“Mia?” Mother interjected.
“Yes, Mother. Mia.” Cos and Alessio already knew the abridged version of our story—I told them before I ran out to search for Mia earlier.
Mother was about to get an even shorter summary. “She’s mine. Off-limits. Forever.”
Her gaze narrowed. There was a time when that look from her would have made me feel two feet tall, but incredibly, now it barely registered.
“Ah,” she said. “That explains your utter incompetence when it came to her. I didn’t expect Morales’s daughter would be smart enough to outmaneuver you. But maybe you’re not as smart as I believed.”
“Thanks for the opinion no one asked for,” I said. “You can think whatever you want about me, but if you so much as touch a hair on Mia’s head, I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands and feed you to the fucking dogs.”
Her face paled. She wasn’t used to anyone standing up to her, and it showed. Satisfaction unfurled inside me at how quickly things were changing. Funny how sometimes change seems impossible, but really, all it takes is a single leap of faith.
“We’re a family, Romolo,” she said. “Or did you forget? With your father gone, all we have is each other.”
“Spare me,” I snarled. “It was never about our family. Not for you. Family doesn’t fucking do the things you’ve done to us.”
“Iraisedyou,” she bit out.
“No. Youusedme. I was your tool. But I’m done being useful to you. My loyalty’s with Cosimo. The fucking leader of this family. And if you’re trying to undermine him, then you’re not family anymore.”
Deep lines marred her forehead. The fact that she was losing was finally hitting her. “Cosimo doesn’t have what it takes. I do. I’ve led alongside your father for almost thirty years.” Mother’s eyes flicked between us before she dropped her final card. “Here’s the hard truth. None of you have any idea what you’re up against. You’ve tried to figure out why the Santoro family is targeting us, and you’ve found nothing. That history’s been erased. I’m the only one who knows the full story.”
Cosimo walked around his desk and sat down. “We’ll figure it out.”
“You won’t.” Her voice rang out. “The Santoro family killed Gino, and this is only the beginning. I know them. I know I can lead us past this threat. But without me, you’ve already lost.”
I exchanged a glance with my brothers. We were all thinking the same thing.
“We’ll take our chances, Mother,” Cosimo said, cold as ice. “Get out. I don’t want to see you again.”
Mother stared at him, fury twisting her face. “You’re making a big mistake.” She grabbed her purse from the coffee table and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
“Fucking finally,” I muttered. I had to get out of here. “Morales is keeping Mia locked up in his apartment. I’m taking a few guys and getting her out.”
Cosimo nodded. “Take who you need.”
It didn’t take long to gather the men. We got into three cars and hit the road.
Within an hour, Mia would be with me. And if Morales thought he could stand in my way, he was about to learn just how far I’d go to protect what’s mine.
CHAPTER49
MIA
The sharp click of a door closing yanked me from a restless, sweat-soaked nap. In my dreams, skyscrapers burned and their flaming husks sent dark smoke billowing across the horizon.
I untangled my legs from the skirt of my dress and sat up slowly, eyes landing on a tray of food by the door.
I didn’t want it. The tight knot in my stomach had nothing to do with hunger. Just stress and a desperate, gnawing need for answers.
All I wanted to know was if Romolo was still alive. If that one casualty the doctor mentioned was him.
Being kept in the dark like this was cruel. But maybe that was the point—to hurt me as much as possible. To make me pay for daring to defy them. Or maybe just for existing.
But I wouldn’t lose hope. It was the one thing that kept me from spiraling into despair.
Swallowing past the ball in my throat, I walked to the window. Outside, the Met’s grand facade was bathed in dramatic light. A few people were sitting on the steps, their phones glowing in their hands.
