Arrogant laughter came down the line. “The difference between me and you, boy, is that I’ve never been foolish enough to fall in love.”
I scoffed, feigning indifference. “Love is a useless emotion. One I’ve never had the misfortune of experiencing.”
“You’ve already played your hand with that cute little threat you issued at the start of this call.”
Though I was loath to admit it, maybe Enzo had a point about going off half-cocked. If I’d kept myself in check earlier, I might have been able to make him believe that Rory and Luca meantnothing to me, that holding them hostage, threatening their lives, wouldn’t aid his quest to destroy me.
Shifting tactics, I asked, “How do I even know they’re still alive? For all I know, you could have stolen Rory’s phone after you ditched their bodies.”
“That’s fair,” Dario conceded. “Which body part would you like couriered over?”
The thought of him mutilating my wife or child made me sick to my stomach, and it took all my effort to keep my voice calm. “A finger can just as easily be severed from a corpse. It’s hardly a convincing proof of life.”
His annoyed sigh came down the line. “What else would you have me do?”
“Put Rory on the phone,” I demanded. “Now.”
“Fine,” he huffed.
Then there was the sound of shuffling in the background, before my wife’s terrified voice sounded in my ear, “Gio?”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “It’s me.”
“Th-they said they left you outside to freeze to death. I thought—” She broke off with a loud sob.
“I’m okay,” I reassured her. “I need you to tell me if they’ve hurt you.” My windpipe closed up as I tacked on “Hurt Luca.”
“No.” Her reply was shaky, unconvincing.
“Tell me the truth.”
“Promise me something, Gio.” Her tone dripped with desperation. It was as if she was making a final request. Like she didn’t believe we’d ever see each other again in this lifetime.
“Don’t do that. Don’t give up,” I all but begged. “I’m coming for you.”
“No! Promise me you’ll stay far away from the casino.”
“Are you out of your mind? No way in hell will I agree to abandon you and our son.”
“You have to.” She was openly weeping now. “If you barge in here, guns blazing, they’re going to kill you. Then they’re gonna go after Matteo and his girls. It’s too late for us, but you can save them. Please don’t let me die knowing I’ve doomed them to the same fate.”
“Rory.” My eyes slammed shut. What she was asking went against every instinct I possessed.
“There’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
Swallowing thickly, I rasped, “I’m listening.”
She sniffled. “I’m not sorry that I ran away, but it’s not for the reason you think. It’s because if I hadn’t, I never would have learned there’s so much more to the man I married. And I never would have realized that I love every part. The ruthless mafia don, the protective alpha, the dominant lover, the compassionate caretaker, and my favorite of all—the one I’ve only recently gotten the opportunity to meet—the hands-on father. Gio or John, it doesn’t matter anymore, because I loveyou. In all your forms.”
“I—”
But before I could utter more than that one-letter word, Dario’s voice took over again.
“Well, wasn’t that touching,” he said with a mockingly. “There’s nothing like a little end-of-life epiphany.”
Gritting my teeth, I forced out, “She won’t be the one dying tonight.”
“Remains to be seen. You know where to find me.”
