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His eyes welled up with tears while his trembling voice gave away the turmoil of emotion going through him. In a couple of sentences, I had taken down a criminal legend, no bullets needed.
“I think so, Don Amato. Her name is Jamie Elisabeth Harden.”
I told him everything about her, especially about Frank and the money he received every month in exchange for his silence. About how badly Jamie was treated her whole life and especially about what a wonderful person she had become despite all that.
I left the most recent events with Mr. Mercier for last, emphasizing that he would soon be out of jail, hoping he’d be just as bloodthirsty as I was.
“Does she know?” His tone was soft and fatherly, concern dripping off those very few words.
“Not yet. I didn’t know if it was true or what your reaction would be. I had to protect her from that before telling her. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“This is… Fuck.” He hissed, his hands cradling his head as he struggled to process.
“Can you tell me what happened? How come you didn’t know you had another daughter?”
“Amanda was undoubtedly the love of my life, even if we were only together for a couple of weeks. After I told her what I was, she simply disappeared. There was nothing but a note saying she couldn’t live with the idea of loving a criminal. I hardly knew anything about her life, I didn’t even know where she was from. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had ended my engagement that morning to be with her. I couldn’t care less about the bullet carved with my name for doing that.”
This sounded so damn familiar. I could relate to his pain. I was seeing a picture of myself, had Jamie decided she couldn’t love the beast in me.
“Thank you, Liam. Thank you for being there for her when I wasn’t.”
“I think she’d be happy to meet you one day.”
“Of course. I can’t make up for what I lost, but I’m here now.”
“That’s good to know, Don Amato. She deserves the fucking world.”
We both agreed that it would be best if I told Jamie who her real father was and then set up a meeting with Don Amato when and if Jamie was ready.
I was relieved to know that he wanted to get to know her and maybe become the father she never had.
I was about to give Don Amato a moment, returning to the party and leaving him to make peace with what I had just told him, when gunshots resounded from the front of the hotel.
Instinct kicked in, making me draw my gun straight into Don Amato’s face as I looked down the barrel of his gun in return.
I simply nodded, signaling that it wasn’t us, and set off running towards the sound, Don Amato following hot on my trail. There was hardly enough time to fire a couple of our own rounds before the drive-by car had vanished without a trace.
Matt was on the floor, covering Francesca with his body, while I sent our men after the loaded SUV. I saw some of the Amatos joining in on the hunt before turning my attention to my brother, who was now merely a step away from Don Amato, standing taller than him in all his glorious fury.
“What the fuck is exactly right, Don Amato. First time I have you in my city, and this is what happens. Anything you need to tell me?” I heard him bark, not masking the animosity in his tone.
“Don’t try to pin this on me. This is your city, as you’ve very well pointed out. Nothing here tells me this wasn’t you.” Don Amato countered.
“Accidents happen every day. Wasn’t that what your nephews said?”
“They were merely comforting their sister and giving her the security she needed. You are the one with the means and opportunity here.”
“It wasn’t. Me.” His voice dipped into a tone that exuded menace. There was a code of honor between mafiosi men, but that never stopped them from backstabbing a fellow Made Man. After all, above the code, we were all criminals, and deception was our second skin. “I have damage control to do and fucking assassins to catch. So if you don’t mind, take your fucking progeny out of my city.”
“Liam?” Jamie’s voice came from behind me, and I ran to her side, guiding her back into the safety of the hotel’s walls. “What happened? We heard shots.”
“It’s okay, Baby. Let's get you back inside. I have to get back to Matt, but we’ll be done real soon, and then I’m all yours.” I walked her back to the wedding hall, making sure some of our men guarded every damn entrance, not leaving without telling them to guard Jamie, Alison, and my mother with their damn lives.
It went without saying, but I’d never leave their safety to chance.
When I came back from something resembling revenge, plotting without a damn culprit, the party had died down. The air was tense, and apprehension covered the faces of every woman here while the men sported scowls of distrust.
Jamie, on the other hand, was a damn beacon of light, happily laughing and chatting with Alison. I couldn’t help but fall in love with her all over again.
