Tears are streaming down Isa’s face, and she’s looking at her father like she doesn’t even know him. I think her reactions are genuine, but whether she was a willing accomplice or not, she still played a part, and she will suffer the consequences.
“Exceptyouwere still getting in the way when you weren’t even here.” He doesn’t shield his animosity as he glares at Sloane, so I put a couple of bullets in his other foot.
Isa pisses herself, and the smell of urine infiltrates the air.
The two cartel deserters are fully awake now, shouting something behind their mouth tape.
“Cristian wouldn’t entertain any discussion of a marriage contract until recently,” Rafaelo says, having no issue eyeballing Sloane this time.
“No need to look so pleased with yourself,” Sloane coolly replies, shrugging. “Your daughter tried to rile me up with the same bullshit, but your taunts fall on deaf ears, you old fucker.” Sloane grabs my head and smashes her mouth to mine, kissing me hard and fast.
Caleb chuckles, and my lips twitch when we pull apart.
I move my mouth to her ear. “You are so getting fucked later.”
“Can’t wait,” she whispers back before refocusing her attention on the overweight old man tied to the chair. “Cristian has been mine from the minute we met. Your attempts to tear us apart didn’t work because you can’t destroy love when it’s soul deep, bone deep, and it transcends time and separation. You were always destined to fail because you have no concept of what it truly means to love someone.”
She jabs her finger in his face. “If you did, you’d never have tried to kill your grandson’s dad. Elio loves Cristian completely, and you would’ve devastated his heart to the point he would never have recovered.” She bitch slaps him across the face, and it’s a complete insult, whether she realizes it or not. “You’re a petty, narrow-minded fool with no honor and no loyalty.” She turns to me. “Are we done with this because I’d like to get out of here in time to collect our son from school.”
“I fucking love you.” I slam my mouth against hers in a possessive kiss.
“I fucking love you too.”
“Okay, lovebirds,” Caleb drawls, smirking. “Let’s get this show on the road. I’m ready to go home too.”
“I want to know one final thing,” I say, checking the bullets in my gun. “Were you chasing after Sloane, or was it the cartel?”
“It was Pablo Fuentes. I was happy for her to stay gone. I assumed they’d kill her, but the fucker couldn’t even do me that favor before you chopped him into little pieces. Alvaro and Manuel approached me a few months later. Rodrigo was cleaning house, killing any man loyal to El Rey. They knew they couldn’t go home, so they offered their services. They had eyes onher, and when you finally agreed to have the contract drawn up, I told them to start pushing her toward the city. I knew she was holding you back. She was supposed to die when her car blew up, but the idiots fucked up. When they said you had her, I had to think fast, and here we are.”
“You’re a disgrace toCosa Nostra, and you will die. I planned to do it today, but that’d be too easy. So, you’ll remain here while I investigate every member of your family. I’ll visit regularly to torture you, bringing you close to death only to bring you back each and every time. When I decide you’ve suffered enough, I’ll slit your throat, piss on you, and set your bones on fire. All that will be left is ash, which will flitter away in the wind. You will die with no honor, no grave, and no legacy except for your betrayal. You will die a traitor and always be remembered as one.”
“I will see you in hell, DiPietro. Mark my words, I’ll be waiting for you.”
Isa suddenly screams behind her mouth covering, and she’s a sobbing, shaking, stinky mess. I think reality is only now dawning.
I move in front of her, stabbing her with a dark look. “Elio doesn’t deserve this. He is the one who will suffer because of your selfishness. He loves you, but you couldn’t let it go, could you? You might not have known you were being used, but you were vindictive and self-serving, and I want you out of our lives.”
Opening the door, I call Dano back into the cell. “Isotta is banished. Have someone escort her home to pack up her belongings, but I want her on a plane to Sicily within twenty-four hours.”
“I’ll personally see to it, boss.”
“Put that prick in the corner cell. He’s getting special treatment.”
Dano grins before instructing a couple of his men to move Da Rosa. The old man says nothing to his daughter as he’s led away from her for the last time. No apologies. No regrets. No expressions of love. Sloane is right. The man has no clue how to love. It was about possession and vindication for him.
Standing in front of Isa as her binds are untied, I don’t feel an ounce of pity in my heart. I let her into our lives in good faith. She had full access to Elio, and he loved her, but it wasn’t enough. I have never, not for one second, led her on or given her any indication I was interested in her sexually or romantically. I might’ve reached a different decision today if she showed any genuine remorse for the way she’s treated Sloane, but she hasn’t, and she won’t. The potential for her to interfere in my relationship is too strong, and it’s not like I will ever trust anyone with the Da Rosa last name again. So, this is the way it must be.
Isa has brought it upon herself, and my only emotion is concern for my son because losing his auntie and his granddad will hurt Elio. “Show your face in New York again, and I’ll kill you,” I warn her. “As far as Elio is concerned, his aunt and hisnonnodied tragically in a car crash. He will mourn you, but Sloane and I will help him through it.”
Isa stares at me with a haunted expression as Dano hauls her out of the cell. I hope I never set eyes on her again.
“Now, on to the last business of the day.” Turning to face Sloane, I gesture at Alvaro and Manuel. “You get to decide their fate. What do you want to do?”
“Can I borrow your gun?” she calmly asks.
I hand it to her and step back as she walks over to the two men. Caleb arches a brow, and I shrug. If anyone deserves vengeance, it’s Sloane.
“Can you take that off his mouth?” she asks, pointing at Alvaro. “No part of me is touching any part of him.”
