Armani draws me back to him. “So she asked you to spy on us. And you agreed.”
“Yes. All the terrible things she and her uncle had said about your family over the years just compounded in my head and I fully believed them. Until…I started not to. And now I know…even if your father was as ruthless as the Brunos made him out to be, that’s not who you and your brothers are.”
“He was despicable,” Dante says dispassionately.
I add, “You shouldn’t have to pay for what he did just because he raised you.”
Marco just nods. Armani’s face is unreadable, but his jaw is clenched. I’ve struck a nerve.
“Having met you all, lived with you, spent time in your grapevines and around your dinner table, I have to say, things look a lot different from the inside than what I’d been led to believe. And I’m so, so sorry for what I did but I really, truly thought that I was helping Juliana. I just can’t stop worrying that she’s been lied to as well. She might be in way over her head, too. Sergio is…forceful. And scary.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Karina says dryly. “He’s a snake.”
“If it makes any difference, I wasn’t much of a mole,” I say. “I couldn’t go through with a lot of what they wanted me to do. Even so, I am deeply sorry for what I did do and the damage it caused.”
Dante waves his hand in the air, dismissing my words. I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t give a shit about my pathetic apologies or because he doesn’t think I need to apologize for myself.
The last thing I say is, “I don’t want Juliana marrying this Russian. She’s so focused on getting revenge that she’s willing to sacrifice herself just because Sergio says so. But I have a bad feeling about this Bratva guy, and I don’t think she’s telling me everything about the arrangement.”
Armani says, “Sounds like we find ourselves in agreement. This marriage needs to be stopped. The Bratva can’t unite with the Brunos. If they do, there won’t be anyone left after the smoke clears.”
“They’ll take out all the other mob families one at a time, and they won’t stop until they’re the last ones standing,” Marco says. “At which point, I’m assuming they’ll turn on each other.”
“I’ve heard enough. We’ll move on this right away,” Dante says. “Candi, thank you.”
He’s not smiling, but having the leader of the Bellantis give me a verbal sign of gratitude is enough to instantly fill my chest with warmth.
“I’ll help however I can. Please, let me help,” I plead.
“If you want to help,” Armani says, “your loyalty needs to be one hundred percent with us.”
“It is,” I say without hesitation.
“Then you’re in,” Dante says.
And it’s really just as easy as that. Standing up, Armani crosses to me and picks up the tea from the side table. It’s still hot when he nestles the mug in my hand.
Frankie looks at me and for the first time, it’s not with condemnation. “Looks like we have a wedding to bust.”
30
CANDI
Ever since my confession,I’ve been walking on eggshells.
Earning back trust takes time—I know this—but it seems like none of the Bellantis know quite how to treat me now. Except for Armani. He’s the same as he’s always been. It’s a comfort, honestly.
Still, it’s awful being in limbo while he and his brothers figure out how they’re going to use me in their master plan to stop Juliana from marrying Maxim Orloff. Whenever I ask Armani about it, he says they’re still strategizing, but every time he brushes me off, my anxiety creeps higher. Especially since I haven’t spoken to Jules since she hung up on me. What am I supposed to say to her when she calls?
What if she never calls?
My stomach churns just thinking about it. One way or another, it seems I’m destined to lose my best friend for good. And in the meantime, the Bellanti family is far from accepting me. I’ve never felt so adrift. Armani is my only anchor.
I just want this to be over and done with. Wedding canceled, Sergio Bruno permanently neutralized (in whichever manner Dante specifies), and most importantly, everybody safe from the Bratva. Maybe then I can start fresh with Juliana. If she doesn’t hate me for ruining her life.
I’m sprawled on the sofa scrolling through social media when I get a text from Frankie.
Are you working today?
