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He has my mother’s locket. My mother’s watch.
“Brother,” I say out loud, a lump forming in my throat. “I never knew.”
“And rightly so. Mother wanted to protect you.”
I glance at Jasmine, her face a mixture of shock and concern, then turn my gaze back to Leonardo. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? Why all the secrecy?"
"Because, fratello," Leonardo says, his voice heavy with the weight of years spent carrying a secret meant for two, "I had to be sure you could be trusted. I needed to know that when I revealed myself, you'd be on my side. Our father has eyes everywhere, and I couldn't risk him finding out about me before we were ready."
"Ready?" I scoff, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice. "You think I'm ready for this? To learn that my mother was murdered by our own father and that I have a brother?”
"None of us are ever truly ready for the truth, Dario," he replies, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. "But we have to face it head-on if we want to make things right."
"Right," I murmur, thinking over his words.
A united front – that's what we need now. With Leonardo's knowledge and skills, and my connections within the family, we might stand a chance against our father. But only if we work together.
"Alright," I say, determination settling deep within me. "We'll team up. We'll bring him down. For our mother, for you, for me and the future of this family.”
Chapter 41
Facades And Finalities
Jasmine
I stand in the middle of Dario's apartment, my gaze scanning the makeshift war room he has set up. Maps, equipment, and plans are spread out on tables, covering every inch of surface space. Leonardo, his brother, is a godsend, helping to organize the chaos.
The atmosphere is tense, but Dario's determination and leadership shine through as he directs us.
The bell rings, signalling the arrival of the others. Marco, Cipher, Enzo, and Luciano file in, their expressions solemn yet focused.
"Thank you all for coming," Dario says, his voice commanding the room. "We have much to discuss."
"Who's the new guy?" Marco asks, nodding towards Luciano.
"What's going on, boss?" Enzo asks at the same time.
Dario meets Luciano's eyes, then looks back at Marco. "There will be time for introductions and answers shortly. For now, you have to trust me and Leonardo." His tone leaves no room for argument, asserting his dominance over the group.
They may not know everything that's going on, but they trust Dario enough to follow him without question.
"Brother, please lead the rest into the war room," Dario instructs.
"Of course," Leonardo replies, guiding Marco, Cipher, Enzo, and Luciano towards the heart of the operation.
Just as the war room door closes behind the men, Dario takes my hand and pulls me away from where we can be interrupted. He looks at me so sweetly, so gently, that I fear I'll melt into a little puddle.
"Jasmine, I want to take a moment to celebrate our wonderful news," he says softly, his hands cupping my face. "I'm so sorry for all the stress I've caused you. You don't deserve any of it."
His words touch my heart, and tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I know Dario is doing everything he can to protect our family and bring down his father's version of the Marchetti empire. "It's okay, my love. We're in this together, remember? I've caused you some wild stress too."
He smiles, his eyes shining with love and humor. "That you have, but oh lord, I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime."
He leans down, capturing my lips in a sweet, tender kiss. In that moment, all the danger and uncertainty surrounding us fade away, leaving only the purest form of love.
Our lips part, and as I look into Dario's eyes, I see the depth of his commitment to our relationship.
"Ti amo, Jasmine," he murmurs against my lips. I'm ready to lean in for another kiss when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Reluctantly, I break our kiss and pull away from him. "I'm sorry, Dario, but my handler is calling," I say, my heart racing.
