As his car drives away, I stand on the sidewalk for a moment, letting the weight of everything settle on my shoulders.
I have to fix this. Find Elio. Send a message to the Costellos. Protect Elena and Rina.
And somehow navigate this relationship with Elena without destroying everything in the process.
I head back into the building, my mind already working through next steps. Elena trusted me with the truth today—more than she's shared with anyone, I suspect. She's been carrying this burden alone for too long.
But she's not alone anymore. Whether she realizes it or not, she's mine now. What happened between us last night changed everything, and I'm not letting the Costellos or her coward father hurt her anymore.
I let myself back into the apartment quietly. The silence feels different now—not tense like it has been for weeks, but settled. Like we've finally stopped dancing around each other and admitted what's building between us.
Now I just need to make sure we both survive long enough to see where this leads.
I pull out my phone and start making calls. Time to bring the full weight of the Rosso organization down on this problem. Elena may have been trying to handle this alone, but she's family now—in more ways than one.
And we protect family.
The Costellos are about to learn what happens when they threaten what's mine.
CHAPTER 28
Elena
I never go backto sleep. I can't. My mind races, replaying my conversation with Marco. To give him credit, he was very attentive and non-judgmental. He didn't yell at me or get frustrated, just asked questions here and there.
I lie in bed for about an hour before finally giving up. I sit up and stretch, removing the sheets and getting up. After using the bathroom, I walk down the hall and stop short.
One of Marco's men is sitting in my living room, looking at something on his phone. The same man I gave the slip to at the cafe weeks ago.
"You." I point at him. "Bathroom guy."
He smirks but doesn't say anything.
"Do I at least get to know your name now that you're sitting in my apartment?"
Still nothing. Just that infuriating smirk.
I roll my eyes and walk to the kitchen for a protein shake. "You know, the strong silent type only works if you're actually mysterious. Right now you just look constipated."
I hear him chuckle as I blend my shake.
Marco walks through the door a minute later. He starts to walk toward me but hesitates, glancing at his man on the couch. He turns back and nods for him to leave. The guy gets up, gives me a little salute, and walks out.
"His name is Tony, by the way," Marco says once the door closes.
"Tony. The guy who couldn't figure out I was behind the bathroom door." I take a sip of my shake. "Stellar security you've got there."
Marco locks the door and comes over to me, wrapping me in his arms. "Sorry I had to leave you with him. Vito came by. I had to fill him in."
I stiffen and push him away. "What? You told Vito?" Tears begin to fill my eyes and I start to shake. No no no no no. Vito's going to have me killed or locked up or banished like my father.
"Elena." Marco's voice is stern, pulling my attention back to him. "Vito is on our side, okay? I told him what he needed to know. He's not angry at you. He's angry at the Costellos. At your father."
I walk over to the couch with my protein shake and sit down heavily. This is all so messed up.
"What do you want to do today?" Marco asks, sitting next to me.
I sigh. "Can we just stay in and veg out with some movies?"
