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“That’s why I’m asking you to let me go with her,” Sal interrupts, shocking the fucking life out of me. “I can take care of her, I even know a place we can go where no one will find us. All I need from you is the promise that you’ll make sure no one follows us.”
The look on his face is serious, like he’s thought this all out. But it can’t be real. Sal is an animal, he cares for no one. He’s a trained fucking killer…
“Sal, let me talk to you outside a moment.”
I gesture my head toward the door and watch him give the girl a reassuring nod before he follows me out.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I ask him as soon as we’re alone. “You've known this girl a week, and you're about to give everything up for her.”
I’m mad with him, and fucking confused all at the same time.
“The girl has no one, Raoul. She’s scared, she’s vulnerable and she’s about to bring a child into this world. A Burlusconi child,” he adds.
“Shit, since when did you find fucking empathy?” I slide my hand over my face and stare up at the ceiling.
“You always say that protecting this family is the most important thing to uphold. It doesn’t matter how she came to be, that little girl will be your sister. And that girl is going to be her mother. She needs us. It’s down to us to prove that Burlusconi men can be honorable.”
“I need you, Sal. I need people I can trust around me right now.” Sal is too good a man for me to lose when I’m about to go against my father.
“She needs me more,” he shrugs, and the fact his point is fucking solid has me slamming my fist into the wall. I shake out my hand while I think for a moment.
I’ve learned a lot about my father over the last few days. I may not have always agreed with the man, but I’ve always respected him. My mother loves him with all her heart. Of all the brutal things I knew he was capable of being, his love and loyalty to her was something I never questioned.
“Take the girl, do what you need to do to make them safe, but stay in contact somehow. I’ll get you some money together.”
“I have money, Raoul.”
“This isn't your problem. I am covering medical bills, no argument.”
I have a plan starting to form in my head, one that might help with my own problem.
“How will you explain my absence?” Sal questions.
“You were needed on that special task force that keeps calling you back. Even he can’t break through their spyware.”
“You’re too fucking good at this.” Sal relaxes the muscles in his face enough to almost form a smile.
“We have to make this believable. Because this isn’t just that girl's only chance of escape, this is how I’m going to take over this family,” I assure him, storming back into the room to find the girl.
“How much does Felix know?” I ask them both.
“Enough that I can leave him here with his life,” Sal informs me.
“I’ll sell him the same story that I will Father. When you leave here with the girl, tell Felix that you're bringing her to me at Trovony Point. And act mad, the same way you did with me when I arrived.”
Sal takes in what I’m saying, nodding his head and the girl smiles at me, taking me completely by surprise when she launches herself at me and throws her arms around my neck.
“It’s a shame your sister won’t get to meet you. You’re a good man,” she whispers, placing a kiss on my cheek.
“Don’t think too fondly of me. I’m using this situation to my own advantage.” I tap her shoulder before pulling away and looking at Sal.
“We’re leaving tonight. I’ll grab a burner phone and call you when it’s safe. Just give me a few days to get clear before you shake anything up,” he tells me.
“Got it.” I pull my cousin in for a hug, knowing that this will be the last time I’ll see him in a long time.
Then I say farewell to one of the few men I can trust, before heading back down to my car with a little hope that what I’ve just discovered will be the leverage I need to take control of my own future.
