“My eyes are wide open. If you say you’ll follow me, then obey my command. Otherwise, you can challenge me now for control of the Trio. I’m quite sure you’d beat me in my current condition.”
It would be the shortest and most pathetic fight to the death to claim power in the history of the Trio. Luca would have many more battles to fight once it was over, but I trust him implicitly, and I need him to know that I do.
For a few tense seconds, he simply stares at me before slowly bowing his head. “You’re the oldest. You were born to be Capo. Your word is my law. Always.”
“I have to be able to trust you with my wife.”
“She will always be safe with me," he says, swearing on his tattoo. "I will never question you on this matter again.”
***
The instant I lay eyes on Francesca, I’m not certain why I was so afraid earlier. Whatever good thing I did at some point in my sin-filled life, I’m fucking grateful for it as she hurries toward me. “I was so scared for you,” she whispers. “No one would tell me your condition.”
Three fucking days she’s been worried over me and no one told her anything. I scowl at Luca. “That’s not going to happen again.”
She smiles. With every new smile I earn, she slips a little deeper under my skin and into my veins. Even if she had betrayed me, I’d probably thank her for it if only she’d smile at me like this.
Gingerly, she sinks down beside me on the bed. I tug her closer, my heart pounding fiercely once she's nestled against my chest. There is no way I’m dying anytime soon when I have this woman to come home to every night.
I glare at my brother hovering over her shoulder, and he takes the hint. "You stayed when you could've run, Francesca. I shouldn't have refused to let you be here with him."
She blinks at Luca, obviously surprised, before clearing her throat. "It's okay. I know… You love your brother. It was a difficult time for you."
“I’m moving back to my place today," I tell him. "Now, leave us until I call for you.”
I start softly stroking her back once Luca leaves with a nod. He won’t question me again, but others will. I have my work cut out for me when it comes to ensuring my wife is fully accepted in New York. I won’t shy away from the challenges my marriage may present. If a dozen bloody statements are required, so be it. She’s mine, and no one will take her from me.
I curl my arm around her waist, not caring about my current discomfort. Looking down at our linked fingers, I notice her wedding rings and then the bit of silver twisted around her pinkie finger. “Where’d you get that?” I murmur.
“From you. You kept it after it broke the day of my audition.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because it was yours.”
“You’re much more sentimental than I ever expected, husband.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
“I love you, Carlo.” Her words were softly spoken, no more than a sigh, but I feel them in every corner of my heart.
“And I love you.” She raises her head, looking deep into my eyes for the truth. As soon as she finds it, she lays her head back down and snuggles a little closer.
Love. It was the last thing I expected to find in my marriage. So many in our world never do. Many would consider my feelings for her a weakness, something that will make me vulnerable. They’re right in some ways and wrong in others. Protecting her will always be my duty. Loving her was my destiny. And I will rule my city and the Trio with cold cunning and lethal brutality for all my days in order to keep doing both.
53
Carlo
Ettore is supervising the doc as he stitches me up when Francesca steps into my office. "What's happened? Are you alright?"
I nod, silently dismissing both men. "Just a little minor surgery," I tell my wife once they've left. She rushes to my side. "It's nothing to do with my wound," I promise her, showing her the small bump on my forearm. "I asked Ettore to make another microchip tracker. Give me your phone." She does, and I download the link he sent. "Here I sit… and here I am," I say, pointing to her phone screen.
Her brow furrows. "A tracking device? In your arm?" She glances at her wedding band, the one she hasn't removed even after she knew.
Taking her hand, I rub my finger over the ring, the symbol that she's mine, but our bond goes deeper than that. "I'll always know where you are so long as you honor me by wearing this ring." I place her finger over the fresh stitches on my arm. "So long as I live, you'll always know where I am. I am yours,mia moglie,and I will never give you reason to question that."
