"I will always come for you. Always. And do whatever I have to do to keep you safe.” Luca looks at me, anguish in his eyes, and I realize then that he did kill Pyotr. The look in his eyes is a plea for forgiveness.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and into bed,” I say, picking Enzo up. Luca hangs back, although I imagine it’s difficult for him.
I tuck the blanket around Enzo, who surprisingly falls asleep quickly.
The terror fades from his face, replaced with calm.
I hope he can sleep peacefully without nightmares.
When I turn, Luca is standing in the doorway, watching us.
I shut Enzo’s door and then follow Luca back to the living room.
I study him, feeling profoundly grateful, but also guilty.
Without question, he walked into the lion’s den to save our son.
Even after I’ve been cold and distant.
Even as I tried to keep our son from him.
For the first time, I believe him when he says he cut off contact with me to protect me.
Whether from his family or mine, he sacrificed our love for my safety. And I’ve been cruel to him for it.
"Is he okay?" Luca asks.
"He's asleep. For now."
Luca nods, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
“What happened?” I ask the question even as I’m not sure I want to know. But I need to know so I can understand what Enzo went through.
“I went to the warehouse first, but they weren’t there. I spent the rest of the evening going to every Morozova property I could think of. Still nothing. So around eleven, I was back at the warehouse.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head, almost likehe doesn’t want to remember. "Pyotr had at least half a dozen men with him, including Dimitri Volkov.”
Oh, God. If Luca killed him too, there could be even bigger trouble.
“They weren't expecting me,” he continues. “They thought you'd come alone."
My stomach knots. "And Enzo?"
"He was scared, but unharmed." Luca's jaw tightens. "I took out the guards silently, one by one. I was hoping to have Enzo out without anyone noticing but…”
“But what?”
Luca's eyes meet mine, unflinching. "Pyotr used Enzo as a shield. He had a gun to his head before I could stop him."
Bile rises in my throat until I think I might be sick. My brother held a weapon to my son’s head? Used Enzo to protect himself from Luca.
A sound escapes me, something between a gasp and a whimper. Luca’s expression is pained.
His hands start to reach for me but then stop, as if he worries I won’t want his support.
"He said he'd kill Enzo." Luca's voice drops lower.
I press a hand to my mouth. "And you killed him."
"I had no choice, Katerina. I’m sorry. But in a choice between Pyotr and Enzo?—”
