Chapter Thirty-Three

Matteo got in my face. “You allowed the little shit who kidnapped my daughter and wife to traipse into our territory and go around killing people.”

“Cressida got what she deserved.”

Matteo scoffed. Every single of our last fights had been about how I’d handled the situation with the Camorra after Nevio and his two buddies got their hands on Isabella and Gianna. I understood his anger only too well. Fuck, I was the protective madman from the two of us.

“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.

“Let me go with you.”

“No.”

“Luca, please. I need to be there with you, with my family.”

“No.”

She pressed her palms against my chest. No matter what she did she wouldn’t soften my resolve. Tonight’s meeting was too dangerous for her to be present. “Luca, I know you’re worried that things escalate and I die. But if things escalate, and all of you die, my whole heart dies, and then I’d rather die by your side than live on without my family.”

“Aria, I love you more than anything else in the world, and nothing, absolutely nothing will convince me to have you there. If I die, if we all die, I still want you to live your life.”

“What life?” She glared but then her expression shifted. “Would you want me to remarry?”

Possessiveness raged through me, as Aria had intended. I’d never not be madly jealous at the thought of anyone having her. She gave me a knowing look, because she’d been certain of my reaction. I loved her absolutely, and wanted her to be happy, but still my cold, possessive heart couldn’t bear the idea of her ever being with another man even once I was dead. “I know what you’re trying to do, love, but the answer is still no. Tonight might make history, and if that’s the case, I don’t want you around.”

“You’ll need every trustworthy man at your side. I don’t want protection if that means you’ll be low on men.”

“I have enough men,” I said. But of course, Aria had seen the problem. There were many people I needed to protect. Romero’s family, Matteo’s family, Aria. Though, Matteo had refused to join the meeting. He was still pissed and didn’t want to be near the Falcones. Matteo had always been by my side, no matter how dangerous or difficult the situation. That this decision might drive a wedge between us hurt like a fucking knife in the heart, but I’d made up my mind and wouldn’t change it again. I owed it to Amo, and his girl too.

Aria began to shake her head. I touched her cheek. “I never thought I’d say this, but considering that we’ll create a bond with the Camorra that’s stronger than ever before, I accepted Fabiano’s suggestion that he would watch you. Adamo will be there as well.”

Aria’s eyes grew wide in surprise. “You’re accepting help from the Camorra?”

“Not in my fight against the Traditionalists, should it arise. That’s my responsibility. The Falcones can kill the people that hurt Greta, but the rest who might want to revolt are mine. The Famiglia is mine to deal with but if Adamo and Fabiano’s help guarantees your safety and that of your sisters and their children, then I’m going to trust them.”

I glanced at my watch. We needed to leave soon. Before the official meeting, I’d meet with the most loyal men in my rows.

The bell rang and glance at the camera showed Fabiano and Adamo. Fuck. If someone had told me this would happen a month ago, I would have silenced them with a bullet to the head.

Amo joined me in the lobby, patting Aria’s back when she hugged him tightly as if he were a small boy. For her our children would always remain her babies. It was difficult for her to see them in danger, and it wasn’t easy for me either. But this was our life.

I opened the door and let Fabiano and Adamo in. Aria tore away from Amo and went over to her brother, hugging him too. Fabiano briefly hugged her but public displays of affection weren’t his thing.

I stepped up to Adamo. “This is a major show of trust. I hope you know this.”

“I do, we both do.” Adamo glanced at Fabiano who nodded. “Remo wants peace. We all want peace. For Greta. For Amo. For all of us.”

I pulled Aria against me. She smiled sadly. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll be fine.”

The bell rang again and I tensed, not expecting anyone else. The camera showed Matteo, Isabella and Gianna in front of the door.

I let them in. Isabella gave me a quick smile before she headed toward Amo. She hugged him. “I’m sorry for what happened to Greta.”

“Thanks, Isa.”

Gianna shoved Amo’s shoulder. “You have a lot of explaining to do. You’ve always been a troublemaker.”

“I guess I have that from you,” Amo said. Gianna huffed and went over to Aria.

I turned to Matteo who hovered in the doorway, looking wary. “Good job sending your daughter over to us for a guilt trip. Marcella has a way with words that breaks everyone’s resolve.”

I clapped his shoulder. “I’m glad to have you by my side.” I narrowed my eyes. “You won’t use tonight to sink your knife into Nevio, right?”

Matteo’s lips thinned. He nodded toward Isabella and Gianna. “They want peace. It was a two to one vote.”

“We should leave,” Amo said, motioning at his watch. He was right.

“Valerio!”

Gianna rolled her eyes. “That boy will be late even for his own death.”

Valerio jogged down the stairs in that moment. “I have a huge party planned for my eighteenth in January. I definitely won’t die any time soon.”

I realized this moment marked the end of an era. Even our youngest was no longer a child. He had been inducted for a while, but his attitude had always made me see him as a boy. In more than one way he reminded me of Matteo. Now he’d fight by my side. He gave me a wink and tight smile, tightening his gun belt around his chest.

“Let’s go,” I ordered.

Aria’s parting gaze tore at my chest. I would bring all of our children back to her. I’d give my last drop of blood to protect them. Today our family would stand together.