26. Angelo

26

ANGELO

F uck. Fuck. Fuck.

I feel the rage explode inside me, a white-hot fury that threatens to consume everything. The sight of Lou, bound and terrified, makes my blood boil. How the fuck did this happen? I walked her to school myself this morning.

My mind races, already planning the hell I’m going to rain down on that school. They’ll be lucky if all I do is sic my lawyers on them. Private school, armed guards, whatever it takes to keep Lou safe after this.

But first, we need to get out of this alive.

“Let them go, Gino,” I growl, fighting to keep my voice steady. “They’re innocent in all this. This is between you and me.”

Gino’s laugh is cold, cruel. “Absolutely not. They’re my insurance policy. Especially little Lucille here.”

He runs a finger down Lou’s cheek, and I see Fee thrash against her bonds, her muffled screams of rage and fear tearing at my heart. Lou whimpers, trying to pull away from Gino’s touch.

I’m ready to burn this whole place to the ground, to tear Gino apart with my bare hands. But Romero subtly shakes his head, reminding me to keep my cool. We can't afford to make a wrong move, not with Lou and Fee's lives on the line.

I take a deep breath, forcing the rage down. “You win, Gino,” I say, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “Let them go, and it’s all yours.”

Gino's eyes light up with triumph. “ Now we’re talking. But I’m afraid the price has gone up, Pirelli. You took too long to see reason.”

My stomach drops. “What do you want?”

“Perfezione, of course. Your cars. Fucina.” Gino's smile widens. “ And your territory. All of it.”

The room goes silent. I can feel Romero’s eyes on me, waiting to see how I’ll respond. Fee’s muffled sobs are the only sound.

I expected Perfezione, the cars, and Fucina. We have paperwork drawn up for it. But my territory?

Everything I’ve built, everything I’ve fought for, my father’s legacy… gone. But as I look at Lou’s terrified face, at Fee’s desperate eyes, I know there’s no choice to make.

“Done,” I say, my voice hollow. “Now let them go.”

Gino claps his hands together. “Excellent! But first, let’s make this official, shall we?”

He nods to his henchman, who produces a document from his jacket. “Sign this. It transfers everything to me. Legally and irrevocably.”

I keep my face impassive, but inside, my heart is racing. This is it. The moment of truth.

I give a subtle nod to Romero, who reaches into his jacket and pulls out the documents Genesis prepared. I silently thank her for her meticulous work as I hand them to Gino.

Gino takes the papers, his face twisting with disgust as if he’s being handed garbage. “What the fuck are these, Pirelli?”

I force my voice to remain calm, bored even. “They’re legal documents consenting to the swap and transferring over the 4.9 million. Just like you asked.”

Gino's eyes narrow suspiciously. “How do I know I can trust you? How do I know these are real?”

I shrug, fighting to keep my nonchalant fa?ade. “You don’t. But they’re all you’re getting. Take it or leave it.”

The tension in the room is palpable. I can feel Fee’s eyes on me, can hear Lou’s muffled whimpers. Everything hinges on this moment. On Gino’s greed outweighing his suspicion.

Gino studies the documents, his brow furrowed. I hold my breath, praying that Genesis’ work is as good as it always is. One mistake, one flaw, and this whole plan falls apart.

“These look… official,” Gino mutters, flipping through the pages.

“They are,” I say, injecting a note of impatience into my voice. “Now, are we doing this or not? I thought you wanted to wrap this up quickly.”

Gino’s eyes flick between the documents and me. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, greed warring with caution.

“Fine,” he says finally. “But if these turn out to be fake…”

“They’re not,” I interrupt. “Now, let Fee and Lou go.”

Gino hesitates, and for a moment, I think he’s going to refuse. But then he nods to his henchman. “Untie the kid after Pirelli and Saldano sign the documents.”

I sign the documents, watching as Fee is released from her restraints and does the same. Gino’s triumphant smile makes my stomach turn, but I keep my face impassive.

“And Fucina?” Gino demands.

I give him an address. “Meet the guy there. He’ll handle the transfer.”

Gino studies the documents, his smile growing wider. “Perfect. You know, Pirelli, I almost feel bad for you. Almost.”

The henchman unties Lou, and for a moment, I allow myself to hope. But then Gino speaks again, his voice casual but deadly.

“Oh, did I forget to mention? I lied. Oops. You’re all going to die here today. Can’t leave any loose ends. I imagine you’ll understand.”

Time slows down. I see the henchman reach for his gun. In one fluid motion, I dive behind a crate, bullets splintering the wood around me. Across the room, Romero’s engaged in a fierce firefight, his precision shots dropping Gino’s men one by one.

“Fee, Lou, get down!” I yell, firing at a henchman who's trying to flank Romero.

More of Gino’s men pour into the room, and I realize we’re outnumbered. But I planned for this.

“Now, Jimbo! Now, Marco!” I shout.

The door bursts open, and Jimbo and Marco storm in, guns blazing. Blood sprays as their bullets find their marks, Gino's men falling in gruesome displays.

I see a henchman aiming at Fee and Lou. Without hesitation, I put a bullet between his eyes, his head snapping back in a mist of red.

Marco’s engaged in brutal hand-to-hand, his fist crushing a henchman’s windpipe. Jimbo takes a shot to the shoulder but keeps firing, his bullets tearing through flesh and bone.

Romero’s voice cuts through the chaos. “Boss, on your left!”

I spin, firing instinctively. The henchman’s chest explodes, blood and viscera splattering the walls.

The room is a war zone. Bullets fly, shattering crates and ricocheting off walls. I see Marco duck and roll, taking out a henchman with a well-placed shot. Jimbo provides covering fire, allowing Romero to advance.

I spot Fee and Lou huddled behind a fallen table. “Stay down!” I yell, taking out another henchman who was getting too close to them.

Romero’s voice cuts through the chaos. “Boss, on your right!”

Another of Gino’s men falls.

The air is thick with gun smoke and the acrid smell of cordite. I hear Lou’s terrified screams, Fee’s muffled shouts. I need to get to them, but the firefight is too intense.

Jimbo takes a hit to the shoulder but keeps firing. Marco’s running low on ammo, forced to engage in hand-to-hand with a henchman.

Bullets ricochet, shattering bones and ripping through bodies. The floor becomes slick with blood, the air filled with screams and gurgling last breaths.

Romero takes down two more men with precise shots, but then I see him stumble, blood blooming on his shirt. But he grits his teeth, continuing to fire with deadly accuracy.

Jimbo’s down to his last clip, each shot counting. Marco’s face is a mask of blood, none of it his own, as he snaps another neck.

Through the chaos, I spot Gino trying to sneak away. You fucking coward. Not this time, you bastard . I launch myself at him, tackling him to the ground. His gun skitters across the floor.

Gino and I grapple on the floor, trading vicious blows. I feel my lip split under his fist, taste the coppery tang of blood. But I give as good as I get, landing a solid hit to his jaw that sends his head snapping back.

We roll across the floor, smashing into debris from the gunfight. Glass cuts into my back, but I barely feel it through the adrenaline. Gino tries to gouge my eyes, and I barely twist away in time, his nails raking down my cheek instead.

I manage to get on top, raining down punches. I feel Gino’s nose break under my fist, blood spraying. But he’s not done. He bucks his hips, throwing me off balance, and suddenly, he’s on top again.

His hands find my throat, squeezing. Black spots dance in my vision as I struggle for air. In desperation, I slam my forehead into his face. There’s a sickening crunch, Gino cries out, and his grip loosens.

I gasp for air, rolling us over again. We’re both bloody messes now, barely recognizable. I land a solid hit to his ribs, feeling something crack. Gino howls in pain but manages to knee me in the groin.

The pain is blinding. I double over, and Gino seizes the opportunity. He grabs a piece of broken wood, swinging it at my head. I barely dodge, the jagged edge opening a gash on my temple instead of caving in my skull.

Blood pours down my face, half-blinding me. Gino presses his advantage, landing blow after blow. I feel ribs crack, taste more blood.

Somehow, I find the strength to fight back. I catch his arm mid-swing, twisting until I hear a pop. Gino screams, the makeshift weapon falling from his useless hand.

We’re both running on fumes now, more animal than man. We trade sloppy, desperate punches, each hoping the other will fall first.

But Gino’s fresher. He hasn’t been fighting off henchmen. With a final surge of energy, he manages to flip me onto my back, straddling me.

“I’ve won, Pirelli!” he snarls, his face a mask of blood and fury. One eye is swollen shut, his nose a crushed mess. “I’ve taken everything from you, and now I’ll take your life!”

His hands find my throat again. I try to fight back, but my arms feel like lead. My vision starts to darken.

This is it, I think. This is how it ends .

And I never got to tell Fee that I love her. That I know about the baby.

But then I hear it. A gunshot, deafening in the sudden quiet. Gino’s body stiffens, his grip loosening. His one good eye widens in shock as he topples sideways.

And there, standing behind him, is Fee. She’s holding a gun in her shaking hands, her face a mixture of fury and determination. Blood and soot streak her cheeks, her dark hair wild. She’s the most beautiful fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

As the darkness finally claims me, my last thought is that she looks like an avenging angel, come to earth to deliver justice.

Then everything goes black.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I’m sitting across from my father in our favorite deli, just like we used to. He looks exactly as I remember—salt and pepper hair neatly combed, kind brown eyes crinkling at the corners, his ever-present gold watch glinting on his wrist. He’s talking animatedly, gesturing with his hands the way he always did when he was excited about something.

But I can’t hear him. That damn beeping is drowning out his words.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Dad laughs at something, throwing his head back. It’s a sound I’ve missed so much, but it’s muffled, distant. Frustration builds in me. I want to hear him, to understand what he’s saying.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The noise is driving me fucking insane. I’m about to scream when suddenly, Dad leans forward, his eyes meeting mine. For the first time, I hear him clearly.

“I’m proud of you, Son.”

My eyes snap open. The deli is gone, replaced by stark white walls and the antiseptic smell of a hospital room. Wires and tubes snake from my body to various machines, including the one responsible for that infernal beeping.

Panic sets in. I try to sit up, to rip out the wires, but a gentle hand stops me.

“Angelo, no. It’s okay. You’re safe.”

Fee’s face comes into focus. She looks exhausted, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. It’s clear she’s been crying. But as our eyes meet, relief washes over her features.

“Thank God you’re awake,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I thought… I was afraid…”

She can’t finish the sentence, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. I want to comfort her, to tell her everything’s alright, but my throat is dry, my voice refusing to cooperate.

Instead, I squeeze her hand weakly, hoping she understands. From the way she smiles through her tears, I think she does.

Memories come rushing back. The gunfight. Gino. Fee standing there with a gun…

The beeping that annoyed me in my dream now serves as a reassuring reminder. I’m alive . We survived .

“How long…?” I manage to croak out, my throat dry and raw.

Fee’s hand tightens around mine. “Two days. You’ve been out for two days. I’ve been here the whole time.”

I try to nod, but even that small movement sends pain shooting through my body. “Lou? The boys?”

Fee’s eyes soften. “Lou’s physically fine. She’s with Shawn now. I… I’ll need to find her a good trauma therapist, but she’s safe. Jimbo, Romero, and Marco are okay too. Banged up, but nothing serious.” Her voice breaks. “You… you got the worst of it, Angelo.”

I can see the tears welling up in her eyes. “I was so angry at you,” she whispers. “For manipulating me with that fake text from Edie. But then… then I thought you were going to die and I…” She chokes back a sob. “Goddammit, Angelo. You stupid, reckless, fucking infuriating man. Don’t you ever do that to me again, you hear me?”

Despite the pain, I can’t help but smile. “I deserve that,” I rasp. “But I won’t apologize. It was to keep you safe.”

Fee shakes her head, but I can see the ghost of a smile on her lips. “Stubborn, as always.”

A thought occurs to me, and I tense. “Gino?”

Fee’s expression hardens. “Disposed of. Genesis took care of it. She even set fire to his car to cover our tracks. The Pirellis can’t be linked to any of it.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It’s over. We’re safe.

“Fee,” I say, my voice stronger now. “I need you to know… everything I did, every choice I made… it was all for you and Lou. I couldn’t let Gino hurt you.”

Fee’s eyes fill with tears again, but this time, I see something else there too. Understanding. Maybe even forgiveness.

“I know,” she whispers. “I know, Angelo. And I… thank you. For everything.”

She leans down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

I take a deep breath, wincing at the pain in my ribs. “Fee, there’s something we need to talk about. The baby.”

Her face goes white. “How… how did you know?”

I can’t help but smile, despite the situation. “You might want to work on Lou’s secret-keeping skills.”

Fee’s expression is a mix of shock and exasperation that makes me laugh, but the movement sends a sharp pain through my body. “Ah, shit,” I curse, grimacing.

Fee’s by my side in an instant, concern etched on her face. “Are you okay? Should I call the nurse?”

I shake my head, taking her hand. “No, I’m fine. This is more important.” I meet her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She looks away, biting her lip. “I… I was scared. It brought up a lot of ugly feelings that I thought I had worked through when I was pregnant with Lou. And with everything going on with Gino, I didn’t want to complicate things further.”

“Fee,” I say softly, “you and Lou, you’re not complications. You’re everything. I love you.”

Her eyes meet mine, filled with unshed tears. “You can still love me even with all this baggage? The trauma, the danger?”

I squeeze her hand. “Especially with all that. We’ve been through hell together, Fee. I think we can handle a baby.”

She laughs, a sound caught between a sob and a chuckle. “God, we’re a mess, aren’t we?”

“Maybe,” I admit. “But we’re a mess together. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Fee leans in, resting her forehead against mine. “So, we’re really doing this? Us, a baby, the whole package?”

I nod, ignoring the twinge of pain. “We are. It won’t be perfect, but…”

“But we’ll be perfect for each other,” Fee finishes.

I wince. “Christ, Fee, that was corny as fuck.”

She rolls her eyes. “Fuck off, Pirelli, and kiss me.”

I waggle a finger at her. “Not yet. See, I told you that I love you. I won’t kiss you until I hear those four little words back.”

“Fucking kiss me, asshole,” she shoots back, a smile on her face. “I love you too.”

As I pull her in for a gentle kiss, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. We’ve got a long road ahead—recovery, rebuilding, raising a family in this complicated world of ours. But for the first time, I’m not afraid of the future.

Because whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

A few days later, I’m finally allowed to escape the goddamn hospital. I’m still injured, but I’m not in any grave danger, so I managed to persuade the attending to let me go.

As I step through the front door, a blur of blonde hair and excitement comes hurtling toward me.

“Angelo!” Lou cries, nearly tackling me in her enthusiasm.

I grunt in pain, staggering slightly. “Careful, Lou,” Fee says gently. “Angelo’s still healing, remember?”

Lou immediately backs off, looking guilty. “Oh, yeah. Sorry, I forgot.”

“It’s okay, Louisville,” I assure her, ruffling her hair. “I’m just glad to see you too.”

With Fee and Lou’s help, I make my way to the couch, easing myself down with a sigh of relief.

“How are you doing, Lou?” I ask, patting the spot next to me.

She sits down, her face growing serious. “I’m okay. But… I’ve been having nightmares.”

My heart clenches. Fuck, this kid has been through so much in her short life. “That’s normal after what you went through. Want to know a trick that might help?”

Lou nods eagerly.

“When you have a nightmare, try to change the ending. Make yourself the hero of the story. It might not work right away, but with practice, it can help.”

Lou’s eyes light up. “Like how you and Mom were the heroes?”

I smile, touched by her words. “Exactly like that.”

There’s a moment of silence, then Lou speaks again, her voice soft. “Angelo… you’ve always been there for me. Even when things were scary. You’re… you’re like a dad to me.”

My breath catches in my throat. Lou continues, her eyes meeting mine. “Would it be okay if… if I called you Dad?”

I feel tears prick at my eyes. All my life, I’ve pushed love away, thinking it made me weak, thinking I didn’t deserve it. But in this moment, I realize how wrong I've been.

“Lou,” I say, my voice thick with emotion, “I would be honored if you called me Dad.”

She throws her arms around me, gentler this time. As I hold her close, I catch Fee’s eye. She’s watching us, tears streaming down her face.

In that moment, I know. This is what I’ve been fighting for all along. This family, this love. It doesn’t make me weak. It makes me stronger than I’ve ever been.

And I’ll spend the rest of my life protecting and cherishing it.