"Bullshit." I move closer, invading his space. "It's always about love. Why do you think I killed all those men? Why do you think I'm standing here with brothers who helped exile me asking for help? It’s not for the family business. Not for revenge. For them."
"We all have people we care about," Alessandro counters, but they’re just words.
"Do you? Who would you risk everything for? Who would you betray your own blood for?”
Adriano steps toward me, eyes flashing. "You started this whole mess, Luca. Or did you forget slaughtering half the Bratva and killing Pyotr?"
"They kidnapped my son!" I roar, turning on him. "What would you have done?"
"Found another way," he snaps. "One that didn't paint a target on all our backs."
"There wasn't time for another way." My contempt is palpable. "But you wouldn't understand either, would you? After all, you let the love of your life get killed rather than do what needed to be done."
The color drains from Adriano's face. In an instant, he lunges for me, murder in his eyes. "You son of a?—"
Alessandro steps between us, shoving Adriano back with surprising force. "Enough!"
“Why don’t you turn that hatred for me onto the Bratva?—”
“I said, enough.” Alessandro gets in my face.
The room falls silent except for our ragged breathing. Adriano looks at me like he’s calculating when and where he can kill me.
"Eva has nothing to do with this," Alessandro warns me quietly.
I know I've crossed a line, but I'm too far gone to care. "Doesn't she? Isn't that why he's the perfect soldier now? No heart left to cloud his judgment?"
Adriano moves but Alessandro puts out an arm, restraining him.
"Say one more word about her, and I swear to God?—"
"Stop it, both of you," Alessandro commands. He looks between us, his expression hardening. "This is exactly what the Bratva wants. Us divided. At each other's throats."
I step back, still watching Adriano. His pain is raw and for a moment, I regret bringing up Eva, but I can't afford regret right now. Not when Katerina and Enzo are still in danger.
"We need a unified approach," Alessandro continues, maintaining his position between us. "But Luca, you need to understand something. You weren't here when Eva died. So don't you dare use her as a weapon against your own brother."
The rebuke surprises me by making me feel guilty. I look at Adriano again, and behind his rage, I see something I’m all too familiar with. Heartache.
"I'm sorry. I was out of line."
Adriano doesn't acknowledge the apology, but some of the tension leaves his shoulders.
"We can't afford to fight among ourselves," Alessandro says. "Tell me, Luca, are you with us or against us?"
Now I’m the one feeling offended. “With you? You exiled me and yet I’ve killed the men, one of whom was the only man who trulyfelt like a brother, for you. And you have the nerve to ask me if I’m with or against you?”
“How about you, Alessandro? Are you with me or against me? After all, my inclusion to the family again was only temporary.” I shake my head, feeling like an idiot to think for a moment that we might be family.
“We’re not against you,” Alessandro says. What stands out is that he didn’t say he was with me. “But we can’t go in half-cocked against the Bratva.”
“Yeah, well, I'm sure as hell not waiting for your permission to protect what's mine."
"What are you planning?" Alessandro's voice grows concerned.
"What you're too cautious to do." I move toward the door. "End this. Tonight."
"You'll get yourself killed." Alessandro steps into my path. "You go in alone, you won't make it past the front gate."
