Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
“And when will Nevio and Remo get what they deserve, and it’s not a fucking warm welcome in our city. I don’t want them here, not now, not ever. The Falcones attacked someone in our territory, we should retribute.”
Marcella shook her head. “Matteo, that piece of shit and her family had Greta stabbed. The girl probably won’t ever have children.”
Marcella touched her round belly, and swallowed hard. I patted her arm. I didn’t want her to work herself up.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s useless to coddle her. She gets mad at me every time I try,” Maddox said. When Marcella had picked him, the Famiglia was in an uproar. Now Amo’s choice would top that. My children chose love, and it was bringing the Famiglia to the brink of an internal war.
“We’re lucky Nevio didn’t burn down New York and every fucking member of the Famiglia. He’s fucking crazy. Even worse than his father. Fuck, Luca. You can’t allow them to be part of our meeting. We’re at war. And I don’t want peace with these bastards.”
“There can’t be war,” Marcella said. “Amo won’t live without Greta, not after what happened, not again. If we don’t negotiate a truce, we’ll lose Amo. He loves Greta like you love Gianna and Dad loves Mom.”
“And I love you,” Maddox reminded her. She rolled her eyes, but smiled to soften the blow. It was still hard to believe that my little girl had picked a biker, an enemy of the past. It was ironic that Amo too had to choose an enemy. I wasn’t sure if this was sign of bad parenting on my and Aria’s part, or not.
“Matteo, we need this peace. Gianna and Isabella will be safer without a war.”
“They will be the safest if we kill all the Falcones.”
“That won’t happen.”
“You can’t really consider making them family. I won’t be in the same room with Nevio Falcone without killing him.”
Matteo turned on his heel, stalked out and almost bumped into Amo, then he shook his head and left without another word.
Amo turned to me with a grimace. “He’s not taking it well.”
“He wants to protect Gianna and Isabella.”
“They’ll be safer with the Falcones as family.”
“I can talk to them,” Marcella suggested. “I’m sure Gianna and Isabella will vote for peace. They don’t care about revenge. And Matteo will listen to what they say.”
She pushed to her feet.
“You are the only heavily pregnant woman who wears eight-inch heels,” Amo said with a tight smile.
“Four and a half inches, Amo. Men really need to measure right. And I’m six months along, I won’t pop out this baby tomorrow, so chill. We have other things to worry about.”
Maddox gave her a grin I didn’t want to dwell on.
Marcella kissed my cheek before she patted Amo’s chest and whispered something in his ear that made him swallow and nod. Then she stalked out.
“Maddox,” I said before he could follow her.
His blond brows pulled together. “What’s up?”
“You mentioned that you would become part of the Famiglia if I ever allowed it.”
Maddox froze. Making a former biker a Made Man would create new waves, but I wanted to show strength and Maddox had proven his loyalty over and over again. I needed every loyal man at my side that I could find.
“Sure,” he said slowly, glancing to Marcella who had appeared in the doorway again.
“Then I’m going to ask for your oath very soon—if we all survive tomorrow’s meeting.”
Maddox nodded wide-eyed. “It’s an honor, Luca. I’ll have your and Amo’s back tomorrow, don’t worry.”
Marcella bit her lip, smiling proudly. She sent me a thankful smile before she and Maddox left.
“That’s been long overdue,” Amo said.
“Sometimes it takes me a long time to make the right decision,” I said. I still regretted my decision about Cressida.
Amo nodded. “Tomorrow we can try to make it right.”
It would take more than one bloody meeting to make things right. The months and years to come would be hard. Keeping the Famiglia united, and uniting two families that hated each other. Just thinking about it gave me a headache. But for Amo I’d do it.
Amo’s face had lost the last hints of boyishness. This world didn’t leave room for it. “I’ll always be grateful for what you’re doing for me tomorrow.”
I touched his shoulder and squeezed. My decisions from the past had ultimately led to this point. I should have made a bloody statement sooner. I wouldn’t show mercy this time.
Aria wrung her hands.
“Last time you ordered a meeting at the Yonkers power plant I didn’t sleep all night. I was terrified of losing you.” She swallowed hard, her eyes full of fear. “Tonight I’ll have to worry about you, about Amo, Marcella, Valerio…” She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them, the determined gleam in them made me shake my head. She had made up her mind about something and I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it.