“We will follow you,” he tells her, and she heads to the waiting limo, escorted by Lorenzo. I watch them both go before nodding to two of the security still surrounding us.
“Follow them.” They hurry away as the rest of the guards fan out, walking with us as we move to Gio’s parked car. Sage is leaning against it, and he’s arguing with someone. It’s a woman, but she has her head covered with a black mourning veil. Well, that’s certainly dramatic. When we get closer, she turns, and I see it’s Candy, her red hair now visible. What the fuck? My hand clenches in Gio’s, and he gives me a reassuring squeeze before going around to the other side of the car and flipping his seat forward for Sage. Both give me a false sense of privacy, considering they are just a few feet away, but I appreciate it.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry,” Candy sobs and reaches for my hand, but I pull it away and glance around. When I look back at her, she appears hurt, but I don’t feel guilty.
“Thank you for coming, but we can’t do this anymore.”
Her eyes fill with pain, and she takes a step back. “But it’s alright for you and Sage to be together?” she spits, the hurt turning to anger, and I feel my eyebrows jump in surprise.
“Me and Sage? You think we’re a thing?” I ask her, and she sneers.
“I see the way he looks at you, and I’ve caught you looking at him too.”
“I can assure you that is not the case. You’re the only person I’ve been intimate with for a long time, but what’s done is done, and it’s over. I’m sorry if this hurts you, but it really is for your own good.”
“Fuck you, Tori.” She spits on the ground and flounces away, and I climb into the car. The atmosphere is tense as fuck as Gio pulls away from the curb.
ChapterTwenty-Five
“Wow, you really dodged a bullet there, but I bet she was wicked in the sack. Crazy is always good in bed,” Sage comments conversationally, and for the first time since I woke in the hospital, I smile.
Gio chuckles and holds his hand out for Sage to fist bump, and the tense atmosphere dissolves as we drive home. It’s silent but comfortable, with quiet music playing, but when we pull into the underground garage, Gio stops the car and breathes out a deep breath.
“Dad’s lawyer called me yesterday to give me the heads-up. Penelope is expecting to be in the will, but Dad has left everything to you and me. She has permission to live in the old house, and she gets a small allowance, but apart from that, nothing. So please expect some drama and try not to shoot her.”
“That’s it?” I ask him, and he shakes his head. “No. Apparently there is a recorded message we must sit through before the reading of the will, so you need to brace yourself for that.”
A recorded message from my dad. How the fuck am I going to get through that without breaking down? I look between the two boys in horror, and Sage pats me on the shoulder. “It’s okay, you’ve got this.”
His gentle reassurance helps, and I climb out of the car, sliding my seat forward so he can step out after me.
The two of us flank Gio as we use the elevator to get up to the house. When the doors open, the foyer is filled with mourners who have returned to celebrate Dad’s life—or to get a sneak peek inside the house people have whispered about for so many years. Mayor Steel nods to Gio as we pass, as do several other well-connected individuals whom we have blackmail on. Gio was very quick to let everyone know that even though Dad was gone, his legacy lived on through him. After a few well-placed threats, we quickly got everyone back into line before they could even think of stepping over it.
It’s not just the foyer that’s filled with people, but the entire ground floor. We don’t stop to talk. The crowd parts like the Red Sea as the three of us march through it. The reading of the will is going to take place in the secret room beyond the conference room, but everyone is waiting in the conference room when we arrive. Gio moves over to Dad’s lawyer, welcoming him as I move to the side and observe the people here. Apart from Lorenzo and Penelope, Ben and Suzie are here as well as Dad’s cousin Petey, another high-ranked officer in our organization.
“Can we please get on with this?” Penelope drawls with greedy anticipation, and I keep my face blank despite the smirk that wants to show itself.
“Firstly, I ask Giovanni and Victoria to make their way into the room. Your father left a recording for you to watch.” He looks down at the paper in front of him and nods. “And Sage too.”
Penelope’s gasp of outrage is good for my soul. “Why the hell is he invited in?” she demands, and the lawyer holds up his hands.
“I am just honoring my client’s last wishes, Mrs. Russo.”
Gio pushes in the eye of the bust, and the door pops open and the three of us descend the stairs. When we get into the conference room, there is a laptop set up on the table, and I take a seat in front of it as the boys crowd in behind me. The lawyer follows us down, making sure the door is closed. I press play on the screen, and my dad’s smiling face appears. I can’t stop the tears that roll down my cheeks at the sight, and both Gio and Sage place a hand on my shoulders.
Dad’s smile is bittersweet as he waves at us. “Hello, my children. If you are watching this, then the unthinkable has happened and I am no longer with you. Know that I love you all very much, and it has been my honor to see you grow into the wonderful human beings you are.” He stops and chuckles. “Yes, even you, Sage, although you drive me to drink sometimes. It has been a joy getting to know you over the years, and I hope that by giving you my last name, I have done right by you.” The lawyer passes Sage an envelope, and when he tears it open, it’s adoption papers saying that Sage is now a Russo.
A gasp escapes his mouth, and I see the tears well in his eyes.
“Gio, make sure he gets the tattoo. He hasn’t gotten it yet, but it is time. Look after my children for me, Sage, they are going to need a friend in the future to come, because if I am not with you, it means that the traitor in our organization has succeeded. Although I am no closer to finding out who it is, I leave it in your capable hands to figure it out. I have faith in you all. If Mickey is still with you, use him, trust him, and rely on him much the same way I have over the years, but whatever you do, donottrust my brother and donottrust Penelope. Both are going to want to wheedle their way into the day-to-day operations of the business, but you must not let this happen. Gio, stand strong and be the leader I know you to be. Tori, my sweet mafia princess, it is time you became Azrael, the Angel of Death, for real.” He winks before sobering up again. “You are the underboss now. Show no mercy. Protect your brother, protect Sage, and protect your heart. Trust no one but each other. Find my killer and avenge me, and then move on. Live and love like your mother and I never could. Make the Russo family proud. We will be watching over you from above.”
The video blinks out, and I try to swallow past the lump in my throat as I hastily wipe the tears from my face. The lawyer gives us a moment as we sit in a loaded, emotional silence before he grabs the laptop and holds his hand out for us to go back upstairs.
The lawyer fiddles with some paperwork for a few minutes while we get resettled. As I look at Penelope, it’s all I can do not to grin with glee as I see her face turn red with impatience at the delay. But finally, he is ready, and the reading of the will is quick. “Ben and Suzie are guaranteed their spot in this house and their jobs as long as they would like. Both have been bequeathed a nice cash amount, which I will disclose to them in private,” he starts when everyone sits around the conference table. He looks at Lorenzo next. “Here is the deed to your apartment. Stefano had it signed over to you.” He passes over a piece of paper, and I see Lorenzo’s jaw clench. Next, he moves on to Penelope.
“Mrs. Russo, you have been given the house that was your previous address. If you choose to sell it, Giovanni Russo gets the first right to buy it back. You may also keep the jewelry, clothes, and car gifted to you by Mr. Russo.” Penelope is preening, but her expression drops when he turns to look at us. “As for the remainder of Mr. Stefano Russo’s estate, it will be shared equally between his two children, Giovanni and Victoria Russo, as well as an undisclosed amount being gifted to Mr. Sage Russo.”
“What the fuck?” Penelope screams, jumping to her feet as she slams her hands down on the table. “Who the fuck is Sage Russo? He’s not a fucking Russo, he’s just some trumped-up junky whore Stefano felt sorry for. What about my share of the estate?”
