“My parents—the Virelli family are behind their deaths. I can’t leave this life even if I wanted to. I’ll be hunted until they kill me. Dom and the kings are facing the same issue. Our families are connected deeply. You know that. They’ve threatened Dom, his family, the twins… And I’m on the list. I’m at the top of it. Riot is on their list.” He paused, visibly swallowing as he stared at me.
“Rosalie is on the list,” I finished for him, hating it but expecting it.
He nodded miserably. “It’s tied to her stalker, which is likely just an ugly web of Virelli men carrying out his deeds. The goal was to get me to come out. To give me problems. They knew I loved her. They knew she was my weakness. It didn’t fucking matter that she was out of my life… they don’t fucking care. Revenge is all they want.”
I listened as he told me everything before he finally fell silent.
“What do you need from me, Enzo?” I asked.
“Forgiveness,” he whispered. “They’re going to kill me. I’m powerful, but so are they. They’ve built this network that could rival Church’s. I’ve been digging in all week. It’s worse than I thought. I just thought they were up and coming after being torn apart, but it’s worse. They’ve been building quietly behind the scenes. I’m not going to be able to escape. I am going to die.” He stood and went to the windows and looked outside. “They likely followed me here. You’re not safe, Evan. I want you to take Rosalie and Ellis and go back to California. Keep her safe and far from me.”
“She won’t leave,” I said, already knowing her answer.
He shook his head. “I’ve already lost so much. We all have. I accept this fate.” He looked back at me. “If I have to die for her, I will. I’ll die for you. I owe you a life… Fox.”
I got up and went to him. He stared at me, his eyes glassy and his bottom lip trembling. He was falling apart.
I reached out and grasped his face, a hand on either cheek, and rested my forehead against his like we used to do.
A tiny sob escaped him.
“You have given me everything, Enzo,” I whispered. “I got the girl. I got the life. It wasn’t ideal, but you gave it whether you wanted to or not. It’s me who owes you.”
He shook his head against mine. “No. I hurt her. I hurt you. I was selfish and trying to prove myself. I knew her heart was yours first. It was so fucking wrong of me. I know that now. I was too cocky. I didn’t listen. Fuck, man, what I wouldn’t give to go back to the beginning and start over. To keep you, Fox. To keep her. Our family. I’d have yielded for you. I love you, and I’ve missed you so fucking much. I came here begging for your forgiveness so that when I die, I can go in peace.”
“You’re not going to die, brother,” I said fiercely. “I won’t let you.”
“I feel something bad is coming. I’ve been dreaming of dying. It’s coming for me. Please. Take Rosalie and Ellis away. Protect Cole and E. Give them a good life.”
“No.” I held him tighter. “No, Enzo. I’m here. I’m still here.”
He let out a shaky breath.
“I… I’ll help you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Constantino De Santis will come home.”
“What?” he pulled away and stared at me, his brows crinkled. “No?—”
“This city was meant to be mine,” I murmured. “I’m the heir. Not Dominic. Not you. Let me do this for you.”
He stared at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Evan—”
“Constantino,” I whispered. “That’s my name. Constantino De Santis. Let me save you, Lorenzo. Step aside and let someone else fight.”
“I don’t… I don’t understand.”
“Hand over the empire to me. It’ll free you. I have an army too. Do you think I’ve spent the last five years only writing books?”
He blinked at me. “What?”
“I have a very close family,” I murmured. “I have the underground behind me. I will have the kings. I will have your men. And I will have my army.”
“Army? What? Evan?—”
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“I… I do. I trust you,” he said thickly. “But you left this life. It will be in vain?—”
