Chapter Fourteen

“Give me a moment with Amo.”

Nino looked at Amo and even I could see that his expression held warning. “I’ll be around the corner and you have five minutes.”

He and Fabiano got up from the barstools and sat down in a VIP nook so the surrounding wall gave us a semblance of privacy. That Nino had taken me here once Fabiano had called him showed me how much he trusted me and my judgment. I didn’t want to fail him.

Amo smiled, and my chest seemed to expand and my belly became a snake pit. I held out my hand and he took it, following me as I led him a bit further away from Nino and Fabiano.

“The odds are against us,” I said as I stopped behind a curtain that separated the storage area from the bar.

“I don’t care about the odds. I came here to ask for your hand.”

My stomach hollowed, my breathing catching in my throat. This wasn’t what I’d expected. I hadn’t even dared considering it. I tried to keep my emotions at bay, to think this through logically. This was too important to lose sight of all but my emotional turmoil. “Without your dad’s approval.”

Amo shrugged as if it didn’t matter but I knew how much he cared about his family. Our families were our everything. Hearing Nevio’s words had cut. That he thought being with someone meant betrayal. He was certain I’d never leave our family, never leave him because he couldn’t imagine leaving himself.

“Does Cressida know you’re here?”

Amo took a step closer, peering down at me with such intensity, I wondered how deep into my soul he could look. Nobody knew the darkness of my soul, but with him I wondered if maybe he saw and didn’t care.

“No, I don’t talk to her unless she doesn’t leave me a choice. But she knows my heart doesn’t belong to her.”

“And she doesn’t care?”

Amo chuckled darkly. “She cares about becoming a Capo’s wife, not my feelings.”

A Capo’s wife. All my life my family had kept me from social events, had allowed me to remain in my safe space. If I became Amo’s wife, that would have to end. The Famiglia was different than the Camorra. More traditional.

“What Nino said is true you know? I won’t ever be someone who’ll stand by your side in the flashlight, who’ll give interviews to the press, who’ll smile pleasantly at a camera.”

Amo slowly lifted his hand and touched my cheek. “I know you can do it. Everyone will love you. You’ll grow with the task.”

I could tell he really believed it. Maybe he wanted to believe it. My heart broke. I shook my head. “I won’t.”

Amo shrugged. “Once we have children, nobody will expect you to be in public all the time. Then it won’t matter anymore.”

I swallowed. Of course. Amo needed an heir. Amo needed a representative wife. He needed someone who’d grab the hearts of his soldiers. “I don’t even know if I want children.”

Amo frowned. “Why?”

“Because this world is such a harsh place, and so much is uncertain, that it seems unfair to bring a child into it.”

Amo nodded as if he understood but I could tell that he thought I’d eventually change my mind. Maybe I would, but it didn’t matter.

“I’m who I am, and that won’t change, and I can tell it’s not what you need. I’m not the person you need by your side.”

“But you’re the one I want.”

“Sometimes we can’t have what we want,” I whispered.

“Not me,” Amo murmured, bringing our faces closer. I looked deeply into his eyes. I loved how quiet my mind got when I did, how peaceful I felt, how in control of everything, especially myself.

“I don’t care about any of this, Greta. I probably won’t even become Capo anymore. My father made it very clear that I’d have to waive my position if I didn’t marry Cressida.”

He’d give up becoming Capo for me?

The realization that I’d lose this, that I’d lose Amo, ached in the worst way possible.

But I couldn’t be selfish. I had to think of my family, who’d probably start a war if I followed Amo, of Nevio who’d become completely unhinged without me by his side, of Amo and his family who needed someone else. Amo couldn’t see it because he idealized me, because his feelings for me made him blind to the truth, to my limitations. I had to be the one making the hard decision, the one that would save so many, even Amo. Maybe even myself because Amo would come to despise me if he gave up becoming Capo for me.

“I won’t leave my family, Amo. I owe them everything and I love them more than anything else. If I have to choose between them and you, it’ll always be them. And if you really think about it, you’ll choose your family too.”

I could see the hurt in Amo’s eyes, the lack of understanding. “You know what’s between us. Don’t pretend you don’t feel it. I see how you look at me, Greta.”

What was between Amo and me was fateful in so many ways, it was a one in a lifetime love, a miracle. I would never love anyone as I loved him. I’d known it from the moment I’d looked into his eyes even when I hadn’t dared admitting it to myself, and it had been confirmed in every second that I’d spent with him after that. But our love would be our ruin. I was too logical not to see the consequences of our love. Cressida would play the victim, and most of the Famiglia would side with her. The Traditionalists would condemn Amo for his actions, not just for breaking an engagement, but worse, for being intimate with someone before marriage and then not marrying her. It would hurt the Vitiellos, possibly weaken them, and for them to reestablish power they’d have to react with sheer brutality as they always did.

Amo and his father would torture and kill many to bring what they considered peace over the Famiglia. I’d be the reason for it, for many deaths, for even more heartbreak and sadness.

And my family. Nevio would never accept me leaving Las Vegas, leaving him. I was the anchor he held onto in his eternal dark. Without me, Nevio would give in to darkness, he’d embrace it wholly, would let it swallow him, and his actions in the night would become all that there was to him.

Dad knew it. That he’d lose not only me but Nevio if I ever left our family. He knew what that would mean for Mom. Dad would burn down New York before he’d allow me to marry Amo. Dad wanted to protect us all at any cost, and the Famiglia was a small price in his mind if it meant saving what meant the most to him.

“Greta,” Amo rasped and I peered up into his eyes, scared that they’d break through my resolve, that they’d make me disregard logic.

“I can’t.”

Amo lowered his head to kiss me, as if that could change my mind, and it might very well have succeeded, but I shook my head even if my body ached for his lips, for a last kiss.

Movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention but I was too late to call out a warning, and Amo was too focused on me.

My lips parted, a scream ripping out but everything happened so fast.

Nevio slammed his knife into Amo’s side. Everything seemed to stand still for a moment before Amo pushed me back and impaled his knife into Nevio’s belly in turn.

My heart slowed as I watched Amo and Nevio with knives in their bodies. I registered the positions of the stab wounds and knew if either of them pulled their knife, the other would bleed to death before help could arrive. My heart jolted and seemed to race at impossible speed. I heard steps thundering toward us, saw Nino and Fabiano bolting our way, but knew they might be too late. I knew the look in Nevio’s eyes too well.

I stumbled toward Amo and Nevio. They stared at each other, still holding onto their respective knife. They were too experienced fighters not to know what would happen if they pulled their knives. “Don’t. Do not move,” I said thickly. I locked eyes with Nevio and his lips twisted into a grin.

“Nevio,” I warned. “You’ll both die.”

“If it means he won’t ever get to touch you again, I’ll gladly bleed to death.” I should have never asked Nevio if he’d ever leave our family, never mentioned falling in love. My brother was too intelligent to not make the connections and act upon them.

Amo brought his face close to Nevio’s with a harsh smile. “I guess it must be hard for a crazy fucker like yourself to know that your sister loves me, that I kissed her.”

I wanted to cry. How could love be this destructive? I grabbed Nevio’s hand before he could pull the knife out. “Nevio, don’t,” I begged.

Amo smiled darkly.

Nino appeared by our side, something in his hand and he rammed a syringe into Nevio’s neck. Nevio’s eyes widened a fraction, his body becoming tense and he passed out, letting go of the knife. Fabiano helped Nino to hold Nevio up.

“If you pull that knife, I’ll slit your throat,” Nino said to Amo.

“I won’t, don’t worry,” Amo said and looked at me as he released the knife slowly and lowered himself to the floor. One of his hands cradled the knife buried in his side, his mouth twisting with pain. Then a sardonic smile stretched his lips. “This doesn’t hurt as badly as you not choosing me.”

I had not not chosen him. I’d chosen peace. I’d chosen my family. I’d chosen saving many lives. I’d chosen Amo becoming Capo…

I sank down between him and Nevio, both of them bleeding profoundly. Nino was taking care of Nevio and Fabiano finally came over to Amo.

I was in trance, unable to catch a clear thought.

Soon Alessio, Massimo, Dad and Savio filtered into the room followed by two doctors and several nurses. Dad’s gaze swiped over the scene then he stalked toward me and pulled me to my feet. “Greta?”

“I’m not injured,” I said tonelessly.

Dad handed me over to Savio who touched my shoulder and I met his gaze. His was brimming with questions, but I couldn’t answer them. Dad knelt beside Nevio, while one of the doctors began to treat Amo.

Within an hour, we were in the Camorra hospital and both Amo and Nevio were in surgery to save their lives.

I sat on a chair between the two rooms, feeling like I was torn apart. Blood covered my hands and my dress. I wasn’t sure whose it was. Nevio’s? Amo’s?

I could feel everyone’s gazes on me. Nobody had asked any questions yet.

I had a feeling Dad was almost scared to ask what had happened. Maybe he worried what I’d say about my feelings for Amo. Nino and Fabiano had certainly filled him in on the details. Dad had reacted with a rageful outburst.

“Luca and Romero are on their way,” Nino said in a low voice.

“With a declaration of war,” Dad said with a dark laugh.

“We have his son, it would be stupid to threaten us now,” Alessio said.

“It might be prudent to kill Amo while he’s in surgery and get us an advantage in this war,” Massimo said.

I looked up. Nino shook his head. “War would be unwise at this point.”

“Killing his son will be an advantage.”

“You don’t know Luca like Remo and I do, Massimo. Killing his son won’t slow Luca down. He’s easier to handle as long as the people he cares about are alive. Luca is the most dangerous when he doesn’t have anything to lose, and we don’t want that.”

Mom came in and glanced worriedly at me. I gave her a very weak smile so she rushed to Dad. “How is he?”

“He’ll pull through. No major arteries were involved,” Dad said, hugging Mom as she sagged against him.

“Savio said Nevio attacked Amo to protect Greta.”

“I didn’t need protection from Amo,” I said firmly.

Dad’s expression darkened in a way that resembled the look in Nevio’s eyes when he’d attacked Amo. “Nevio obviously disagreed.”

“Nevio didn’t attack because he thought I was in danger.”

“Maybe it’s a danger you can’t see,” Massimo said with a hint of condescension.

I rose to my feet. Dad approached me slowly. “What exactly has been going on between Vitiello and you?”

“Nothing,” I said. I hated lying, and I was bad at it, so Dad’s eyes narrowed. He touched my cheek. “Mia cara, you know you can tell us anything. There’s nothing we can’t protect you from. Even if Amo makes you believe, he might have something over you, believe me there’s nothing he can do.”

Dad, like probably the rest of them, thought Amo had set his eyes on me and was trying to manipulate me into becoming his wife. They couldn’t imagine that I had fallen for him.

I glanced at Amo’s door. I wasn’t sure if the truth would improve Amo’s situation.

“He’s engaged,” Alessio said. “He’s probably just trying to have some fun before marriage.”

Dad’s eyes flashed. “Did he touch you?”

“Remo,” Mom said softly, seeing my expression. She took my hand and pulled me aside. “Greta, you know you can tell me anything.”

“Nothing happened between us. We only talked. We enjoyed each other’s company, that’s all.”

I couldn’t share our kiss with anyone.

Dad looked at Amo’s door. I stepped in front of it out of reflex.

“So that’s the side you’re picking?” Alessio asked, his eyebrows rising in challenge.

“I’m not picking a side, because I don’t have to. I’ve always been and will always be a Falcone. Las Vegas is my home. There’s nothing between Amo and me and there won’t ever be. I’m just making sure we won’t declare war to the Famiglia.”

Dad cupped my face, searching my eyes. “You swear that Amo didn’t do anything?”

“He didn’t do anything except ask me to become his wife. He wants to strengthen the Famiglia I suppose and he doesn’t like Cressida very much.”

Dad looked at me a bit longer but seemed unable to detect the lie, maybe because for once, I’d wrapped it up in truths.

“Nevio attacked a future Capo in our territory,” Nino said. “Luca won’t be impressed. If we don’t want war, we need to consider our options.”

“If Amo dies under surgery, there’ll be war no matter what we do,” Dad said.

My heart squeezed tightly. I couldn’t even imagine Amo’s death without feeling like following him into the dark as well.

“Amo won’t die,” I said simply. “Nor will Nevio. They’ll both live.”

Mom took my hand, running her thumb over my knuckles in a way that had always calmed me, but even that wasn’t working in my current state.

Dad glanced at Nino. I could see that they thought war was inevitable. Tension had been rising for years. Mainly because Nevio and Amo couldn’t stand each other. Everyone expected war to break out once they both came to power.

“I’m scared, Mom,” I whispered when Dad, Nino, Massimo and Alessio had walked away to discuss strategies.

“Nevio is strong. He won’t die.”

“I know,” I said. “Neither of them will die. I’m scared of my heart, of the havoc it can wreak.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing. Nevio attacked before anything could happen, but Amo was going to kiss me and I would have let him.”

Mom couldn’t hide her surprise. “Okay. You and him?”

Was there Amo and me? It felt like we were over before we could ever happen. “We can’t be.”

“Because he’s engaged.”

“Because I’m Greta Falcone and he’s Amo Vitiello.”

Mom smiled sadly. “Your brother wanted to kill him because he doesn’t want you and Amo to be together.”

If Nevio had really intended on killing Amo, Amo would be dead. He would have aimed for his heart or throat. The attack was a last warning. And Nevio wasn’t dead because Amo had held back for me. Next time neither would be so lucky. “Nevio thinks I belong in Las Vegas. He thinks I won’t be safe anywhere else.”

“And what do you think?”

“Las Vegas is my home. This family is my safe haven. I don’t belong in New York. I wasn’t born to be at a Capo’s side.” And Amo was meant to be Capo. I didn’t want him to give this up for me.

Mom considered that. “You can be whatever you want to be.”

I gave her a grateful smile even if she was biased as my mother. “I know my limitations. And I can’t leave Nevio.”

“Nevio will be fine.” At the doubtful look on my face, she added, “Eventually. Nevio battles his very own demons even you are not equipped to fight. If you really love Amo, you shouldn’t let him go too quickly.”

What I felt for Amo was magnificent and new, but that was also the problem. I hadn’t had time to process everything. Too much was on the line for a spur of the moment decision. For the decision ahead of us absolute certainty was necessary. I couldn’t ask Amo to give up everything as long as I wasn’t absolutely sure about my feelings. What if I decided in six months that the novelty had worn off and that while I’d briefly fallen in love, I didn’t love him. He couldn’t undo what had happened by then. He’d lose too much. I didn’t want that burden on my shoulders. I couldn’t carry it. I had no experience with love, so how could I make an informed decision with minimal risks, especially if the consequences could be dire?

“Some things can’t be measured or quantified, Greta. And with love there’s always a flicker of uncertainty. You have to allow yourself to fall.”

I smiled because Mom knew me better than I thought. And I understood her reasoning. My letting myself fall when I risked plunging many others into the abyss for me wasn’t an option. “Have you never regretted leaving your family?”

Mom swallowed. “I knew it was the right choice for you and Nevio.”

“Would you have left as well if you hadn’t had us?”

Mom’s gaze slanted to Dad who was still in a discussion with Nino and now Fabiano.

“Maybe it would have taken me longer to come to terms with my love for your father but I’m sure eventually I would have gone to him.”

Mom’s family hadn’t tried to get her back. I couldn’t imagine mine reacting the same way. While Dad might accept love as a reason, Nevio wouldn’t.

For him love was difficult to grasp. For him devotion and love only existed in connection with our family, not outside of it. Everyone outside of our family was inconsequential to him. He was a bit like a livestock guardian dog. The puppies were introduced early to their herd or family they were supposed to protect. Everything they grew up with fell under their protection, everything that they encountered later in life was a potential threat.

“I know you and Amo don’t know each other. But what does your gut tell you? Do you think you love him?”

It defied logic, falling in love at first glance. I would have argued with anyone who would have told me it had happened to them, but I had fallen for Amo, and every time I saw him I only fell deeper. I was scared of what would happen if the fall ever ended. But falling in love wasn’t the same as loving someone. Or was it? The more I tried to dissect love, define it, box it up in a neat category, the more it confused me.

The door behind me on my left opened and the doctor stepped out. He was still covered in blood from surgery. Mom grimaced, tightening her hold on my hand. I got up. It was where Nevio had been undergoing surgery.

“He’ll recover. But he needs to hold back his nightly activities for a while.”

“Can I see him?” I asked immediately.

“He’s not awake yet. We’re monitoring him closely.”

“I’ll sit by his side.” I paused, glancing at Amo’s door. How much longer would his surgery take? Again I felt like my heart was split in two. I couldn’t be at both of their sides.

“You’ll let us know when the Vitiello boy wakes, Remo?”

Dad looked at Mom for a few heartbeats before he gave a nod. Then he slanted another look at me. His expression was dark and foreboding, full of worry and anger.

I wasn’t sure which of these emotions were directed at me. Mom and I walked into Nevio’s room. I was angry at him, furious even. But seeing him drugged and attached to all kinds of machines, I rushed over to him and took his hand. My heart ached so terribly. I pressed my forehead to his hand, shuddering. “Nevio. I know you need me but why did you have to do this?”

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.

Was this the end of truce?