If he knew what Stefano’s role and motivation were in all this, it might be a different story; however, that isn’t the case, since Stefano has mostly been MIA. He’s been checking in with Riccardo, giving him instructions on what needs to be done to lead their family, but they haven’t been able to locate him.
Tommaso rubs his thumb over my hand. “Are you okay?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “I’m not sure how I’ll handle seeing my father.”
My memories of him war with each other. The ones ofBabbobring me peace and joy, and the close-knit, loving family we once were, and I want to emulate that with the family Tommaso and I create. Then I have memory flashes of him being the conniving bastard who I suspect killed my mother, even if I have no actual memories of the act.
When I asked Reese his professional opinion about a stroke changing someone’s personality, he said it was possible, especially if the frontal lobe or right hemisphere of the brain were involved.
Did it explain the drastic differences in the few memories I have of my father? I’m not sure. Maybe his role and ambition in the mafia fueled his change. Maybe not. I don’t think I’ll ever really know.
Tommaso’s thumb draws circles on my hand. “You won’t have contact with your father while you’re there. As far as he’ll know, you’re Vincenzo’s captive, locked in a room. Salvo, Tomas, and Zeus will be the guards outside your door, and two of them will always be present.”
“What will happen to my father?” I ask, my eyes downcast.
Tommaso places his hand under my chin and lifts my head so I look at him. “He dies. By my hand.”
I swallow against the lump in my throat.
“I’d never kill yourBabbo, Gina. However, your father… His sins are too great against you. I can’t let him live. But I’ll always help you keep the version of him—the one that brings you happiness and peace—alive and in your heart.”
I blink, and a tear slips onto my cheek. He leans over and kisses it away, then presses his lips against my temple.
The dark always needs the light. And Tommaso is my dark king while I’m his queen, the one who brings the light to his dark.
But in this, I know that my light can only temper his darkness so much. And I accept what he will do.
If only to save our child, as well as others my father will destroy. For payment of the lives he’s already destroyed by trafficking them.
Tommaso kisses my temple again, pulling me into him. “Rest,il mio sole.”
Closing my eyes, I try to do as he says, knowing I’m going to need as much mental energy as possible to see this through.
Chapter 40
Tommaso
Ginaisinsidethevehicle that Vincenzo had waiting for us when we landed. It’s taking everything in me not to rip her out of it and return to my fortified estate to keep her locked away from the world forever.
The windows are blacked out, so I can’t see her. Both Zeus and Tomas give me a grave nod before getting inside with her.
Salvo places a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll protect Gina as I would my own wife, Tommaso. You have my word or my life,” he states my family’s vow.
“If anything happens to her, I’ll blanket the world in darkness.”
It’s not a threat against him. It’s a statement of truth.
“You have my word or my life,” he repeats. “And I’ll protect your unborn child, just as I would my own infant son, Gabrielle. May our children grow up together, and he continue our family’s legacy of defending you and your family.”
“Thank you, Salvo,” I rasp. “Now go before I decide I can’t let her go through with this.”
He squeezes my shoulder, then leaves. The vehicle drives away the instant he’s inside.
I watch it until it disappears, and Silvio steps up beside me. He’s here with me, while Marco remains in San Francisco, running things in my absence and playing my double to plant sightings of me in the city as much as we can.
Silvio and I exchange a look that’s loaded with words.
Then we leave to implement our part of the plan to save my wife and unborn child.
