Chapter Fifteen

I woke with a foul taste in my mouth, a bad case of the shivers and a hand holding mine too tightly. I knew at once that it wasn’t Greta. The hand was too big, too strong.

I stirred and the hand let go.

With a groan, I forced my eyes open to find Dad watching me with dark shadows under his eyes and an expression in them that was a mix of fury and concern. A hint of stubble showed on his chin. He rarely went out of the house without a shave.

“Where am I?”

Dad’s lips curled. “Las Vegas. Camorra hospital unit.”

Damn, the memory of Nevio’s attack came back and with it the pain in my side. The bastard had rammed his knife into me.

“Is the crazy fucker alive?”

“Which one?” Dad said in a failed attempt at humor. His voice was too strained for it. Then he added. “He’ll live. For now.”

I nodded. It was better this way. I wanted him dead but the consequences would be too dire—for Greta. “You didn’t tell Mom, right?”

Dad looked ready to choke me to death. “Of course not. She thinks we’re having another meeting with the Falcones. She suffered enough when Marci was kidnapped. I won’t let her suffer because of your stupidity.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said with a grimace as a fierce burning pain spread in my side.

“More morphine?” Dad asked with a nod at the drip.

I shook my head. I wouldn’t make myself more vulnerable than I already was, and had been these last few hours. I lifted the covers. I was naked but everything was still where it belonged. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the Falcones had castrated me for wanting Greta.

I lowered the covers.

Dad shook his head as he regarded me for a few heartbeats and I could tell he was fighting to control himself. “Damn it, Amo. Have you lost your fucking mind? Asking the Falcone girl for her hand in marriage on Camorra territory? Why didn’t you just burn down the fucking city and get the war declaration over with?”

“I thought she’d agree to marry me.”

“Let’s disregard the fucking fact that the Falcones would rather burn down New York than allow the girl to live there, what about what I told you? I wasn’t joking when I said I you would have to waive your position as future Capo if you dropped Cressida.”

“I didn’t care.”

Dad swallowed, obviously fighting for restraint. “Don’t tell me you fucked the Falcone girl too? I can’t believe what you told me is all you did with her. You’re leaving parts out and I’m sick of standing in the dark.”

“Don’t,” I snarled even as my side roared with agony. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

Dad closed his eyes briefly, then he grabbed my shoulder and got very close. “Get her out of your head now. The only way you could ever have her would be to kidnap her and I don’t have to tell you what would happen after?”

“She’d never forgive me if something happened to her family.”

“You stabbed her twin brother.”

“I did. But he stabbed me first. She’ll understand.” At least, I thought she would. She wasn’t here so I couldn’t ask her.

I knew Greta and I couldn’t be. Like Dad had said, she wouldn’t leave her family. After Nevio’s crazy ass actions probably less than before.

“Let’s get you home before the Falcones change their minds. If we go into war, we’ll do it on equal footing and not trapped in their territory.”

“You declared war?” I asked quietly. I had lived in peace all my life, had longed for war for half of it, but now a loss of truce meant more than losing our drug routes and many soldiers.

Dad’s eyes clouded with disbelief. “Nevio Falcone stabbed you.”

“And I stabbed him. We’re even.”

Dad shoved to his feet and turned his back on me. “If you weren’t my son…”

“Dad. We can’t have war now. How do you explain it to our soldiers?”

“Not too long ago, you wanted war with the Camorra. Now you ask me to keep truce even though you almost died at the hands of a Falcone?” He turned to me, his expression tight with suppressed rage. “I’ve killed many for far less.”

“This is the worst possible time for war. We have two big drug deliveries due in the next few weeks. We can’t redirect them.”

“Don’t you think I don’t know that?” Dad snarled. He shook his head. “This is your fault.”

It was. There was no arguing about it. I’d done it because of my feelings for Greta, feelings she obviously didn’t share in the same intensity.

“We should go now.”

I groaned when I tried to push my legs out of bed. Dad picked up my clothes from the chair, or what was left of them. My shirt had been cut in half and my pants and boxers were covered in blood.

Dad wrapped an arm around my back, supporting my weight as he helped me stand. For a moment my vision became black. “Come on, Amo. We need to get you dressed.”

I gave a terse nod. Dad was right. The situation was too volatile to stay on Camorra land. I put on my boxers and pants slowly while Dad got out of his jacket so I could put it on instead of my ruined shirt. Most of my torso was wrapped in bandages anyway so I was only half naked. He led me out of the room. Romero was waiting for us in front of the door and scanned my body briefly, his jaw twitching. I wasn’t surprised Dad had chosen him and not Matteo. Romero was a calm, controlled man. “Our doctors are waiting for you in the private jet.”

I gave him a tight smile. Remo, Nino and Fabiano kept their distance as they watched us. Any word we shared now would probably only make the situation worse. Fabiano shook his head, obviously annoyed by my actions. Maybe he had forgotten that Nevio had pulled his knife? When Dad and I reached the middle of the room, my eyes were drawn to movement. A door opened and Greta stood there, her doe eyes wide and forlorn. My stomach dropped, my body flooding with such intense longing my knees almost buckled.

Behind her I could see Nevio in a hospital bed and his mother beside him. His expression showed not a hint of guilt. He would stab me again if he got the chance.

Then I caught Greta’s gaze again and she took a step toward me, her face filling with regret. “I’m sorry you got hurt. I hope you’ll heal quickly.”

Remo went over to her, touching her shoulder. “Don’t overstay your welcome.”

Dad’s hand on my shoulder tightened. If it was because of what Remo had said or because he wanted to turn my attention away from Greta, I wasn’t sure.

Greta turned around, taking the decision from me, and went back to her brother’s bed where she sank down and held his hand. Her eyes said goodbye. It cost me everything to keep my face straight. She made her choice and I had to accept it. Maybe it was better this way. Our family had taken a big hit when Marcella had picked Maddox. If I brought war over the Famiglia because of Greta and dropped Cressida, the Traditionalists would revolt.

My life belonged to the Famiglia. Now and for always.

My chest felt dark and hollow when I watched Amo and his father leave. This felt like a definite goodbye.

“You’re better off without someone like him. The fucking audacity of him to think you’d ever consider being with him,” Nevio muttered, his lips thinning in pain.

“Nevio,” Mom said in warning. “You need to rest, and this is Greta’s personal business.”

Nevio scoffed. “Personal business. Vitiello overstepped his boundaries. Greta isn’t interested in him but because of his huge ego he can’t see it.”

Mom glanced at me and I looked away.

“Right?” Nevio said. He leaned forward with a grunt and touched my arm. “Tell Mom.”

I raised my eyes, and he let out a derisive laugh. “Come on, Greta.”

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I said simply, rising to my feet. “What you did was wrong. And I’m mad at you.”

Nevio regarded me in utter confusion. “I protected you.”

“From what?”

“He had his paws all over you and he was going to kiss you against your will.”

“It wasn’t against my will and it wouldn’t have been our first kiss. We kissed before.”

Nevio stared at me as if he couldn’t comprehend a single word out of my mouth. Maybe it was really impossible for him to grasp the concept of me having feelings for someone outside of our family.

Nevio swung his legs out of bed even as the color drained from his skin and pushed to his feet. “You chose him?”

“I obviously didn’t choose him. I’m here.”

Nevio glanced at something behind me and I followed his gaze toward Dad and Nino in the doorway. Dad’s expression was a mask of rage.

“Dad, we must stop this ridiculous truce with the Famiglia. It’s time for war. The Vitiellos are becoming too sure of themselves. It’s time to show them their place.”

“You only want a chance to kill Amo!” I whispered.

“Of course. You’re obviously not capable of seeing what kind of guy he is, but I know his sort, and I won’t allow him to ruin your life.”

“It’s none of your business!” I growled, causing Nevio’s eyes to widen in shock. I’d never raised my voice against him. “And you won’t kill him, or I’ll never speak a single word with you.”

Nevio’s face became a mask of nothingness. “You would never do that.”

“Don’t test my limits, Nevio,” I said quietly. “Please.”

He exchanged a look with Dad then he shook his head with a sigh. He cast his eyes up, looking tortured. “I won’t kill him if that’s what you want.”

I nodded but didn’t thank him. Not for that. “You need to rest.” I turned on my heel.

“Won’t you stay?”

“Mom’s here. I need a bit of peace and quiet. I’ll visit you tomorrow.”

I didn’t look at him because I knew his hurt expression would have made me rethink my decision.

Nino stepped back so I could walk past them. I didn’t dare look at Dad. I felt on the verge of anxiety anyway, and I knew his disappointed expression would have sent me over the edge. “Nino, can you take Greta home? I’ll have to talk to Nevio first.”

“Of course.”

Nino appeared at my side, a calm presence I appreciated. He led me toward Dad’s car and I got in without a word. I felt completely out of it, almost in shock. So much had happened in the last few hours. My brain hadn’t had time to process it. I wasn’t even sure if that was possible.

We pulled up the driveway to our mansion when I found the strength to speak, “Will there be war now?”

Nino turned off the engine and took a deep breath. “Maybe war has already started.”

“You have to stop Dad from going to war with the Famiglia. Please. So many people would die. Kiara wouldn’t be able to see her friend Giulia anymore, Fabiano could never see his sisters again, and Aurora her aunts. This war is unnecessary. I don’t want it, not because of me. Talk to Dad. He listens to you.”

“He appreciates my logic, but I’m not sure he’s in a state of mind for it at the current time. And then there’s still the matter of Luca. He made it clear he wants war. If he declares war, we won’t ask for peace. We’ll retribute with full brutality.”

I closed my eyes. My God. Who would have thought love was so destructive?

“I’m sorry for all of this.”

Nino didn’t say anything so I got out of the car and went inside. When I crossed the common room Giulio jumped up where he’d sat beside Savio and a heavily pregnant Gemma on the couch and watched something on the iPad. Kiara, too, rose where she had been curled up in the armchair.

Giulio raced toward me, boisterous excitement all over his face. His eyes were a lighter brown than mine but his hair was just as dark. “Nevio stabbed Vitiello?”

Savio pushed off the sofa, his eyes on me as he approached us. He touched my brother’s shoulders, pulling him back. “Greta needs rest.”

Kiara came my way and lightly touched my arm. “Do you want me to come up with you?” Gemma struggled to get off the couch. She was already three days overdue. She gave me an apologetic smile as she gave up and dropped back on the couch.

“I’m okay. Nevio got stabbed, not me.”

Kiara nodded but I could tell she still worried.

Without another word, I turned and headed upstairs to my room where Momo and Bear were waiting for me. I put Bear on his leash and picked up Momo before I headed downstairs and went outside through the French doors in our wing of the mansion. I allowed Bear and Momo to relieve themselves and sniff around a bit before I returned to my room. Bear and Momo stayed close to me, obviously aware of my distress.

After turning off the lights, I curled up on my bed, shivering. I was cold, inside and out, despite Bear’s body pressing to my back and Momo cuddled to my front. A knock sounded. My eyes peeled open. With the black-out curtains drawn shut, my view was still utter blackness.

“Yes?”

The door opened and Dad’s tall form stood illuminated in the light coming in from the hallway. He turned the light switch. As usual it was dimmed to a low glow, enough to make out his exhausted eyes and tense expression. Bear let out a low growl which shook the mattress. Dad ignored it and stepped in. I sat up and sent Bear into his corner. He curled up there, his eyes on Dad, who sank down beside me.

Dad watched me, his dark eyes full of concern, but also something else, maybe wariness. “You lied to me.”

I swallowed, then gave a small nod. “I lied about kissing Amo, yes. Because I knew how you and Nevio would react if you found out.”

Dad’s jaw tightened. “We saw how Nevio reacted.”

I doubted Dad’s reaction would have been much better. In the long run he’d have spilled blood as well. “It’s over now. It never really started.”

Dad’s eyes seemed to sink into mine, willing me to tell him everything. But there was so much I didn’t understand. “He’s bound to marry in a few weeks.”

“I know,” I said quietly, lest Dad thought I was oblivious. I wasn’t as good and innocent as he thought. I’d kissed a promised man, and I wanted to do it again. I was wretched.

“He should have never approached you.”

“Am I better than him? If I know he’s promised and I still kiss him, doesn’t that make me a sinner as well?”

“I don’t give a fuck about sins. What I care about is your wellbeing.”

Dad cursing like this in front of me told me his emotional state wasn’t the best either.

“I’ll be fine.” I’d known Amo only for a short period of time. If time healed all wounds, then the heartache I suffered should be over in the same time it had taken me to fall for Amo, right?

Dad touched my cheek. “I should have protected you better.”

I smiled sadly. “Would it have changed things for you if Amo hadn’t been promised?” I knew the answer but I thought it required stating out loud.

Dad let out a dark laugh. “About him wanting you? Not in a million years, mia cara. Maybe he can have whatever he wants in New York, but this is Las Vegas, and he can’t have you. Not now, not ever.”

“You told me you’d do anything for me.”

Dad cupped my face with both hands, his eyes blazing with fierceness. “Not that.”

I shook my head in his hold. “I belong here. I’m talking about war. Please, don’t let there be war because of me. Please do this for me. We need peace.”

“Still too kind for this world. I thought you’d changed but I see you haven’t.” He kissed my forehead, sounding relieved but at same time resigned.

I peered up at him through my lashes. But I had changed, hadn’t I? I could feel it deep in my belly. How could one person change who you were? Amo had changed everything, my every desire, my perception of what made my life full. But I was a Falcone. I’d go on despite the pain.

“What about peace?”

Dad kissed my forehead again then he stood, his expression hard. “That depends on Luca. We’re ready for war if he wants it.”