, and she knows where Eva is!”
“So that is what he had over you this whole time?”
She nods. “And then he threatened you, Luca. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t marry him. Even if I did, he would never stop. He’s already raped Eva.”
Her face pales. I squeeze her hand tighter.
“He would have killed us all, eventually. I’m so sorry. I’ve messed up, haven’t I?”she sobs. Her head lowers, and she hides her face in her hands.
“Rosa. Look at me.” I pull her hands away. “You should have told me a long time ago. I will do anything for you, Rosa. You are my whole fucking world. My entire soul is yours. If that means I tear down a whole city to keep you safe, then that is what I will do. I swear to you, from this moment on, no more pain.”
“I wanted to tell you. I tried to keep him away, to protect everyone. I had no idea until last night who he really was. My dad killed his mom, Luca. That’s why he’s haunted me.”
I stroke her face, holding back my own tears. “Did he—” Acid rises up into my throat.
My stomach rolls, thinking about him touching her, forcing her all this time.
I brace myself, waiting for her response.
A look of disgust flashes over her. “No.”
I close my eyes and tip my head back. “I love you, Rosa. After today, he won’t be able to terrorize you again. I promise.”
“Can we go home now, Luca? I just want to go home.”
