"She came with information. Says her brother's planning an attack on the estate in three days."
He folds his arms, eyes narrowing. "And you believe her?"
"I don't know what to believe anymore," I admit. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a Don. "But she was locked up. They practically starved her. She risked her life to come here."
"Have you forgotten about the key she stole? The warehouse that was destroyed?"
I've been turning this over in my mind since the moment I saw her condition. “She says Enrico was behind the poisoned whisky… took it then.”
Adriano stares at me. “That means the key was gone longer than?—”
“I know what it means!” I don’t need to be reminded of my incompetence.
Adriano's eyes widen. "Fuck. You didn’t consider any other person. You just assumed and sent her back to those assholes?"
"Yes! I fucked up." The admission burns in my gut. "I've been fucking up since the beginning."
I slump into my chair, suddenly exhausted. "Our father would be disgusted. He'd say I'm too weak to be Don. That he should've chosen Luca."
Adriano rolls his eyes. "That's bullshit. If he wanted Luca in charge, he wouldn't have exiled him."
“It doesn’t change that he’d see me as an utter disappointment. We’ve had traitors in our midst. Have been blindsided by the Vitales more than once. He’d never let that?—”
“Most of those traitors got access on his watch. And he was fucking blown up by the Bratva. The Bratva you defeated.”
I rub my temples. “I don't know how to separate what I want to believe from what's true. If she's innocent, then I endangered her for nothing."
"Love complicates things," Adriano says with a shrug. "Makes you question yourself, doubt your instincts. But it can also clarify things. Put your life in perspective."
“Not me.”
“It could. Listen, I was confused when I found Eva alive. Wasn’t sure what to think. But once I let go of my fear?—”
“Fear?” I arch a brow.
Adriano nods. “Yeah, fear. Fear of being duped. Fear of heartbreak. Once you let that go, the world order snaps into place. I’d burn the world down for Eva and Mirabella.”
“And how did you let go? Because if I’m wrong and they dropped Isabella off looking like shit as part of their plan to kill us?—”
“Prepare for both. If Isabella's information is good, we'll be ready. If it's a trap, we'll still be ready." Adriano studies me. “I’ll beef up security around the estate.”
I nod. When he leaves, I lean back in my chair wondering how my life got so fucking complicated.
A knock comes on my door.
“Enter.”
Doctor Calendra enters, his face grave, making my heart stop.
"She's stable, but she's severely dehydrated and malnourished. I’ve put her on an IV. She has a gash from the glass of a broken window that I’ve cleaned and stitched. I’ve cleaned her scrapes. As far as the baby, I used my portable ultrasound and everything looks okay, but she should really see an obstetrician.”
“Baby?” The room tilts.
“Yes. She’s stable for now, but at risk. Her body is severely depleted. The next forty-eight hours will be critical for both mother and child."
“Does she know?”
He nods. “She regained consciousness during the exam. Her first concern was the baby.”
