“And reindeer," Adalina adds. "And Rocco said yes really loud and then Santa whispered something just to him."
"Do you remember what he whispered?" I brush a strand of hair from Adalina's face.
Adalina shakes her head. "But Rocco looked really excited."
"Then Santa said only one kid could come," Elio continues. "He picked Rocco 'cause he was the oldest."
After getting them safely buckled in with Elena, I scan the area again. I see Dom talking to his men, except for one.
Where the fuck is Gio?
I know then that it had to be him.
I stride over to Dom. "It was Gio. This has his stink all over it."
Dom's expression hardens. "You're jumping to conclusions."
"Am I? Umberto kept a list of men he didn't trust. Gio was at the top. I've seen how he looks at me. He wanted me dead seven years ago, and he wants me dead now."
"If you're accusing one of my captains?—"
"I'm not accusing. I'm telling you." I step closer, lowering my voice further. "Gio knew about my kids. Elana heard him offer to 'get rid of me' for you."
Dom's eyes narrow. "Elena told you that?"
"Gio worked for your father. He was loyal to Aldo, not you. What if he's still carrying out Aldo's vendetta?"
Dom's jaw tightens as he shakes his head. "Gio wouldn't dare touch Elena or the children. He knows they're under my protection." But I catch a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
He's not as confident about Gio's loyalty as he pretends to be.
"Gio served your father, not you. He's carrying out unfinished business to get rid of me."
"You have no proof?—"
"My son is missing!" My voice echoes across the parking lot, drawing glances from nearby men. I lower my volume but not my intensity. "While you sit here defending a man who openly offered to kill me, my six-year-old son is in the hands of God knows who."
Dom's nostrils flare. "I'm doing everything I can?—"
"No, you're not." I jab a finger into his chest. "You're a chickenshit Don, Dominic. Too afraid to look at the rot in your own family. Too scared to admit your father murdered his brother and framed me for it, because you knew, didn’t you?"
His eyes flash with anger, but I don't stop.
"If my son dies because you're too weak to confront the betrayal in your own ranks, I swear to God I'll burn your entire family to the ground."
Marco appears at my side, hand on my shoulder. "Luca?—"
I shrug him off. "No, he needs to hear this. If anyone has put Rocco in danger, it's him. His silence. His willingness to let sleeping dogs lie while traitors walk among us."
Dom's face has gone red with fury. "You're crossing a line."
"My son is missing," I growl. "There are no more lines."
ELENA
I sit frozen on Luca's leather couch, trying to keep the terror I feel from consuming me.
The grandfather clock in the corner ticks, marking each second my son is missing.
