I opened my mouth and looked to Enzo, who sat forward.
“What?” he growled.
“Valetti by maiden name,” Dom continued. “Married into the Virelli family. Was a major player. She was the matriarch, but she often hid in the shadows, pulling strings. Fazio Virelli, her husband and the don, ran a tight ship.” Dom exhaled and stared at Enzo. “It’s twisted.”
“Roberto is Emilio’s brother,” Fallon said softly. “Jasmina is his mother. She was killed with Fazio during a raid your father led many years ago. From our intel, she wasn’t always the nicest woman, and Emilio and Ricardo, the twins, cut ties with her and their family before the raid, and it’s said that the twins fed Anthony the information to take them down.”
“What the fuck?” I shook my head. We had no idea.
“Emilio is a twin?” Enzo frowned.
“Fraternal,” Dom said. “He and Ricardo are twins but aren’t identical.”
“Roberto took over what was left of the empire. He slouched off to the west coast. He and Everett Church were quite close growing up, so we believe Everett helped him get back on his feet. Not like we could ask Everett, of course, but maybe…”
“Dante,” I murmured. “He’d know, right?”
Fallon shrugged. “Maybe, but he’s a monster too, so do with that information what you will.”
“Your father, Anthony, worked for many years to end the Valetti Family. And then Liam—Skin and Bones— came along and made it all happen. That didn’t sit well with the Virellifamily, obviously, and they tried to take down Nico, but Nico is… Nico. He’s been in the game a long time and knows how to fight. Roberto gathered what was left of both empires and rebuilt instead. He was involved in the deaths of your parents. Helped the Ivanovs and Everett make it happen. And now… he wants what you have. You’re young. You’re not a threat to him, from my understanding.” He paused. “And honestly, he’s after what I have because my mother has ties to Ricardo. They’ve been burning my shit to the ground this week. They’ve threatened my sons’ lives. They’ve threatened our queen.” Dom’s voice shook. “No one threatens my family. I came here today to ask you to join the kings in taking down the Virelli family. We were fine with remaining neutral, hoping nothing big would come of it, but I cannot sit back when my family has been threatened. Rumor has it, your name is on their list. Your family. Your son. And with Rosalie back, her and Ellis too. I don’t believe her stalker is random, Enzo. I don’t. I think it’s all tied together. Everyone knew you loved Rosalie. They’re using her to bring you out. To fight. That’s my theory.”
“So what do you want?” Enzo asked softly. He didn’t seem surprised at the information dumped on him, and that immediately made me think he already knew some of it.
“War.” Dom’s green eyes darkened. “And I want to not only kill Roberto Virelli, but I also want every extended family member, every friend, every person who has spoken to him on the street to die. I want no survivors because I know they’d leave none for us when they come.”
I sat back in my seat, feeling numb.
“So we’re asking if you want to form an alliance,” Fallon said. “With the kings. To kill the Virelli family. Because if they’re coming for our family, then if intel is correct, they’re coming for yours too.”
“You want war,” I repeated, my mind immediately going to my family. My chest ached at the thought of them getting hurt because of this shit.
“I want the fucking apocalypse,” Dom said darkly. “Whether you’re in or not, I’m still moving forward with it. So, Lorenzo, do you want to join the kings?”
Enzo said nothing for a moment before his soft, even words met my ears.
“We all have something to fight for. I will join. Let’s start a war.”
62
ROSALIE
“What the hell is going on with you?” I demanded as I stormed into Ethan’s room. I’d left dinner to get this sorted. The Ethan I knew back then definitely wasn’t that man anymore.
It was killing me inside. It seemed like we’d take two steps forward and five back. I was tired of it.
“Nothing, Rosalie. Nothing is fucking wrong with me. Everything is absolute fucking rainbows and giant motherfucking happy faces!” His face was red as he raised his voice.
“Ethan, I’m going to ask you again. What’s going on? This isn’t like you.”
“Like me?” He laughed sourly. “Let’s be real here, Rosalie. You don’t actually know me. It’s been five years. I’m not the pathetic kid you knew back then. I’ve changed.”
“Yeah, clearly,” I snapped back. “Into a giant walking asshole!”
He stared me down as we faced off.
“If my being here with Ellis is too much, I will go,” I said softly after a moment of staring at one another. “My intention isn’t to start fights.”
“No, it’s just to break apart what’s left of us,” he whispered.
