“I want to know what they did,” she says. Despite her bravado, she’s nervous, clutching my hand in a death grip.
“Of course.” Caleb nods solemnly before lowering his voice. “I’m glad you are safe, Sloane. You had everyone worried, but it seems you were smarter than some of the best tech brains, and you managed to keep yourself safe and hidden all this time. I’m impressed.”
“Thanks, Caleb. I had to learn on my feet and constantly move around, but I managed okay.”
“I’m really glad you’re back, and I hope you’re staying because this guy has been unbearable in your absence.”
She looks at me and smiles. “I’m staying.”
My arm goes around her, and I tuck her in tight to my side. Isa’s sobs grow louder, and Caleb smirks, his gaze bouncing between me and Sloane. I know he’s pleased for me. Everyone at dinner was thrilled when I told them she’s back safe and sound.
“They’re all yours, Don DiPietro.” Dano slaps me on the back. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“I’m sticking around to hear this.” Caleb presses his mouth to my ear. “Ben and Massimo went at Rafaelo earlier, but he refused to talk. Said he’d only talk to you.”
I stand in front of Rafaelo Da Rosa with Sloane on one side and Caleb on the other. Isa is quietly sobbing, but she’s stopped appealing to me because she knows I won’t help her. She made her bed, and now she can lie in it.
“You only want to talk to me, so talk,” I tell the old man.
“I want your word that my family won’t be harmed. None of them were involved. This is all on me, and I’ll tell you everything if you swear you won’t touch them.”
“Lying is not a good way to start, Rafaelo,” I reply, leveling a dark look at his youngest daughter. “We know Isa is involved.”
“Isotta was a pawn. She didn’t know anything about my plan or how I used her. The fool loves you. She’d never agree to help me kill you.”
“What?” Isa’s sobbing completely stops. “What are you talking about?” Her confusion seems genuine, but I’m reserving judgment until I’ve heard it all.
Rafaelo turns his head to look at her. “The DiPietrofamigliais scum, and they needed to pay the price for what they did to our family. His brother killed my Bettina, and thenhetook her son away from us.” Rafaelo snarls at me. “You had no right to take Elio. He belongs with us.”
51
CRISTIAN
“This was about Elio?” How fucking dare this bastard claim he did this for the betterment of Elio. Who the fuck is he to decide the fate ofmy son.
“It’s always been about Bettina’s boy. Did you truly think you could walk all over us, and I’d let it lie? You were always going to pay.”
I don’t bother telling him I only gave his worthless ass a promotion because he is Elio’s grandfather or that I have let them see him regularly and ensured he’s fully a part of their family too because the man won’t listen. He’s clearly been holding a grudge this entire time. “I give you my word, your family will be unharmed provided you tell the truth. If I find evidence anyone else in the Da Rosa family was involved, I will take the necessary actions. This is treason, and it will be dealt with accordingly.”
“I swear, Cristian, I didn’t know any of this,” Isa cries. “I love you and Elio. I would never do anything to hurt either of you! Daddy told me Sloane had returned, and I needed to run her off. I didn’t know there was some other plan in place. Please, you have to believe me.”
“Isotta is innocent,” Rafaelo repeats. “She didn’t know.”
“You honestly expect us to believe that?” Sloane says.
“It’s the truth.”
“Whether she knew or not, Isa was still involved,” I say.
“Send her away if you must, but promise me you won’t hurt her,” Rafaelo pleads. “It would break her mama’s heart.”
Caleb snorts. “You have some nerve, Da Rosa. You have dishonoredomertàand plotted to kill Don DiPietro, and you beg him to spare one of your own? Why should he? Applying your logic, anyone bearing the Da Rosa name is guilty and should be punished for the sins of one of their own. If it were up to me, I’d shoot the lot of you.”
Rafaelo’s chest heaves, but he doesn’t even attempt to contest Caleb’s words.
“Unlike you, I don’t condemn innocent people for the actions of family members unless they played an active part,” I say. “Whether she was party to the plan or not, Isa still facilitated it, and that deserves punishment. When I’ve heard it all, I will decide her exact fate. I’m already tired of this, so let’s hear it.” I glance at Sloane, and she meets my eyes, nodding to let me know she’s okay. “Start at the beginning,” I tell Elio’s grandfather.
“I had everything handled years ago, but fucking Carmine and that stupid whore ruined it.” His evil eye fixes on Sloane. “Then I get a new opportunity to make you pay, and that whore fucked it all up again.”
