“I have to go,” Lucky repeats, locking eyes with me before turning to our fathers. “I have to be with her. With her and Darius. They are my family. I can’t leave my family to suffer like this without me. Please. Just let me go.”
All three men flinch. I see it as clear as day. They feel my brother’s pain as if it were their own, but they’re still unwilling to let him go.
That’s when I step forward, head held high and take my rightful stance beside Lucky.
“Lucky is going to Russia,” I say firmly. “And I’m going with him.”
“Cazzo!”Gio mutters, throwing his hands in the air in complete disbelief.
“Gio,” my father says under his breath but there’s little heat behind the reprimand.
“You two are staying right here!” Gio yells. “No one is going to fucking Russia,” he continues. “I feel for both Frankie and Darius. I do. But the Outfit can’t protect you in Russia.”
“But theBratvacan,” Marcello says beside me.
I swallow hard as I look into my brother’s blue eyes and see nothing but support there—for me and for Lucky.
“TheBratva?” Gio scoffs like the very idea is ridiculous. “Do I need to remind you three that the last time Stella and Lucky were off to Russia, your sister got shot?”
“You don’t need to remind us,” I snap. “We were there. Yes, I got shot but not by any of the Petrovs. It was a mistake. One that many of our own soldiers have made in the past. Or are we suddenly so high and mighty that we’re above acknowledging our own mistakes?”
“Stella,” my father, Dom, warns this time.
But I don’t stop. I can’t.
“Marcello is right. The Petrovs will protect us. Especially because we are going there to show our condolences and to be there for Frankie and Darius, who, might I remind you, are also a part ofthisfamily!”
The room falls silent. No one speaks, not even to argue us out of going.
“Kirill loves Stella,” Marcello says suddenly, the words hitting me like a physical blow. “We all know it,” he continues. “We all know that man would do anything for her. He will ensure both her safety and Lucky’s.” My throat goes dry at the intensity in his gaze as he looks at me. “I don’t know what happened between you two…and honestly, I don’t care. The less I know about my sister’s love life, the better,” he adds, shuddering dramatically. “But I do know that man loves you, and he’s brave enough to face any enemy for you.”
Then Marcello takes his eyes from me and locks them on the only man who can actually make this decision.
“We all know it, Dad. Kirill wouldn’t let a finger be laid on any of us because of her.”
“And his enemies?” Gio fires back. “What if they use thePakhan’sdead wife as a way to strike at the Petrovs?”
“Then they’re as good as dead,” Marcello says coldly. “Even in grief, Kirill would never allow anything to happen to Stella. Let Lucky go support his family. And let Stella stand beside Kirill in the moment he needs her most.” Then he softens, just enoughto wound. “If the roles were reversed… wouldn’t you want Mom beside you? Beside all of you?”
Our father exhales slowly, a sad smile touching his lips.
“I’ve suffered loss before, Marcello. And you’re right. If it hadn’t been for your mother, I’m not sure I’d be the same man standing in front of you now.”
He straightens and looks between me and Lucky.
“Go. Pack your things. I’ll have the plane fueled and ready within the hour.”
“I’ll be ready in thirty,” Lucky says before bolting from the room.
I, on the other hand, remain rooted to my spot as my father steps out from behind his desk and comes to stand before me.
“I don’t think there is a man on this earth worthy of you, mypiccolina,” he says softly. “But if Kirill is who you want…who you love…then I will not stand in your way either.”
Tears sting my eyes before I launch myself into his chest, wrapping my arms around him tightly.
“Thank you,Papà.”
He kisses the top of my head just as a delicate hand slips into mine. I lift my gaze and find my mother there, tears shining in her eyes as she pulls me into a fierce hug.
