12. Angelo

12

ANGELO

T he moment Fee ends the call, rage courses through me like molten lava. I told her to take Marco. I fucking told her, and she refused. Now look at what’s happened.

With a roar of frustration, I slam my fist into the nearest wall. Pain explodes across my knuckles, but I barely register it through the haze of anger and fear.

Genesis raises an eyebrow, paint splattered on her forehead. “Did that make you feel more like a man?” she asks dryly.

I whirl on her, snarling, “Not now, Genesis. This isn’t the time for your fucking sarcasm. Jonah fucking killed someone in front of Fee and threatened to take Lou!”

She holds up her hands in mock surrender, but I can see the concern in her eyes. She knows me well enough to recognize when I’m truly rattled.

“Marco!” I shout, already striding toward the door. “We need to get the hell out of here. Now .”

Marco appears instantly, keys in hand. “Where to, Boss?”

“Perfezione,” I snap, yanking open the car door. “And step on it.”

As we tear through the streets of New York, Marco probably breaks every speeding law on the books. But I couldn’t care less. The Pirellis have half the NYPD in our pocket, anyway.

My mind races faster than the car, imagining all the worst-case scenarios. Fee, hurt or worse. Jonah getting to Lou before we can stop him. The thought makes my blood boil.

“Faster,” I growl, even though I know Marco’s already pushing the limits of what’s possible in city traffic.

I dial Romero, putting him on speaker. “Get to Lou’s school. Now. No one gets near her, you understand? No one.”

“On it, Boss,” Romero replies, no questions asked. That’s why I trust him with my life—and now, with Lou’s.

My heart nearly stops when we screech to a halt outside Perfezione. Police cars surround the place, their lights painting the street in alternating red and blue. For a moment, I’m paralyzed by the fear of what I might find inside.

But then I see her. Fee, wrapped in a shock blanket, talking to a detective. She’s pale and shaken, but alive . The relief that washes over me is so intense it’s almost painful.

I’m out of the car before Marco can fully stop, pushing past officers to get to her. “Fee!”

She turns at the sound of my voice, and the look in her eyes—a mixture of relief, fear, and something else I can’t quite name—nearly brings me to my knees.

“Angelo,” she whispers, and then she’s in my arms, trembling like a leaf in a storm.

I hold her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. “I’ve got you,” I murmur into her hair. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

Jonah will pay for this. And Gino, and anyone else who dares to threaten what’s mine.

Because that’s what Fee and Lou are now. Mine to protect. Mine to cherish.

And God help anyone who tries to take them from me.

Fee’s body shakes with sobs as she clings to me. Over her head, I watch grimly as a covered stretcher is wheeled out of Perfezione. Marco crosses himself, murmuring a quiet prayer.

A police officer approaches us. “Mr. Pirelli? I’m Detective Ramirez. We’d like to ask Ms. Saldano a few more questions.”

I shake my head. “Not now. She’s been through enough. You can contact her lawyer for any further inquiries.”

The detective looks like he wants to argue but thinks better of it. “Very well. We’ll be in touch.”

Gently, I guide Sofia toward Marco. “Take her to the car,” I instruct. “I need to make a call.”

As Marco leads Sofia away, I pull out my phone and dial a number I rarely use.

“Valentino? It’s Angelo. I need a favor.”

Don Valentino Barrone’s gravelly voice comes through. “Must be serious if you’re calling me, Pirelli. What do you need?”

“Everything you can get on a guy named Jonah Ansel. He’s dangerous, and he’s after someone I care about.”

There’s a pause, then Valentino’s voice lowers. “This have anything to do with the incident at Perfezione?”

I clench my jaw. “You heard about that already?”

“News travels fast in our circles, Angelo. You know that.” He sighs heavily. “Alright, I’ll see what I can dig up. But you owe me one.”

“Done,” I agree without hesitation. “How soon can you get me the information?”

“Give me an hour. Meet Cecilia at the usual spot. She’ll have what you need.”

I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Thanks, Valentino. I appreciate it.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he warns. “And Angelo? Be careful. This Jonah character sounds like bad news.”

“I will,” I assure him before ending the call.

I turn back to the car where Sofia sits, her face pale and tear-stained. My heart clenches at the sight. I’ve faced down rival families, corrupt cops, and cutthroat businessmen, but seeing Fee like this… it’s tearing me apart.

As I slide into the backseat next to her, she looks at me with red-rimmed eyes. “What now?” she whispers.

I take her hand, squeezing it gently. “Now, we fight back. I’ve got someone digging up information on Jonah. He’s not going to get anywhere near Lou.”

She nods, leaning her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close.

“Marco,” I call to the front seat. “Take us home. We’ve got an hour before we need to move again.”

I can’t help but glance back at the shop as we pull away from Perfezione. The place that means so much to Fee, now a crime scene.

We’ll get through this , I tell myself. We’ll rebuild. And Jonah? He’ll regret the day he ever set foot in our lives.

Because now it’s personal. And when it’s personal, I don’t hold back.

An hour later, Marco pulls up to a nondescript brownstone in Brooklyn. The peeling paint and overgrown shrubs give it the appearance of just another neglected property, but I know better. This is one of the Barrone family’s many safe houses, a place where business too sensitive for prying eyes gets conducted.

Fee looks at me questioningly as we exit the car. “What is this place?”

“Somewhere we can get answers,” I reply, guiding her up the worn steps. Marco takes up position outside, ever vigilant.

Inside, the contrast is stark. Plush carpets muffle our footsteps, and tasteful artwork adorns the walls. We’re led to a study at the back of the house, where Cecilia Barrone, Valentino’s step-sister, awaits us.

Cecilia is a study in contradictions. Her tailored suit screams corporate shark, but the vibrant tattoos peeking out from her collar hint at a wilder side. Her sharp green eyes assess us as we enter, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

“Angelo,” she greets me, then turns to Fee. “And you must be Sofia Saldano. I’ve heard… interesting things about you and your mother.”

Fee bristles slightly, but I place a calming hand on her back. “What have you got for us, Cecilia?”

Cecilia’s smirk fades as she opens a thick file on the desk. “Jonah Ansel. Age 29. And let me tell you, this guy’s a piece of fucking work.”

She spreads out several documents. “He was married, but his wife, Sarah, is currently in hiding from him. She has video affidavits on file for their divorce because she refuses to show up in person.”

Fee gasps softly beside me. I squeeze her hand reassuringly as Cecilia continues.

“Apparently, Jonah became obsessed with having children. When they couldn’t conceive, he started… fixating on other people’s kids.”

My jaw clenches. “What do you mean, fixating?”

Cecilia’s cat-like green eyes meet mine, hard and serious. “There was an incident at a park. Jonah started stalking a nanny and the kid she was watching. His wife managed to talk him down, but that was the last straw for her. She filed for divorce and disappeared the next day.”

I feel Fee trembling beside me. “Oh, God,” she whispers. “And now he’s after Lou…”

Cecilia nods grimly. “It gets worse. Jonah’s been diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder with psychotic features. He’s been off his meds for at least six months.”

“Jesus,” I mutter. “No wonder he’s so unstable.”

“There’s more,” Cecilia says, pulling out another document. “He’s made several attempts to adopt, all rejected due to his mental health history. When he found out about Lou…”

“It triggered a psychotic break,” I finish, the pieces falling into place.

Cecilia nods. “Exactly. He’s dangerous, Angelo. Unpredictable. And now that he’s killed…”

I close the file, my mind racing. “Thank you, Cecilia. This helps. And please, convey my thanks to Don Barrone as well.”

“Of course,” Cecilia replies smoothly, her sleek red hair gleaming in the light. “I hope this information helps. A restraining order might be a good start to slow Jonah down.”

Fee’s phone rings, breaking the tension. She glances at the screen, her brow furrowing. “It’s Nonno. I need to take this,” she says, stepping out of the room.

As soon as the door closes behind her, Cecilia’s demeanor shifts subtly. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, lock onto mine.

“You know, Angelo,” she begins, her voice deceptively casual, “I find it interesting how quickly you agreed to owe the Barrones a favor. That's not like you Pirellis. You’re usually so… stingy with your debts.”

I lean forward, my guard instantly up. “What exactly are you implying, Cecilia?”

She shrugs, a picture of innocence. “Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.” Her lips curl into a small smirk. “I just hope you’ll be able to follow through when the Barrones call in that favor.”

The unspoken threat hangs in the air between us. I know Valentino has the upper hand here, and from Cecilia’s smug expression, she knows it too. It grates on me, but I force myself to remain composed. I did what I had to do to protect Fee and Lou.

“A Pirelli always pays his debts,” I say evenly, meeting her gaze.

“Good to know,” Cecilia purrs, just as the door opens and Fee returns.

Cecilia’s demeanor shifts again, all warmth and hospitality. “Well, shall I walk you out?”

As we reach the front door, Cecilia turns to Fee. “Best of luck with everything, Sofia. With Jonah and…” —her eyes flick to me briefly— “Gino.”

Fee stiffens beside me at the mention of Gino’s name. As we walk to the car, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just made a deal with the goddamn devil.

Fuck it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

“Where do you want to go now, Boss?” Marco asks.

“To Genesis,” I respond. “We need to work out the solution to the Gino problem.”

Fee looks at me curiously. “What kind of solution?”

“Let’s wait until we get there. I want you to meet Genesis first.”

When we arrive at the studio, Fee’s eyes widen as she takes in the eclectic space.

“So, this is the face that launched a thousand ships,” Genesis says as she approaches us, wiping paint on the front of her pants. “I can see why. You’re beautiful.”

I roll my eyes as Fee’s brow furrows in confusion. “Marlowe, Genesis? Really?”

Genesis shrugs. “It’s the first thing that popped into my mind. Sue me.” She holds out her hand to Fee. “Genesis Alvarez. It’s so good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Fee looks impressed and a bit intimidated. Genesis herself is a striking figure, with her shaved head and intricate tattoos covering her burn scars. “All good things, I hope?”

Genesis laughs. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”

Marco bites back a laugh and turns to look at something interesting on the wall when I pivot to glare at him.

“So, what brings you here again, Angelo?” Genesis asks as she sits on a nearby stool and watches us with interest. “You ran out of here like a bat out of hell to rescue our Italian Helen of Troy.”

Fee blushes.

“We never got to finish our discussion about the counterfeit money,” I retort. “I have an idea, but I want your opinion.”

“Wait, what do you mean, counterfeit money?” Fee blurts out, her face whitening.

I outline my plan—print $10,000 in counterfeit bills, use that to buy stolen goods, then sell those for real cash. It’s risky, but it could get us the money fast.

To my surprise, Fee shakes her head. “I appreciate the thought, Angelo, but I can’t do that. I don’t want to rip anyone off, even to pay Gino.”

Genesis raises an eyebrow. “Girl’s got principles. How refreshing in this world. I like her, Angelo. She could teach Romero a thing or two.”

Fee bites her lip, thinking, “But you’ve given me an idea. What if we host a party when Perfezione reopens? Invite all my wealthiest clients and potential customers. We could have an auction, ask them to donate items. I could offer free services in exchange for their donations.”

I consider this. It’s less risky, more legal, and plays to Fee’s strengths. “That could work. We’d need to make it a can’t-miss event.”

Genesis nods enthusiastically. “I like it. It’s classy, it's smart, and it keeps your hands clean. Well, cleaner,” she adds with a smirk in my direction. She leans over. “What do you think, Marco?”

Marco gives a thumbs-up.

Fee’s eyes light up. “We could theme it around rebuilding, new beginnings. Play up the community angle. These people love feeling like they’re doing good while they spend money.”

I find myself grinning. This is the Fee I know—resourceful, determined, brilliant. “Count me in. I’ll donate one of my classic cars to the auction.”

Genesis’ jaw drops while Fee looks startled. “Damn, Pirelli. Those cars are your babies.”

I take Fee’s hand, squeezing it gently. “You and Lou are more important than any car.”

Genesis makes a gagging noise. “Ugh, you two are disgustingly cute. But I’m in too. I’ll donate some art pieces. My stuff’s getting pretty popular these days.”

Holy shit. This plan might just work. And more than that, seeing Fee come alive with excitement, I’m reminded of why I fell for her in the first place.

Whatever happens with Gino, with Jonah, we’ll face it together. And looking at Fee now, her eyes shining with determination, I know we’ll come out on top.

Because that’s what Pirellis do. And whether she knows it yet or not, Sofia Saldano is definitely a Pirelli now.