Chapter Nineteen

I wouldn’t allow those two hotheads to kill each other. If they couldn’t act like adults and actually talk to each other before attacking then I’d just have to be the one mediating between them.

I stepped between Maddox and my dad, my palms against either of their chests. They barely glanced my way, too busy killing each other with their eyes.

Matteo, too, had his hand on his gun, ready to intervene, and definitely not in Maddox’s favor.

“Was it you who killed one of my men?”

Maddox gave Dad a scary grin. He reminded me of a Rottweiler baring its teeth. “I did, and I would do it again if it was my life against theirs. Your men tried to put a fucking bullet in my head!”

Dad picked up his phone but didn’t cease the staring contest with Maddox. “I need you to pick up something for me. Right now.”

“Show me my men,” he then ordered Maddox.

“I want to be there when you talk to them. I won’t let you create lies behind my back.”

“You don’t order me around, White.”

“Dad,” I said firmly. “I need to talk to you alone. Now. Please.”

Dad began to shake his head, but I kept staring at him imploringly. The two bouncers of the Sphere appeared in the alley and Dad motioned at the car. “Pick up the load and bring them into one of the holding cells.”

Maddox clicked the car shut with the keys. “Nobody takes anyone away until I know if these three acted on your orders.”

I turned to him, touching his arm. “Let me talk to my father, all right?”

Maddox gave a reluctant nod. I turned to Dad. “Dad, please.”

“Five minutes,” he said with a scathing look at Maddox. He led me inside while Matteo and the bouncers remained outside with Maddox.

My belly was flipping from anxiety. If Dad had really tried to have Maddox killed, I wasn’t sure what I’d do. This was worse than leaking information about Earl and that had been bad enough. If Dad had ordered his soldiers to pull the trigger, the blood was on his hands.

I felt sick just thinking about it. I loved my family and I didn’t want to destroy it, but I also loved Maddox…

The moment Dad and I entered his office, I could feel the entire load of worries crash down on me in one all-consuming tidal wave.

“Swear that it wasn’t you!” I screamed, completely losing it. If Dad had ordered his soldiers to kill Maddox and make it look like an accident, then I wasn’t sure I could forgive him. Even if he did it to protect me. There was a limit to what I could accept.

“Watch your tone,” Dad said firmly, crossing the room to his desk.

My eyes widened in fury. “I won’t be quiet, not when you might have tried to kill the man I love.”

Dad sank down on his desk chair, looking exhausted and angry. I didn’t care if my tone pissed him off. Not after what I’d just found out.

Dad regarded me quietly for almost a minute. “Love?”

I couldn’t believe he was trying to discuss my emotional state in a moment like this.

“Dad,” I said firmly.

He sighed, looking down at his wedding ring. I’d never seen him without it. “I wasn’t in on it.”

I gave him a doubtful look. “Your soldiers respect and fear you. They follow your orders because they fear the consequences, and you really want me to believe you didn’t know anything?”

“What I know is that some of my soldiers aren’t happy with my choice to let Maddox White live, and even less to let him dishonor my daughter.”

“Dishonor,” I repeated in a shaky voice.

“Their words, not mine.”

“But it’s what you think as well.”

“I want you to be happy Marcella.”

“And Maddox is the one who makes me happy!”

“I know.”

I hesitated. “If you know, then why did you try to kill him?”

Dad sighed and got up before he rounded the desk and gripped my shoulders. “I didn’t.” He pressed my palm on his heart then covered it with his hand. “I swear on my honor and my life that I didn’t know of their plan to kill Maddox.”

“Swear it on Mom’s life,” I demanded.

A smile flitted across Dad’s face. “You’ll make a great addition to the Famiglia.”

“Dad,” I warned, not wanting to be distracted with compliments, no matter how flattering. Nothing in this world meant more to Dad than Mom. His love for her was infinite.

“I swear it on your mother’s life. I didn’t know anything about the attempted killing, nor would I have approved of it. If anyone kills Maddox White, it’s going to be me.”

“That’s not funny,” I muttered.

“I was dead serious.”

I shook my head. “What about Amo or Matteo?”

“Matteo wouldn’t go behind my back. And Amo has come to terms with Maddox. I think they get along.”

They did, at least better than in the beginning, but Dad and Amo going behind my back before, still stung. I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed by despair. I didn’t want to distrust my family. Tears stung in my eyes. Dad touched my cheek. “Princess, what is it?”

I peered up at him. “I want our family to stick together. I want to be able to trust you and Amo and Matteo, I don’t want to have to be afraid for Maddox’s life when he’s with you, I don’t want to be caught between two fronts.”

Dad kissed my forehead. “You won’t be, Marci. I’m slowly coming to terms with you and Maddox, but it’s not easy. It’s never easy for a father to see his daughter with a man but for someone like me seeing you with someone who was my enemy, that’s a major challenge, but I’m willing to tackle it for you and your mother.”

“Mom?”

“She wants me to make peace with Maddox.”

I wished Mom were here right now so I could hug her. “I’d really appreciate it if you’d talk to Maddox.”

Dad nodded.

“Do you think there are more of your soldiers who want to kill Maddox?”

“I have no doubt. The feud between us has been going on too long. It’s ingrained in their brains, but now that I know about the immediate danger I’ll put an end to it, don’t worry.”

“Luca didn’t order anyone to kill you, White,” Matteo said.

“I have two loyal soldiers tied up in the back of the van who tried to kill me so excuse me when I don’t take your word for it.”

“You’ll have to take Luca and my word for it. We’re almost family after all.”

I gave him the finger. “I’m not in the mood for your jokes.”

Matteo smirked. “I’m not joking. After the kiss at the party, the tabloids and everyone in our world is waiting for the official engagement announcement.”

Like it always did when someone mentioned engagement or marriage my heart beat faster.

Matteo chuckled but I didn’t get the chance to ask him what was so funny again.

Marcella and Luca returned after ten minutes. Marcella looked as if she’d cried, which sent my protectiveness into overdrive. “What’s wrong?” I asked, heading for her and touching her cheek. She gave me a small but encouraging smile. “Nothing. I talked to Dad and he really didn’t have anything to do with the attempted murder.”

“And you think your father would tell you the truth?”

“Yes,” she said without a doubt. Fuck, how could she be this trusting in a person like Luca. If I’d ever have kids, I could only hope that they’d look up to me like Vitiello’s kids did to him. “Dad swore it on Mom’s life. I believe him. Trust me.”

Her eyes begged me. I pressed my forehead against hers. “Snow White, my trusting in you will be my death one day.”

She smiled. “Talk to him.”

I cocked an eyebrow. Then looked at Luca. He looked a little less hostile than before, which could hardly be considered an improvement.

“Like Marcella said, I’d like to have a word in private with you.”

Shoving my suspicions aside, I followed him down the alley until we were out of earshot even if not out of sight from the others.

“I can’t deny that I’ve been entertaining the idea of getting rid of you from the moment Marcella admitted her bond to you.”

“Trust me, I’ve entertained the same fantasies in regard to you. We’re both not each other’s biggest fans.”

Luca smirked. “No, we’re not, and I’m not na?ve enough to believe that this will change quickly. But I think we can overcome our resentments for Marcella. I don’t want trouble within my family. For me and my wife, family is everything.”

“Marcella mentioned it. To be honest, it’s still hard to believe but it’s one thing that I admire about you.”

It cost more than a little effort to admit this, but it was the truth.

Luca looked surprised for a moment before his usual cold mask took over. “I respect you for killing your uncle for Marcella. I would have done the same if my wife had asked me to kill my own father.”

“I guess we have messed up father figures in common then,” I muttered.

Luca nodded. “Next time before you assume I’m behind an attack on your life, talk to me first.”

“You have to admit it’s not completely ridiculous of me to think you might be behind your men’s attack on my life. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time, right? Not even the second. I don’t think I have enough fingers to count off the attempts on my life in the last decade.”

“You tried to kill me just as many times and that’s old history. Now you’re with Marcella.”

“I was with Marcella when you hoped to get me killed by spreading information about Earl.”

Luca’s face darkened. He was pissed? Maybe he needed to try being in my shoes for a bit.

“I told you after that incident that I wouldn’t do it again. I didn’t order my men to kill you. I explicitly told them to regard you as one of us, and protect you like they would each other.”

“Strange way to protect me.”

“I’ll make sure it won’t happen again, you can count on it,” he said firmly, and I actually believed him. Maybe Marcella had rubbed off on me.

“What are you going to do with Peppone and Drooping-Eye?”

Luca gave me a mildly amused look. “Gaetano.”

“I won’t bother to remember his name now considering he’ll be dead soon like his friend Dimo.”

“And you intend to be the one to kill them like you killed Dimo?”

“Don’t give me shit for killing one of your soldiers, all right? It was my life against his, and I really like being alive. And the other two acted against your orders so I assumed they’ll be punished accordingly. Isn’t death the punishment for such a transgression?”

“Not always. I don’t kill every soldier who disobeys me, it depends on the severity of the transgression.”

I nodded. “Then I guess they won’t have to fear death considering they only tried to kill a White.”

Luca glanced back at Marcella and Matteo who were watching us from their spot by the van, which was shaking by now.

“Someone must be awake,” I said.

“Then let me have a word with them.”

I pulled the keys from my jeans and tossed them at Luca, who caught them then nodded. He stalked to the van and I followed a few steps behind him. I felt exhausted and my entire body ached. This was the second time in weeks that my body suffered several injuries. I really needed a vacation.

Marcella came toward me with a puzzled look. “Why are you smiling? Did you and Dad clear things up?”

“We did, sort of, and I’m smiling because I’m thinking of taking a vacation.”

“Only if you take me with you.”

I touched her waist. “For sure.”

Luca unlocked the van and swung open the door. Peppone almost toppled out. He must have been the one banging against the door. When he spotted Luca, his face briefly lit up before he spotted me.

“Take them both down into the cell,” Luca ordered.

“Capo!” Peppone called but Luca ignored him as the two bouncers grabbed Peppone and a still unconscious Drooping-Eye and dragged them inside the Sphere.

Marcella took my hand and began to pull me inside as well. “I want to hear what they say.”

Peppone didn’t look as arrogant when he stood in the center of the cell. Luca circled him like a lion regarding its prey.

“Sit,” he ordered.

Peppone sank down on the creaking wooden chair without hesitation. Drooping-Eye groaned briefly but didn’t move apart from that.

Luca glowered down at his surviving men. “You tried to kill Maddox?”

Peppone pressed his palms together as if he was about to pray, not to a God but Luca. I leaned against the doorway, curious to see where Luca would be going with this.

“We did it for the Famiglia, Capo. He’s the enemy, having him in our rows is a risk. He’ll eventually betray us. They don’t have a loyal bone in their bodies. He’s not like us and he won’t ever be.”

His words were feverish in their conviction. I gritted my teeth, wanting to defend myself but holding back because this was Luca’s interrogation. The words Peppone said were the exact words Luca had voiced in the beginning and probably still thought.

I was sick of it. Marcella linked our hands discretely behind our backs. She still mostly avoided physical contact when her father was around.

Peppone didn’t even try to deny anything. He admitted to everything without Luca having to resort to the barest hint of torture—what a shame. I really would have loved to see Peppone suffer.

“Don’t you see that he’s our downfall? We have to get rid of him before he dishonors the Famiglia as well.”

“I hope you’re not hinting to me being dishonored, because I don’t feel the slightest bit less honorable,” Marcella said in an icy tone that did her Vitiello genes proud.

Peppone only briefly glanced her way before he faced Luca again. “Capo, we did it for you and the Famiglia.”

“My word is law. You went against a direct order from me and attacked one of ours. Maddox isn’t the enemy and I won’t allow him to be treated like one.”

I almost choked at his words. Hearing them from Luca’s lips I briefly doubted my sanity.

Luca turned to his brother. “Call the soldiers in for a meeting in the Yonkers power plant.”

Matteo nodded and went off with a twisted smile that still sent a cold shiver down my spine no matter how often I saw it. He was a crazy fucker.

Peppone shook his head frantically. “You’ll lose the support of the majority of your men if you do this!”

Luca didn’t look impressed. “The majority of my men trust my judgment, Peppone, and those who don’t will be reminded of the consequences.”

I had no clue what all of this meant.

“What’s this supposed to mean? Why a meeting in a power plant?” I asked Marcella when we walked out.

“That was where the last bloodbath in the history of the Famiglia happened. Most people are calling it Gateway to Hell because of it, and because it’s rumored to be the place where Dad likes to make his bloody statements.”

“Bloody statement, huh?”

“Yeah, he ripped the tongue of somebody out who dared to insult Mom. Tonight, he’ll publicly punish your attackers.”

Marcella gave me a small, tense smile. “Dad will make sure that this won’t happen again.” I took her hand and kissed her palm then bent down to whisper. “Maybe you know of a way to make me forget the shock and pain until then?”

Marcella rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the flicker of excitement in them. “Maybe.”