I remember how steady he was as I ran for him the night of the battle. How the bullets missed my head by millimeters at most, his grip not wavering as he held off the men following me. How Gio took over, both of them perfect with their aim.
But this – a split second. Less, maybe.
To save a life. And to take one.
29 – Caterina
Idon’t recognise my childhood home.
There is filtheverywhere. Broken glass crunches under our feet as we walk up the drive, the scent of bleach and something more putrid digging into my nose. Decaying.
Dom’s arm brushes against mine, and I look at him.
He spent months here, in this hellhole.Months, watching this. Living with it every day, tied to Matteo’s side.
And now, his face is dark as he walks back toward it.
The music is no surprise. There’s no bass, only a low melody that floats from the smashed windows. And on the balcony wrapping around the first floor, the balcony I was never allowed on as a child, my cousin waits.
My eyes sweep the space around him. There’s no sign of Amie, of Frankie, but the three pieces of rope attached to the railings make my throat tighten, as if I canfeelthose nooses tightening around my neck.
“Weapons up.”
My quiet words are repeated back row by row, the several dozen soldiers with us lifting their weapons and training them on the man who grins, his arms spreading out in welcome. Others around him begin to turn, drinks in their hands.
I don’t wait for him to spout whatever bullshit he’s prepared. “You’re becoming predictable, Matteo.”
My raised voice carries across the space between us. The music cuts out, and a flicker of darkness edges into his grin. “Is that so?”
“My apologies for being late to my own party.” I gesture to the middle piece of rope. It’s the only one hanging over the edge, the noose swaying. “Asphyxiation has never been my idea of fun, I’m afraid.”
Matteo looks around, taking in the men gathered around me. His lip curls. “I see your lapdog has crawled back to you. A little more battered than before. Has he told you his body count,cugina? I’m surprised you’d allow a mutt like him into your ranks. He has more blood on his hands than I do.”
I tilt my head, fighting to keep my expression cool even as Dom tenses beside me. “I don’t doubt it. Not when you only butcher innocent women and children.Coward.”
I step forward. Away from the protective line of my men. “You are acoward. Too weak. Too frightened to face me one-on-one. No - you’d prefer to play your little games, to lie and deceive and hide behind the walls of that house, with your parties. Although I notice they’re smaller now, since you lost access to the Corvo accounts. Where are all your men that protect you, Matteo? Have they lost interest, now that you’re no longerpayingthem?”
His face twists with rage. “Still here, I’m afraid. You may have enjoyed your little hacking trick, but there are plenty of assets in this house. I am the Corvo capo. I have plenty of allies, Caterina. Perhaps I’ll give you to another one when I’m done with you. Your leash seems to have slipped.”
I throw my head back, and Ilaughthrough the ice in my stomach, laugh up at him.“You’re welcome to try. If you can find one, that is. Considering what I did to the last man who thought he could control me. Do you know what I did to him? What part of him Icut off?”
My eyes slide to the few men still lingering on the balcony. One or two quietly move out of sight.
My voice is hard. Strong. “And as foryou– oh, I have plans for you, cousin. I am finished playing your pathetic little games. You have shamed the Corvo name. You shame the Cosa Nostra, everything we stand for, and I am fucking tired of it. So be a good boy and send my people out, before I decide tocome in and get them.”
I smirk up at his stony face. Pray that he doesn’t call my bluff, that he truly is the coward I know him to be.
I slide my hand into the pockets of my trousers, and I wait.
Come on, asshole. Don’t disappoint me now.
He and I are going to play together, one last time.
Matteo’s hands clench against the railing as if he’s imagining my neck beneath his hands. His skin mottles with anger, spittle collecting at the corner of his mouth as his hideous caps gleam. “You want them back, I’m only too happy to give them to you.”
I force my feet to stay still as they appear on either side of him, their arms tightly gripped.
A low noise sounds from a few feet along from me, and I glance back. Tony shifts, Vincent murmuring to him. His face is livid as he takes in Frankie.
