Carlo
Michael Giuliano. The arrogant bastard who fancied himself a king. If ridicule weren’t a thing, he’d probably wear a crown. This was the same man I had once saved Brando from, ripping him out of the heart of Giuliano’s so-called impregnable fortress. Even after Brando’s betrayal, I didn’t regret it. It was strange. Almost poetic.
Giuliano sat inside the chopper, a smug, self-satisfied grin plastered on his face. But he didn’t get out. As I expected, my traitorous underbosses stepped out first, followed by Giuseppe. From the second chopper, Brando emerged, Emily at his side.
My fists clenched at my sides. She looked fragile, like the slightest force could knock her down. But when her eyes found mine, something in her changed. She straightened, tried to move toward me, but Brando yanked her back.
The chopper’s blades slowed, the roar dying into an eerie silence. The only sound was the wind, rustling the tall grass between us.
Giuseppe turned to the loyal underbosses who had stood at my side and sneered. “You picked the wrong side. You and your families will pay for it.”
Lucia’s father didn’t blink. His voice was sharp and unwavering. “We’ll see who pays the heavier price, Giuseppe. Traitors always die in the end. You, of all people, should know that. You and your lapdogs will be made into a lesson.”
Giuseppe’s grin twisted into something darker. “First, I’m going to enjoy tearing your Capo apart, piece by piece. And I’ll savor every second of it.”
Their words meant nothing to me. Just background noise. All I could see was Emily, clutching Brando’s hand, begging him, saying something I couldn’t make out. My heart burned, the fury rising inside me as I took a single step forward.
Giuseppe stepped back. His men immediately raised their weapons. Cowards. I smirked and met their panic with disdain.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, my voice slicing through the tension. I glanced at Maxim, who gave a single nod and stepped forward beside me.
I stopped a few feet from them, spread my arms wide, and called out to Brando. “Come on, Brando. Be a man. Finish what you started.”
Brando sneered, his face darkening. “You think I’m afraid of you?”
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Emily’s arm and started toward me. One of Giuseppe’s men moved to follow, but Brando stopped them, “Stand down. I can handle the mighty Don Carlo myself.”
Emily struggled in his grip, her voice breaking as she cried, “No, Carlo! Don’t do this! They’ll kill you!”
Brando tightened his grip on her, but I called out, “Emily. Come here.”
Her face turned toward me. “I can’t!” she cried. “I won’t let you die because of me. I can’t!”
Giuseppe chuckled darkly, his sneer dripping with malice. “Yeah, sweetheart. Stick around. You’ve got no idea what kind of playground I’ve prepared for you.”
I wanted to step forward and knock that smug look off his face, but Maxim held me back. Right then, Brando lifted Emily off the ground and dragged her toward me. He stopped a few steps away, pulled out his gun, and barked at Maxim to back off. Then he turned to me.
“Take off your jacket.”
I shrugged it off and let it fall to the ground. Brando checked me quickly, making sure I wasn’t armed. Then he stepped in, pressing the cold steel of his gun against my temple.
And then, finally, he let her go.
The moment his grip loosened, she threw herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I held her tight, burying my face in her hair. The scent of her brought a brief flicker of peace in the middle of all this madness.
I took a deep breath, grounding myself in the feel of her body against mine. My eyes caught the bandage on her shoulder, and I exhaled softly. At least the wound had been treated. At least she was still alive.
Brando pressed the gun harder against my head. “Enough with the drama. Start walking.”
“No!” Emily screamed, clutching me tighter.
I cupped her face, gently forcing her to meet my eyes. My voice was soft, even as my chest splintered from the inside. “Look at me, baby.”
Her wet eyes met mine, her face pale, lips trembling. I leaned in and kissed her, softly, gently. Her cracked lips broke my heart.
“The day we got married,” I whispered, “you made me a promise.”
“No, please. I can’t live without you. Take me with you. Let’s stay together until the end.”
