“No,” I cut her off hard. “You’re safer here.” She opens her mouth to protest, but one look from me shuts it down. “Not today, Charlie,” I warn her. “I will not risk your safety. They’ve already threatened your life.”
She doesn’t say a word, just gets up and leaves with a huff.
Carlo grunts his disapproval. “Let her come, Luciano.”
Mattia laughs. “He will tonight.” He raises his hand for a high five.
“Grow the fuck up,” Stefano snaps at Mattia from his seat in front, but Mattia just shrugs and lounges further into the couch, unbothered.
“It’s too risky. What if this turns out to be another setup for Vince to get to her?”
“You can’t keep her locked away in a tower, Luciano.” Carlo stands. He’s becoming more of an advocate for Charlie and how she’s coping in our world.
I throw my glass at the wall. How dare they question me about Charlie’s safety? “I’m protecting her.”
Stefano presses on, unphased by my outburst. “We know who to watch out for.”
Gabriele’s quiet voice cuts through, backing his brothers. “Danger’s always going to be close by, Luciano. She’s Caterina’s daughter.”
“It’s not the time yet,” I bark. My heart pounds; fear and duty clash inside me. I need to keep her safe, but I also want to stand strong with her by my side against what’s coming.
Stefano wastes no time setting a meeting with the Andrettis for two days’ time, at our docks. Our turf, our rules. The days blur into tense preparation. Every detail sharp: who’s seen, who’s hidden, every position locked tight. Charlie drifts through the office, quiet, on edge, prodding for answers, but I slam them shut every time.
“Let us focus, Charlie!” I yell at her. “I’ll explain later.”
But beneath it all, something’s wrong. Why does the Andrettis’ sudden push feel like a trap?
As we load into the cars, Charlie waits on the steps, her eyes locked on our convoy. “Are you sure I can’t come?” she pleads.
“It’s too dangerous. Stay with Rocco,” I say, the weight of what’s coming crushing me. “I need to find out what they want first.”
She stays silent, her eyes on the cars, worry carved deep. “Be safe,” she whispers.
23
Charlie
I’ve been watching Luciano and Stefano plan this meeting with the Andrettis for days, memorizing every detail, every move of our men like a hawk eyeing its prey. Luciano’s cold voice told me I couldn’t come, but I should be there with them. Underneath my oversized hoodie, I’m already dressed ready to go and prove I belong in this world that has been ripped from me.
Walking back into the house, Rocco is right behind me like normal when Luciano isn’t around. “I’m just going to watch a movie for a bit,” I say to him, hoping he’ll believe me.
“I’ll come with you.” He follows me into the room. Shit… how do I get out of this?
“Actually, I’m just going to pee quickly. Can you pick the movie?” I ask him. He starts to move towards the door with me. “If you follow me into the bathroom, I will tell Luciano you saw me naked.”
Rocco’s eyes go wide. “I’m just following the Don’s orders…”
“And I am ordering you to let me pee in peace.” I storm out of the room, and when I look back behind, he hasn’t followed. I quickly punch in the code to access the gun room inside the mansion. Once I slide in, my heart hammers hard as I take in the rows of lethal weapons.After grabbing a pistol I recognize and stuffing extra rounds into my pockets, I lock the door behind me.
I walk quickly to the garage and jump in the blacked-out Jeep. I drive out the front gates just as I see Rocco run out the front door, yelling at the other soldiers, but they’re not paying attention to me. Luciano is going to have their asses for it later.
Once I make it, I park just out of sight. I creep toward the docks, every muscle tense in my body. Up ahead I can see Luciano, Stefano, and Carlo standing in a tight formation with three big men—they must be the Andrettis. My fingers brush the pistol in my back pocket. I edge closer, hiding behind barrels at the shed’s edge, straining to catch their words. All our soldiers are too focused on what’s in front of them to notice me.
The tall Andretti steps forward. “Luciano, calmati.”Luciano, calm down.
Luciano growls, “Vince, questo è il tuo unico avvertimento. Questo è il mio territorio.”Vince, this is your only warning. This is my turf.
The air is thick with tension, suffocating and sharp. Words are thrown back and forth, with no peace in sight. Out the corner of my eye, one of their men slips his hand into his jacket. My heart instantly drops, memories flash of the guy running towards us last time we were here, and my panic sets in.Shit, he’s pulling a gun,I think instantly. I quickly look around to see our soldiers aren’t paying attention.
