A bitterness coats my tongue. What feels like fire ignites my blood. “So, you ordered for Rico to kill him?”
“Technically my husband did. He threatened me. Constantine doesn’t take kindly to threats against me,” she says coldly with even colder eyes.
“He was my brother! My ma’s only son and you all killed him!” I seethe.
“I understand you’re upset but you would be extremely hypocritical to believe your family wouldn’t do the same. In fact, they’ve already done it. How many sons and brothers and fathers have they taken in the name of protecting the family?”
I shake my head furiously. “It’s not the same.”
“Isn’t it?” She poses the question. “What makes it different?”
“He was my brother?—“
“Si, he was. But just because he shared your blood doesn’t mean it absolves him of consequences. Nor will it you.”
Tension lays heavy and thick between us. A coldness resides in my bones from her threat. “What are you ensuing?”
“You’re intelligent enough to read between the lines.”
Bravely, I stand toe to toe with her. I have her by a mere inch with her in heels. Except I would be naive to believe that means I’m intimidating to her.“Funnily enough I don’t think Rico would take too kindly of you threatening me.”
Her smile is conspiring. “Si, the man who killed four of his own to protect you. And tell me, what has your pa done to save you? Do you think if your brother was still alive he would’ve went against him to bring you home? Or would he have stayed loyal to his family and let you suffer?”
My nostrils flare. “You have no idea the man my brother was.”
“From the little time spent with him I know he was stubborn, prideful and halfwitted. And your father? Your father suffers the same attributes. Because if he was smart he would’ve waved his white flags. If he had less pride he would’ve saved you in an instant. But he didn’t, did he? Not even with guns pointed to your head. No, his image to his crime family meant more than your life.”
Fire licks my skin. It burns within me. An unbridled rage that I fear may erupt any second. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I knew this would happen.”
“You knew what would happen?” I spew.
“That kidnapping you would only restart the war that happened over a century ago. He would never concede, even if it meant your life. A Made Man never appears weak to his men. Least of all for a woman. You may be his daughter that I have no doubt he loves but?—”
“But what?”
“But his love for you isn’t enough to end a war.”
Her words strike me far worse than any blow ever will. Any torture that lies ahead of me will never amount to this great pain that obliterates the poor vessel inside my chest.
My hand comes to clutch over my heart. Tears prick at the back of my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. My throat burns as I swallow back the sob.
Hands, large and gentle, lay comfortingly on my shoulders before bringing my back to press flush against his chest. His scent of amber calms me as I take in a deep breath.
“What did you say to her?” He asks in a low rumble over my head.
“I only told her what she already knows to be true,” she says wistfully.
“And that is?” He presses.
She sighs heavily. “That in our world almost all fathers choose the crime family over their own flesh and blood.”
And while yes, I do know that to be true I had never once thought it would have been possible to be my own pa. I fear the wound he inflicted will always fester.
Rico replies tightly, “I assure you she’s already painfully aware of the fact.”
“Si,” she agrees regretfully, “I see that now.”
