LUCA
I work to rein in my tempter as I make my way through the house toward my brother’s office.
I’m not happy with having to leave Katerina and Enzo behind, but I have to ward off whatever bullshit is coming our way.
I know my brother—hell, both of them, probably—would like to sacrifice me to get the heat off the family, but I won’t make it easy for them.
When I push through the doors, the murmuring conversations instantly die.
A semicircle of stern faces turns toward me, the family elders in their tailored suits, my siblings arranged by rank.
Alessandro sits in our father's chair, naturally.
"Nice of you to join us," Alessandro says, voice dripping with disdain.
Adriano sits at Alessandro's right hand, looking conflicted.
Valentina offers me the barest hint of a sympathetic smile from her position on the other side of Alessandro.
I take the empty seat opposite Alessandro, refusing to lower my eyes.
The whispers start again, voices debating my fate without bothering to include me in the conversation.
"Shall we begin?" Alessandro asks, silencing the room with a raised hand. "We're here to discuss the… situation my brother has created with the Bratva."
I clench my jaw. "You want to know what happened?" I lean forward. "Pyotr Petrov kidnapped my son. The son I never knew I had until I came back here." I glance around the room, wondering how many of them knew. I’m a little surprised that all of them have eyebrows up to their hairline in surprise. All except Valentina. But my guess is she suspected more than knew anything. Still, she could have called me.
Alessandro's expression doesn't change. "And you thought storming the Bratva compound alone was the appropriate response?"
"I did what any father would do. Or at least any father who cared for their son. We all know ours wouldn’t have. Maybe not even for you, Alessandro.”
“You’re such a drama queen,” Adriano scoffs.
I lock eyes with each person at the table. "Pyotr tried to get Katerina to betray the family. When she refused, he took our boy."
Adriano shifts in his seat. "How convenient that you show up after seven years, and suddenly, you're in the middle of a war with the Bratva."
I roll my eyes. “Are you this stupid?” Again I look at each person in the room. “This war started way before I got here. I’m the only one with the balls to stand up to them.”
Adriano looks over to Alessandro, probably wondering if he’s going to let me get away with such disrespect.
"Yet you left a pile of bodies behind," Alessandro says, fingers steepled. "Including Pyotr."
“That wasn’t my intent. But I was caught. If anyone pulls a gun on me, I kill them. Pyotr used Enzo as a shield and held a gun to his head.” I shake my head. “Tell me any of you wouldn’t have done exactly what I did.”
The room falls silent.
"I don't regret killing him," I say. "I'd do it again."
Valentina leans forward. "If what Luca says is true, Pyotr was already working against us. He could be the mole we've been hunting."
"Or perhaps Luca is the mole," Uncle Salvatore interjects from the end of the table. "He returns, and suddenly our shipments are being hit? Our secrets exposed?"
"That's bullshit," I growl.
"Is it?" Alessandro counters. "You abandoned this family once. Why should we believe your loyalty now?"
"I didn't abandon anyone," I say through gritted teeth. "Jesus fuck! I was exiled. There's a difference."
