I nod.
"Look at me," Luca demands. "Would you have done any differently if it were your child? Or is your heart so dead you wouldn’t give a fuck?"
Alessandro’s jaw tightens.
"What does this mean?" I ask, more worried over what might happen to Enzo than to either of them.
Alessandro surely isn’t okay with their kidnapping my son.
“That depends."
"On what?" Luca demands.
"On whether they believe saving one child is worth risking them all." Alessandro looks between us.
For a moment, I think Luca might try to strangle Alessandro with his bare hands. “Did you really just suggest a child’s life is worth less than those motherfucking Bratva who’ve been plotting to bring you down? You’re a disgrace as a Don?—”
“Luca.” I try to intervene. I don’t need Luca making things worse for Enzo. Looking at Alessandro, willing him to understand, I explain, “Pyotr took Enzo… was using him to get me to betray you.”
Alessandro slowly turns his attention to me. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, now you want our side of the story.”
“Luca, you’re not helping.” I glare at him. Antagonizing his brother isn’t the answer.
Luca lets out a small growl. "Pyotr kidnapped Enzo and I went to retrieve him. That fucker held a gun to my son's head. None of them would be dead if they’d just left my son alone.”
Alessandro shakes his head. "And that justified killing all those men?"
"I'd kill a hundred more." Luca steps forward, his shoulders squared. "You want to hand me over to the Bratva? Fine. But understand what message that sends. Anyone can take a Dante child and we'll apologize for getting him back." Luca gives Alessandro a disgusted look. “And it tells them you’re their pussy bitch. Face it, you might as well hand over everything to them now.”
This time it’s Alessandro with murder in his eyes. "Don't lecture me on family or business, Luca. Where’ve you been over the last years as we’ve had to deal with?—”
"Where I was ordered to go," Luca growls, taking another step closer.
I want to reach for him, pull him back, but I'm frozen in place as these two titans clash.
"And now you're back, playing hero, making decisions that affect us all without a second thought." Alessandro's voice rises. "Did you consider that your actions might put every person in this house at risk? That your son might lose both his parents instead of just one uncle?"
Luca's fists clench at his sides. "Why would I give a shit about the people in this house? I’m certainly not going to put any of them above the safety of my son.”
"Alessandro." I step forward, placing myself between the brothers. "It’s terrifying to have a child in danger. You don’t think straight, but?—"
Alessandro's gaze cuts to me, cold and dismissive. "With all due respect, Katerina, this is a family matter."
"A family matter?" My voice doesn't quaver. "My son was kidnapped. My brother is dead. I think I've earned the right to speak.”
“If what you and Luca are saying is true, your brother was working against mine. Consider yourself lucky we don't hold you accountable for his actions."
Luca stiffens, his energy shifting to predatory. "Don't speak to her like that." Luca's voice is deadly quiet. "Ever."
Alessandro ignores him, addressing me directly. "Your position here was always precarious. Now it's untenable. The Bratva will view you as a traitor, and we?—"
"We what?" Luca closes the distance to his brother. "You’re a mother killer now, Alessandro? You’re going to sacrifice a child, a child who has Dante blood running through his veins?”
The tension between them crackles like live wire. I can see Alessandro's restraint fraying at the edges.
“This discussion is over," Alessandro announces, straightening his already-perfect tie. "The family is convening. You will be present, Luca. And you will accept whatever decision is made."
