"But he was going to hurt you." It wasn't a question.
After a moment, I turned my face away. "Yes," I said quietly.
He was quiet for a long time. "How many of them did you kill?"
"All of them. I think." I frowned. "Except Gino. When it was over, he was gone."
Luca nodded. "I sent Milo to his house. And I've got men trying to find him."
"Let me find thebastardo."
"I don't know if that's a good idea, my friend."
I'd always followed Luca's orders without question. It never mattered to me. But this time…this time, it fucking mattered. "I think it's an excellent idea."
There was a knock on the doorframe and Enzo walked in. He greeted Luca before turning to me. "You doing okay, T?"
My eyes never left my boss. "I'm good."
Luca picked up the conversation where he'd left off. "As soon as we find Gino, I'll bring him in here and we'll deal with him. Together."
I didn't want them with me when I found Gino. As a capo who'd been in the family his entire life, Luca would insist he have an honorable death. He'd want to handle Gino's crimes the right way, with the family behind him.
I didn't want him to have an honorable death. I wanted to give him the death he deserved. The death he was owed after what he did to me. After what he made me.
And what he'd done to his own daughter. The daughter he'd wanted nothing to do with until she was all grown up. Until, in his sick mind, she became her mother.
A buzzing noise started up in my head, so loud I could barely hear what anyone was saying, but I didn't bother arguing withLuca. There was no point. He was the boss, and I was his soldier. I'd follow his orders, even if I didn't agree with them.
Until it suited me to do otherwise.
I had a hard time holding still while he filled me and Enzo in on his plan to find Gino. He'd already called a meeting with the rest of the capos in the area so he could fill them in on his suspicions that Gino was, indeed, a traitor toLa Cosa Nostra. He would also tell them about his recent behavior with Luna.
"I want to bring her into the meeting."
"No," I growled. "That's not happening. She hasn't had time to deal with what he did to her." She was in denial. I was very familiar with that stage of processing a traumatic experience, so I recognized it easily. One day soon, it would hit her, and she would break. And it didn't need to be in a room full of old Italian men.
"It will have more impact if she tells them herself," Enzo agreed.
"No," I repeated.
Luca sighed. "Perhaps we should ask Luna if she'd be willing to do it."
I clenched my jaw until it ached, the tension radiating through my face. He was right. We should ask her. But that didn't mean I was going to allow it. I slowly nodded in agreement. "We can ask her, but I won't promise anything more."
"Good," Luca said, seemingly satisfied with my concession. "Finding Gino is my top priority, Tristan. I want you to know that. And I'll be sure to keep you fully updated on any developments."
"Thank you," I told him sincerely.
He wrapped up the rest of the meeting shortly after, dismissing me for the remainder of the day. The only thing that kept me from insisting I could work was that it gave me more uninterrupted time with Luna. Plus, I wasn't at all comfortable leaving her roaming freely about the house while her father was still missing and a potential threat. Although I wouldn't hesitate to lock her back in the cell again if I couldn't remain close by, it would be good for us if I didn't have to today.
I couldn't head home just yet, though. I was too worked up. And I wanted to hit something. Plus, I needed some time to gather my thoughts before I saw Luna again. We had the rest of the day to talk, among other things, and I didn't want my head to be all fucked up when we did.
Already, I craved her touch. After so long alone, I was starved for it. I wanted to hold her like I did last night, skin to skin. Needed to be inside of her so deep there was nothing else but Luna. No one else but me and mybambolina. Safe. We were safe as long as we were together.
"I'm going to head to the gym and work out for a while," I told them both.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Luca asked. "You're still healing, Tristan."
