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“Got it.” Santino touched my arm. “Call Signoria Vittoria. Give her a head’s up. I’ll call Dad too. All the Dons need to know they have a traitor in their midst.”
“I’ll text her.” I nodded.
“Let’s go.” Enzo gestured for me to go ahead.
Outside the vault, the two security guards were still on the floor. I felt bad for the one who had to wake up to find his colleague gone. The dead guy had lost so much blood, the corridor already smelled of decay. Covering my mouth, I hurried past them. The bright lights in the hallway hurt my eyes, but I kept going until I reached the ballroom level, where I could finally breathe again.
When I glanced behind me, Enzo and Luca were deep in conversation. If Luca thought he could cut me out now, he was mistaken. I wasn’t leaving his side tonight. Or ever. We had to see this through, together.
I strode toward them. “I’m coming with you.”
“It’ll be safer if you go home with Enzo. I can take it from here.” Luca touched my cheek and smiled. “It’s over. I’ll come for you after I get this to Don Valentino.”
“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Please. Don’t leave me. I’ll die not knowing if you’re okay. Please don’t do this to me.”
Luca glanced at Enzo, who only shrugged. He was leaving it up to Luca. But this was my decision. “Luca. You said we were in this together. I’m coming with you. Period.”
“Fine.” He took my hand. “When are you going to take no for an answer?”
“Never.” I smiled at him. “Let’s go.”
We hurried past the ballroom, where the jazz music was still playing. For a second, I made eye contact with the bartender, who looked up just in time to see me. A part of me wanted to go in there and tell him Ava would soon have justice. But I couldn’t do that. He could never know Ava was killed trying to save a mobster’s life.
Out on the curb, Luca’s SUV waited for us. Though, to my surprise, Alfred wasn’t at the wheel like before. “Where’s Alfred?” I asked when Luca opened the passenger door for me.
“He’s running an errand for me.” He reached and buckled me in before he kissed me. “Rex heard back from his dad. We’re going to the Hamptons.” He shut the door and sauntered around the car.
“Is that why you didn’t want me to come?” I asked as soon as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“It’s a long drive.”
“I don’t care as long as I’m with you.” I beamed at him then sat back. “Let’s go sign your uncle’s death warrant.”
“Right.” He started the ignition and peeled away from the curb.
An hour later, after we had long left the city behind, I reached over and squeezed Luca’s fingers. He’d been so quiet the whole ride. I could only imagine what he was going through. He didn’t like his uncle, but Don Gallo was still family. No doubt a part of him felt like he was betraying a member of his family.
“Maybe after the delivery is done, you and I can spend a few days at the beach.” I studied his profile—his perfect nose and straight jaw. The wrinkle that formed around his eyes was the only sign I could find that told me how tense he felt. I could almost see all the jumbled thoughts turning this way and that in his head. “Are you going to be okay seeing Don Valentino?”
“Hmm.” He shot me a quick glance. “As long as he stays away from you, we’ll all be fine.”
“I’ll talk to Aunt Vittoria. She’ll have to understand that she can’t do this to me.”
“One day, you’ll have to understand how greed and power work.” He brought my hand toward him and placed it over his heart. “Signoria Vittoria can only do so much to protect you. I’m never going to let him have you. But I understand why your aunt considered the option.”
“You believe she’s doing it for my own good?” I laughed. “Now you’re starting to sound like Rex. I don’t need protection. I only need you.” I scooted over in my seat to rest my head on his shoulder. “It’s always been you, Luca.”
“I know.” He checked his mirrors and switched lanes. “I wish I’d had your conviction back then. Maybe then we wouldn’t be on this fucked-up mission to turn in my own family. Maybe. I don’t know, maybe Ava would still be alive.”
“She was at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Like you, she was trying to do the right thing. It’s not your fault her path and Don Gallo’s path had to cross. It wasn’t your fault. Do you see that now?”
“I do.” He gripped the steering wheel. “I still don’t know how she died though. Only that her death was senseless.”
“Her killer will pay soon. She will have peace now.” I kissed his arm. Maybe it would take a bit longer for his guilt to dissipate. He’d held on to it for so long; he’d yet to figure out how to let it go. No matter what, I planned to be here to help him through it. “I love you.”
“I love you too. You have no idea how much” He kissed the top of my head. “Because of you, I fulfilled my promise to Ava.”
“You can thank me later.” I winked at him.
