“No.I saved Gianna that night because she was in danger.I had no idea who she was, or who Ferro was at the time.Much less what his plans were.”
“But you sure jumped right on board when you did find out, didn’t you?”he says.“I told the boss not to trust you.Not with something as important as the security of his daughters.But he had too much guilt over not doing more for your family.Misplaced guilt.”
“He should’ve done more for my family,” I say.“But he’s making up for that now.And you have a choice.Assist him or end up in the desert with a bullet in the back of your head.”
I’m so sick of hearing how old man Codelli feels guilty for not doing more for my family.The damn war lasted for years.He had plenty of chances to step in and stop it before it was too late.Clearly the guilt is only something that came later.When he was face to face with me.Or now that he’s at my mercy.
Rafaelle chortles.“You want me to help you?”
“I’m giving you the chance to help yourself,” I say and stand up.“The Codellis are all here in LA?—”
“Except for Chiara,” he interrupts.“She’s married to that bloodthirsty lunatic who thinks he can run New York on his own.”
“Except Chiara, that’s right.But she’s more than capable of handling Ferro,” I say.“Lidia is here though.”
His eyes soften just a little at hearing the younger twin’s name.There are definitely some feelings there, just like I suspected.
“Contrary to what you so very much want to believe, I do not want to destroy the Codelli family.I want to help them.And I’m sure you do too.So make your choice.Are you gonna die on principle or stand by the old man for what comes next?I’ll give you until dawn to decide.”
I’m not expecting him to give me an answer right away, so I turn to leave.
“How do I know anything you’re telling me is true?”he asks as I open the door.
“You don’t.But the Codellis are here to help me get my own back.It will be dangerous.It will be bloody, and I could use a fighter like you on my side.”
He falls silent again, thoughts warring on his face, causing as much carnage as I plan to against Moretti, it seems.
“Sleep on it,” I say and exit the room, locking the door behind me.
If I don’t get a positive answer from him in the morning, I’ll take him to the desert myself and get rid of him.Not something I’m looking forward to, but it has to be done.
And that’s where I am now.In the place where things have to be done even if they’re not the things you want to do.
“Rovina!”he hollers after me, his voice echoing in the empty stables.“I’ll do it.”
I turn and walk back to his door and unlock it.“Good.Come with me.You need a shower and new clothes.”
He just gapes at me as I hold open the door for him, like he can’t believe I’m just gonna let him walk out of here.But he’s not going to murder me.Not tonight.Maybe ruin will use him as its soldier once everything is over, and the war is won.
“Hurry up, there’s a meeting at six.”
This time he rises and leaves the room.
Once we’re outside, he turns to me.“You’re a weird one, Rovina, I’ll give you that.You know I can kill you with my bare hands as well as with any knife or gun.And you’re here alone with me.”
I smile and walk past him, turning my back on him.“You won’t kill me.I’ve saved your life twice over now.”
I keep on walking and it’s a few moments before he jogs up to join me.
“How do you figure twice?”he asks.
“It’s closer to three times, actually,” I say.“That night when I stabbed you, then when I brought you from New York and just now, when I gave you the choice to live and help me rather than become vulture food in the desert.And I think something like that means something to a guy like you.”
His face is telling me that yes, indeed it does.But he doesn’t confirm it.He just walks beside me in silence.And that’s fine with me.I didn’t want to kill the guy.Not because I like him particularly, but because he was a big part of the Codellis’ lives.And the fewer things I do to hurt them now, the bigger my chances of them forgiving me one day.
Though the hope of that ever happening is probably a delusion.
As is the hope that I’ll live to see life past getting my revenge on Dante Moretti.
