“Is that why you did it? To send a message? Was he the one who was the most against your partnership?”
“What are youtalking about? I haven’t done anything. Well, that’s not true. I was a complete asshole to her recently because she was at one ofmy gameswith some de la Rosa asshole. She didn’t say a damn thing to me after we won the second round of the playoffs. Then she gets in my truck, talking about how her dad wanted to arrange a marriage. I saw red. Can you believe she would do something like that? Actually, you know what…It wasn’t her, I was overreacting and—”
“Shut up!” Mila slaps my face, effectively doing just that. “Are you in cahoots with them, too?”
“Ow!What did I say?” I rub my cheek where it still stings from her assault.
She doesn’t speak for a moment as she stands before me, rubbing her temples. “You don’t know anything, do you?”
“No! And I wish someone wouldtell mewhat the fuck is going on!”
“Teddy…The Santoris and de la Rosas are both Mafia families. I’m not sure what you and Elia have going on, but I would be cautious about believing she wasn’t using you for something. It’s too coincidental for—”
“No,” I say sternly. “Ellie isn’t using me. I know she cares about me.”
“There’s a lot you don’t understand yet and—”
“I saidno!” I growl.
For the first time since I’ve known my sister, I see pity in her eyes. I didn’t know she was able to feel it, but it’s there. She raises her hands in surrender. “Okay, if you say so.”
“I do say so…now can you please explain what’s going on? If her brothers found out about us I’m sure they would be upset, but Mafia or not, I still think you’re overreacting. They might want to kill me, but they love and respect their sister enough not to hurt me for real. And honestly, if they need to scruff me up a bit to feel better about it, I don’t fucking care…not if it means Ellie and I can finally be public with our relationship.”
“It’s not that. I mean, I have no idea if they know about you and their sister. It’s the youngest brother…”
“What about Leo? I wouldn’t thinkhewould take issue with Ellie and me. He’s the most reasonable one of the three of them.”
“No, Teddy…Leo’s dead.”
Time stands still as a stampede of thoughts and emotions rumble through my mind. My first thought is that I’m fucking relieved Ellie is okay, but that’s immediately replaced with guilt as I process the fact that her beloved little brother is gone.Fuck, Ellie. I have to get to her. She must be absolutely heartbroken right now.
I take off running back down the hall to the garage. I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get one of these cars out of this compound, but I have to get to her. I have to hold her. I don’t give a fuck about her brothers. They can beat me to a pulp for all I care, but she needs me.
I’m almost to the door when whatmustbe an NFL linebacker tackles me to the ground.
“Getoff!” I yell, trying and failing to get out of their grip.
My sister’s voice is the one who answers. “No, Teddy. You can’t go.”
“Get off, get off, get off!” I fight harder, but it’s no use. Apparently, even a 250-pound NHL goalie doesn’t stand a chance against a Bratva queen.
“Please, Mila.” My voice cracks as tears stream down my face. “I have to get to her. Sheneedsme. Please let me go.”
My sister’s hold on me shifts from a capture to a comforter, and her voice is soft. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go. They think you did it. They got a tip that a Taranov was involved. They started looking into everyone who had contact with him for the few days before he was killed, and…you were with him the night before. It didn’t take long to connect you to the Taranov Bratva, and it was already suspicious that you went by another surname…”
Memories of that practice with Leo play in my head, bringing heavier tears. God, he didn’t deserve that. He had a whole damn life to live. A hell of a hockey career to look forward to and…and a woman. From the sound of it, a woman he loved almost as much as I love Ellie.
“I swear I didn’t. I would never do that. Fuck, I didn’t even know the Santoris were Mafia! No wonder Ellie was scared to tell her brothers. She just wanted to protect me, and there I was acting like a goddamn toddler because she didn’t give me a high five? She needs me right now. You have to let me go.”
“I can’t. They would kill you. Look, I know you care about her, but you aren’t the only one who cares about someone.” Mila pauses and wipes a tear from my cheek. “You’re safe here, and here is where you’re going to stay. Trust me, those men wouldn’t let you within one hundred feet of their sister right now. She’ll be on lockdown just like we are. She’ll be safe, though. And I promiseI will do my best to smooth this over.”
“I didn’t do it…”
“I know, little brother. I know.”
Chapter 29
The air inthe Santori house remains thick with the grief of Leo’s death. We’ve been under the strictest lockdown I can remember, and it’s been…hard. Mama hasn’t left her room, which I understand. If Nonna hadn’t stressed how important it was to everyone for me to be strong, I wouldn’t leave mine, either.
