Chapter Eight

Where I Stand

Willow

"To what do I owe this honor?" the smokey voice questions after answering my call.

"I need someone I can trust." I don't hold back. Dealing with someone like Diego is always easier when they know what you want. Beating around the bush is liable to have you stepping in a steaming pile of shit.

"How do you know you can trust me?" I can hear the smile in his voice.

"I trust your love of money. And I know I am willing to pay whatever your fee is."

A smirk of my own blooms across my face at his silence. Rafe may have Dom, a relationship built out of years of trust and going through hell together to build the Gallo Mafia Empire. But I have something else.

Now that Sebastian is dead, the Hernandez family has fallen back to me until Roman comes of age in two years, and that includes the financial freedom I need to start rebuilding the Hernandez empire.

"And you think that will be enough? What of your husband? Is he not worthy of your trust?"

I bristle at his words and say a grateful prayer that no one can see me or my reactions.

"I don't need a confidant, Diego. I don't want you to hold my hand," I say in a voice that exudes more calm than I am feeling. "I need you to watch my back and keep me alive while I do what needs to be done. Are you interested or should I find someone else?"

"Are you still at Konnor Hennie's place?"

How the fuck does he know that? I shouldn't be surprised. This is what he does, after all, but it pisses me off that in less than twenty-four hours my hiding place has already been ferreted out. It won't be long before Rafe is banging on the door as well, making demands I can't meet.

"Yes."

"I'll be there in three hours." With that he ends the call.

I sit in the gilded chair with my burner phone resting on my lap. I take in my surroundings once more. Konnor's home is exactly that—a home. There are photographs everywhere in the living room where I am sitting. From the older generation in Ireland to the most recent, here in the city.

I hear noises coming from the kitchen and shake off all the thoughts in my mind, opting to go in search of food. Passing Konnor's office, I catch the end of the conversation when I hear Rafe's voice.

"Wherever Willow is, Rafe, I'm sure she made her own choices. It's up to you to understand those choices, and why she might make them," I hear Konnor say.

He has kept his word, not betraying my confidence in him.

"You're talking in riddles," Rafe says angrily and I hear a chair scrape against the hardwood floor. "If Willow is here, and you are holding her against her will, I will rip your world apart and kill everyone you love. Slowly."

My heartbeat accelerates as I wait for Konnor to speak. Will he bow to the threat in Rafe's voice and hand me over?

"I understand, and I would do the same for the ones I love. But Rafe, for her, would you kneel?"

What the fuck is he doing? Rafe has too much pride to ever give in to something so outrageous. It wouldn't matter either. What we had was a beautiful dream but the reality is far murkier. There cannot be an us. Too much is broken in both of us for that to ever be a possibility.

"I will do whatever it takes to claim my wife and bring her home."

My heart sings at his words and I almost run to him. My senses kick in at the last possible moment and I slip back into the living room to listen as Rafe stomps out of Konnor's house before continuing my trek to the kitchen. Konnor nods as I pass his open office door but I don't give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him. He's a fucker, has been since we were children and if I had any other option I sure as shit wouldn't be here.

As soon as Diego gets here, I will be heading home. My home.

"I heard you were staying with us," Mary Hennie says when I walk into the kitchen. "But I thought my son had finally lost his mind."

She smiles brightly, arms open to receive me as we hug each other. Mary Hennie hasn't changed much from the woman I grew up knowing. Yes, there are a few more gray hairs streaking her flaming mane, and the crows' feet around her eyes have deepened. But Konnor and Devon's mother is still breathtakingly beautiful.

"I'm leaving today," I say once she releases me from her embrace.

She nods before sliding a sandwich in my direction. "Eat something," she commands. "You are too skinny."

I smile, remembering all the times she has said the exact same words to me before taking a bite. A comfortable silence falls over us as Mary prepares a second sandwich before eating.

"Heard you got married," she mentions, trying to act innocent.

"You know I know who actually heads this family?" I ask with a raised brow. "You know more than Konnor can ever imagine."

Head thrown back, she laughs loudly. "Don't tell him that." She winks and I smile.

"What do you want to know?" I ask after finishing the last bite.

"I know what I need to know. But you need to remember this world isn't built for us women. I only want you to be safe, dear."

"I will. But I can't go back and be the dutiful little wife." Mary gives me a dark look and I raise my hands in the air. "I didn't mean any disrespect. But you loved your husband and ruled by his side. Rafe … he wants me to know my place."

"And where is that?"

"I'll let you know once I figure it out."

****

"There's a man here for you," Konnor says a couple of hours later, standing in the doorway to the room I have been using.

He looks angry and disgusted. I know what he is thinking.

"Kiss my ass, Hennie," I seethe, grabbing my cell and shouldering him out of the way.

"Is this why you left him then?"

Turning on my heel, my palm connects with the side of his face before I consider my actions. Both of us are breathing hard glaring at one another as Konnor looms over me, madness dancing in his gaze.

"I'm not some whore," I spit the words at him. "Not that it's any of your fucking business but I need someone to watch my back."

"Take one of my men."

"Yes." I roll my eyes at his stupidity. "I left one man only to end up under another's thumb."

"Willow…"

"Fucking don't," I cut him off. "I need to do this for me. On my own. We've been friends since I can remember but I won't hesitate to go against you, Konnor. I'm done letting the men in my life make decisions for me."

A wide smile spreads across his face before he hugs me.

"You're going to make all our lives so much more difficult. But I can't wait to see what you become."

"You're nuts," I say with a chuckle.

"You of all people know that best."

Taking my hand, he hooks my arm through the crook of his and leads me outside to the black Range Rover standing in the street. Diego watches us intently, taking stock of each movement and filing it away for later. His dark hair is slicked back from his olive-toned face. His strong jaw is covered by a light stubble. He is dressed in all black from his suit to his shirt and even his tie. I can see the bulge of his gun at his hip and I almost smile at his stoic demeanor. He is a perfect asshole and exactly the type of person I need at my side.

"Keep her safe," Konnor says to Diego as he places a kiss on my cheek. His gaze slides to me. "Call me if you need anything."

I don't say a word before slipping into the passenger seat and closing the door. Diego joins me before pulling away from the curb.

"Where do you want to go, Boss?"

"Home, Diego. It's time for me to reclaim my birthright. And we have some housecleaning to do."

He nods and turns in the direction of the Hernandez compound. Today will be the first time in years that I have returned to my family home voluntarily and without fear. I stare at the massive building as the car pulls to a stop. Neither of us move to go inside, Diego waiting to follow my lead.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks softly.

Turning to face him I see a softness I wasn't expecting from a man with his reputation.

"Honestly? No. But I need to do this."

"Then let's do it."

Diego hops out and stalks around the hood to open my door. He extends his hand to help me out as the door at the top of the steps opens. A man I vaguely remember stares at me in shock as I make my way toward him.

"Mrs. Gallo." He lowers his head in reverence.

"Stop kissing my ass." I cut him off as my borrowed sneakers squeak across the pristine white tiles that line the entryway. "Gather every man that still says they are part of this family and meet me at the pool. You have fifteen minutes."

I don't wait for him to reply before I head in the direction of the office my father used as his refuge. My uncle's stench hangs in the air and I push the windows open to their limit, hoping to air out the room. I busy myself moving items around, stacking pages upon pages of paperwork in a pile for me to work through later as Diego stands silently in the corner.

"It's time," he says after glancing at his watch.

Nodding, I follow him through the house toward the patio where the pool is located. The gathered men turn toward me with curiosity written across their features. I stare at the group. This isn't nearly enough for what I plan to do but Rome wasn't built in a day.

"Do you know who I am?" I ask loudly.

Some nod. Others look confused.

"I run this family." My words have an air of finality. "Anyone that has a problem with that can leave now."

A couple of men turn and leave. I fully expected this. Men don't follow the orders of women in our world.

"The rest of you," I say, waiting until they focus their attention on me once more. "You will be taken care of. Things are going to change. I will not run this family the way my uncle did. The Hernandez name needs to be restored to its former glory. But heed my fucking words. If you betray me I will kill you. Things will not be easier because I am a woman."

A murmur of discontent goes through the gathering. Tommy, the little mouse that has caused so many problems in all our households, steps forward.

"You've got a set of balls, lady," he says, full of bravado and stupidity. "You can't lead anything … except to lead men around by their dicks with your cunt. I could kill you now and not one of these men would do a damn thing to stop me."

Some of the men gathered chuckle, and I know this is the moment to drive my point home.

My hand waves to stop Diego from moving forward. Yes, I hired him to keep me alive but Tommy isn't a threat to me or anyone else. Stepping up to him I hold his gaze waiting for him to do something.

"I am Willow Hernandez Gallo. You don't know what I am capable of."

My hand shoots out, the blade of my father's knife slicing across his throat. I found it in his office and slipped it into my pocket not knowing that I would need it. Tommy's hand goes to his throat where his life force is spilling out. He falls to his knees, gurgling, before I kick him in his chest and send him sprawling. Moments later, vacant eyes stare at the clear azure sky above us.

"Anyone else have something to say?" I ask calmly.

When no one speaks up or steps forward I turn to the man that greeted us at the door earlier. "What is your name?"

"Silas. Silas deMarco."

"And what did you do for my uncle?"

"Nothing. I was a foot soldier," he says. "But your father used me as a cleaner. A fixer."

A demented smile spreads across my face before I can stop it.

"Perfect. Wrap Tommy up and send him to Raphael Gallo. Add a note saying his mouse problem has been taken care of."

I walk away, cleaning the blade of the knife on my sweatshirt before handing it to Diego.

"So, you will lead by fear?" he asks once we are out of earshot of the other men.

"Respect, loyalty, fear, I don't care. They will remember me."