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)
Mom touched my shoulder. “You love your brother, we all do, but you can’t hold back your life for him. Not forever.”
“He’s my life too. You all are. I don’t want to leave. I can’t be what the Famiglia expects, what Amo needs. Eventually he’ll realize it and then it’ll be too late.”
Mom squeezed my shoulder and walked around the bed to the other side of the bed, putting her hand on Nevio’s.
Mom looked at him then at me, her expression softening further. “Leaving my family, it was an impossible choice until it wasn’t, until only one choice remained.”
Amo needed another woman at his side, someone other than me. Our families needed peace. Nevio needed me. There was only one choice to make for me. I put my cheek down on the bed, my fingers interlinked with Nevio’s. My gaze found the clock. Amo’s surgery had been going on for three hours. Oh Nevio.
I must have fallen asleep but was woken by commotion in front of the door.
“Where is he?” A deep male voice boomed. It took me a moment to recognize it as Luca’s.
My head shot up.
“Stay here,” Mom urged but I shook my head and slipped out before she could stop me.
Dad and Luca were facing off, guns drawn, and Dad’s face didn’t bode well. I didn’t know Amo’s father very well but his face didn’t give me much hope either.
“In surgery,” Nino said. “Our best surgeons are saving his life.”
“And who got him a state that he required life-saving?” Luca roared. I flinched. I was used to brutality, to harsh words and even harder truths, but I wasn’t used to other people’s wrath.
“Your son entered our territory without permission.”
Luca stepped even closer to Dad so their noses were almost touching. “And I thought our truce would guarantee my son’s safety on Camorra land. I suppose I was mistaken.”
I walked closer but Massimo grabbed my wrist and shoved me behind him. “Some monsters won’t stop from hurting you.”
“I know all about monsters, Massimo.” I shook his grip off. I grew up among them. I loved them. Maybe I was one myself.
“Who attacked my son, the future Capo of the Famiglia?” Luca growled.
He let his eyes glide over us and then his smile became harsher. “Falcone Junior himself.”
Luca gripped my father’s shoulder and tried to shove him to the side to head for the operation room.
The second man, Romero, pulled his gun and pointed it at Nino. Fabiano had his gun drawn too but wasn’t pointing it at anyone yet. Dad grabbed Luca’s wrist, trying to twist it. I began running. If I didn’t stop this now, there would be war and it would be my fault. “Stop!”
Dad’s gaze briefly caught on me, his expression twisting with protectiveness. Luca used the moment to shove Dad back but he didn’t fall. I used the commotion to position myself right in front of Luca who had raised his gun to point it at Dad. Instead it now pointed straight at my head.
“Luca,” Dad said in a low voice. I had a feeling he was aiming his gun at Luca’s head. Massimo and Alessio had their guns drawn too. Of course, I knew if Luca wanted me dead, I’d be dead before they killed him.
Luca met my gaze and lowered the gun. His lips curled as he looked over my shoulder at Dad. “I don’t hurt women, Falcone. I’m a man of honor. I’m going to take my son home with me now and the moment we leave your territory consider our truce over.”
“No,” I said firmly.
“Aren’t you curious why your son was here?” Dad asked, then I felt his presence behind me. He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me behind him but I resisted. He ignored my struggle and shoved me behind him.
“Dad,” I said furiously.
Luca looked at me and something shifted in his expression. He didn’t say anything.
Dad’s smile became scary. “Your engaged son asked my daughter for her hand. He should remember his boundaries. Some things are even beyond his reach.”
Luca’s lips thinned. “That probably won’t be a problem in the future. He’ll be married soon and busy with war.”
“War is unnecessary,” Nino said firmly.
“Let me see my son now.”
Nino nodded and led Luca past Dad and me. He opened the door and I peered in. The doctor came our way, looking confused, but then he saw Luca. “He’s fine. You can go see him.”
Luca walked past him as if he hadn’t listened to him. Goosebumps rippled along my skin when I spotted Amo on the bed while around him nurses cleaned the floor. I took a step toward the room but Dad’s fingers clamped around my wrist.
“Luca wants to be alone with his son.”
I froze, swallowing hard. Romero closed the door and positioned himself in front of it. Then he took out his phone and began typing.