“No,” I answer honestly.
Milo exhales, shoving his hands into his coat. “We’re marching straight into enemy territory.”
No one says anything, because they all need to know this school is ours, not theirs.
Father steps closer, his eyes razor-sharp on mine. “If anything happens at Blackstone, if they so much as breathe wrong in your direction, don’t wait for permission. Don’t ask for peace. Strike.”
I nod once. He looks at my brothers next. “You two. With him. Always. Got it?”
“Always,” they echo.
The car is waiting, Rosa’s already inside, her eyes hidden behind dark lenses, probably reading through the school's gossip page.
Grandfather steps forward just as I turn.
“Matteo.” I pause. “I’ve seen you angry. I’ve seen you dangerous. But this…” he levels his stare, hard and cold, “this will test your soul.”
I nod again; the test isn’t about killing. It’s about control, about standing in the halls of Blackstone while the world plans your death and pretending not to flinch.
Aoife doesn’t know I didn’t sleep last night, that I sat outside with a gun in my lap just in case they wanted to strike. Now I know they won’t be stupid enough to attack our house, but my mind was on overdrive. I’m still thinking about the way she looked when she whispered,“They were going to make it look like you killed me.”
Aoife stands by the car first, arms crossed over her chest, her uniform looking cute on her. She has my sweatshirt over her shirt at the moment, and she looks like she wants to disappear into it or maybe she's bracing for something that hasn’t hit yet.
Grandfather is the first to approach her. No smile. No expression, just eyes like razors and a voice that always sounds like God’s final word.
“You were brave,” he says, quiet but cutting. “But now comes the part which matters. Loyalty. Action. Silence when needed. Fire when required.”
Aoife’s throat moves. She nods, barely. I know my grandfather and father scare her. I know even though they said they’re okay with me and her being together they’re waiting to see if her loyalty is with me or is this a game to her.
He studies her a moment longer, then turns to me. “You bring her back in one piece. If she bleeds, you bleed first. Capisce?”
I nod. “Capisce.”
He walks off. No goodbye. He never says goodbye.
Then silence again until Father steps forward.
I stiffen. So does Aoife.
He doesn’t look at her. Not at first, just lights a cigarette like it’s the only thing keeping his hands busy instead of reaching for a gun or punching something.
Then his eyes cut to her. “If you're going to wear the Messina name around your neck, you better learn how to carry it,” he says, like he’s still not sure he won’t gut me for choosing her. Aoife, to her credit, doesn’t flinch. “And if you break my son…” he exhales smoke. “I’ll finish what the O’Briens started.”
“Understood,” she says softly.
His stare lingers then he walks away without another word.
I open the car door for her, and for a moment, there is no noise.
Just the quiet before a storm that’s ready to come.
“You okay?” I murmur.
She doesn’t nod. She doesn’t speak, just gets in the car.
I step into the car. Blackstone is waiting and I’m walking straight into the fire, with my brothers at my side, and a war behind my eyes.
The second ourboots hit Blackstone stone, the air changes.
