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Thankfully, Dario leaves, and I press against the wall and wait for Diego. He’s one of the soldiers that I also knew growing up. He’s very much like Lorenzo, all about the Famiglia. It’s the way they were brought up. To them, nothing is bigger than the Famiglia. This is what they live and breathe. They’ll do whatever it takes for the family. They’ve lost themselves within it, and I don’t think there’s any coming back.
“Portia.” I hear the deep, gravelly tone of Diego. “Let’s get you to the apartment.”
I swallow back the bile that burns my throat. “What about Nell?” I ask, thankful I’m able to keep my voice even and without emotion.
His jaw clenches. “Portia, she’s gone, honey. There’s nothing we can do. The boss will be ensuring she’s buried properly.”
“How did this happen?” I ask, wondering how the fuck a sick bastard made their way into a secure building.
His eyes harden as he slides his arm around my shoulders. “The fucking bastard shot Lorenzo then pushed his way inside and got to the penthouse apartment. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.”
I nod in thanks, but I can’t speak. Something about this doesn’t sit right. With how powerful the Famiglia is, no one should have been able to get this close to the underboss’ wife. No one. This isn’t the first time someone has gotten so close. At Teagan and Elio’s wedding, one of the guests was poisoned and died. Elio switched to Italian when he was speaking with his men, a language I’m fluent in. I heard what he said. He believes that someone is after him, and after today, I have to say, I think he’s right.
I could have lost both sisters today, and I came so very close to doing so. My breath catches in my throat. I will not break down right now. I can’t. Not yet. When I’m alone, I can.
Diego leads me to his vehicle, and I climb into the back seat. I’m silent the entire ride to the other complex. I can’t speak. I don’t trust myself not to break down if I do. Diego keeps trying to speak to me, but I ignore him. I don’t have the capacity to have a chit-chat right now.
“This apartment is going to have the best security, Portia. You’ll be safe here,” Diego tells me a while later as he leads me into a fully furnished apartment. It’s spacious and beautiful, but it’s cold and empty to me. There’s no Nell, no Tee. Just me alone.
“If you need anything, just call. One of us will be here. I’m stationed downstairs if you need anything.”
I nod, not looking at him. I know he’s trying to say something. Every time our eyes meet, I see the urge to speak in his, but I can’t deal with whatever shit he wants to say.
“I’ll leave you be. I’m truly sorry about your loss.”
“Thank you,” I whisper as he walks out of the apartment. I quickly move to the door and flip the lock. Diego told me that only the Gallo’s have keys to the apartment. I know I’m alone now. There’s no way any of the Gallo’s are going to come here, not today.
I sink to the floor and let the tears flow. I’m unable to keep them at bay any longer. My body wracks with sobs as the loss of my friend—my sister—hits me. What am I going to do without her? How am I going to live without her? She was a shoulder to lean on when times got hard. She was the purest person I had ever met, and now she’s gone. As much as I try to hold back my tears, they just keep pouring out of me. Each sob is like a knife twisting in my chest, a constant reminder that she’s gone. I don’t know how to live without her, how to face the world without her. But I know I have to try.
I’m not sure how long I sit here and cry, but darkness settles over the city. I take a deep breath and wipe away my tears, trying to gather my strength. Tears aren’t helping anyone. They’re not going to bring her back. She deserved more than being murdered. She deserved a fuck of a lot more. She had an entire life ahead of her. I walk over to the window and look over the city, a place that I loved at one stage. Now I look over at the streetlights and feel such an emptiness, so much pain. Just like I did in Chicago.
Death is so final. It’s so painful to know your life will continue and the person you loved won’t be by your side through it all. I watch the bustling city from my window, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do next. Just yesterday, all three of us had a happy life ahead of us, and in a matter of hours, it shattered, and we’re once again filled with pain and sorrow.
The front door opens, and I don’t have to turn to know who it is. I can smell the gentle muskiness of sandalwood and mint. Dario Gallo. I guess I should have taken him at his word when he said he’d be back.
“Not tonight, Dario,” I say, my voice croaking with tears. “I’m not in the mood to argue with you.”
His footsteps move across the floor until he’s behind me. His breath is hot against my neck as his hands slide around my waist and he pulls me back against him. “That’s good, love, because I’m not here to argue.”
I swallow hard. I don’t know what game he’s playing, but I want no part of it. Having him this close is dangerous. Dario Gallo makes me want things I shouldn’t, and right now, with the heartache I’m feeling, I don’t think I’m strong enough to keep him at arm’s length.
He presses a kiss to my head, and the tears once again threaten to come.
“I’m not leaving, Portia. Not tonight. You need me, no matter how much you’ll deny it. You do.”
I hate that he’s right. I do need someone. The thought of being alone tonight, of all nights, just makes me anxious. I can’t deal with being on my own. Not now.
“Thank you,” I whisper, hating that he knows me so well, when we’ve only spent a few moments together.
But there’s something about Dario Gallo that makes my heart race. I just pray that he doesn’t break me.
NINE
DARIO
I know she’s been crying. I can hear it in her voice. I hate that she thinks I’m an ass. It’s been over a month since I last saw her, and I haven’t been able to forget about her. There’s something about Portia Leone that has me captivated. No one has made me feel as though I want to consume them the way that she does, and I know it won’t go away until I have her.
Whenever I’m around her, I can’t help but watch her, making sure she’s okay. There’s such a magnetic pull to her that I can’t deny how much it affects me.
