“Don… per favore. Non si sacrifica per loro. La famiglia ha bisogno di lei.”
“Enough,” Maverick says, his voice now cold.
Luca instantly shuts his mouth, but Maverick isn’t finished.
“When you are in the presence of the Shadows,” he says, each word clipped and sharp, “you will speakEnglish.”
Luca swallows. “Don…”
“Forrespect,” Maverick snaps. “These men are my brothers. My equals. You do not hide your words from them. You do not whisper. You do not switch tongues to speak around them. Ever again. Do I make myself clear?”
Luca stiffens and nods immediately.
“Sì,Don. Clear.”
The entire table goes silent.
Spike’s brows pull together.
Tank shifts like he’s reassessing everything he’s ever known.
Bones looks bored…but I know better.
And Eli?
Eli is gripping my hand like his life depends on it.
“Breathe, pretty boy,” I whisper. “Are you with me?”
Eli tightens his grasp. His eyes are glassy, his chest rising too fast.
Maverick’s head snaps toward us, and his eyes widen, all fury gone in an instant.
“I’m sorry, honey,” he says gently. “I know you don’t know me all that well… but you need to know I would never hurt you. Not any of you. Even if I wanted to, that man of yours would try to kill me.”
I huff out a breath and force myself to sit back in my chair, shoulders relaxed, hoping Eli feels my ease.
“Try, my ass,” I mutter. “I’d have your last breath in my hands before you got your ass out of that chair.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” Maverick says dryly, one corner of his mouth lifting.
Eli finally exhales, the tightness in his shoulders easing just a fraction. His hand is still wrapped around mine, but the white-knuckled grip loosens.
I shift my chair closer so our knees touch.
Eli’s breathing steadies the moment our legs brush, and I keep myself anchored right there.
“I have to admit,” Spike finally says, breaking the heavy silence. “I’m at a loss for words, brother. Were you ever going to tell us?”
Maverick doesn’t look away. Doesn’t shrink. Doesn’t bluff.
“No,” he says plainly. “Being part of your club…even as your Outlaw…was the only reprieve I had from my life. I felt… normal here. I didn’t want to lose that. There was no risk to either of oursides with this knowledge, so I kept it to myself. Only my closest advisors knew of it. It wasn’t until recent events that I knew things had to change.”
Bones lifts a brow. “You sound like you’re from here.”
“I worked my ass off to lose my accent,” Maverick admits. “It slips when I’m emotional.”
He takes a breath.
