23. Lana

23

LANA

I sit at my desk as the events of the day replay in my mind like a broken record. The surprise search by police who were unable to conceal their contempt for me. The cold metal from the handcuffs biting into my skin. The feel of dickhead brushing up against me. That memory makes my stomach roil. What really rankles is that my staff, not just Carla but other staff, were witnesses.

I take a deep breath. This isn't the first time I've faced adversity, and it won't be the last. I'm Lana D'Amato, for Christ's sake. I've stared down men twice my size and made them quake in their boots. Let them come. Let them try to break me. They'll find nothing but frost and steel.

My mind drifts to Henry, and I push the thought away. I can't afford to be distracted by him now, no matter how much I want to believe his words. Trust is a luxury I can't afford in this game.

I stand, smoothing out the wrinkles in my skirt. There's work to be done, fires to put out. The D'Amato empire won't run itself, and I'll be damned if I let a bunch of trigger-happy cops derail me.

I power through the day, reviewing accounts, making decisions, and assuring my staff that all is well. At the end of the day, I'm exhausted and all too happy to return home. Maybe I'll take a long soak in the tub with a glass of wine or two.

I'm barely through the door when I'm accosted by Elio and Matteo. Their grim faces tell me everything I need to know before they even open their mouths.

"We're going to Rinella's. You need to come," Elio announces.

I know why this has to happen, but couldn't it wait? One look at Elio's dark, menacing expression tells me no, it can't wait. Duty calls.

"Give me five minutes to freshen up," I say, already moving toward the stairs.

"We don't have five minutes," Elio snaps. "The car's waiting."

I nod. "Okay." Wearily, I turn to go back out the door.

"We're not going to let this stand, Lana," Elio says.

"I know. I'm ready."

As we drive through the city streets, the car is quiet. It's a reminder to me of how intense Elio can be. For so long, he seemed to be a softie, especially when Piper came back into his life. I'd forgotten just how menacing he can be.

"Are you okay?" Matteo asks, sitting next to me in the back of the SUV.

Elio turns from the front passenger seat to look back at me. "Fuck… I should have asked that."

"I'm fine. Pissed off, of course."

"This is why hanging out with cops?—"

"That cop is the one who stopped what was going on." I bite my lip, hoping my impassioned defense of Henry won't give me away.

"Strange, unless it's a good cop, bad cop thing," Matteo says.

I have my own opinion that Henry didn't know those cops, but I don't say anything.

"I'm looking into all of them," Elio says.

I turn to look out the window as unease fills me. What will he find about Henry? Will it be something that proves just what a fool I've been?

When we arrive at the Rinellas', I step out of the car, the gravel crunching beneath my heels as I survey Rinella's ostentatious mansion. The tension in the air is palpable. Elio and Matteo flank me, their faces set in grim determination.

We're led into Rinella's study, where he sits behind his massive desk, his underboss standing next to him. Rinella's expression at our arrival is surprised, but not concerned.

"Ah, the D'Amatos. I wasn't expecting you."

Elio doesn't waste time with pleasantries. "Cut the bullshit, Vincenzo. What was that fucking stunt today?"

Rinella's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "What stunt?"

"Don't play coy. You're not one to hide your petty pranks."

Rinella sucks in a breath and stands, his eyes turning dark. "You're right. If I did something, I'd own up to it. Whatever you think I did?—"

"You fucking called the cops. Again. After we had an agreement."

I watch the exchange silently, my eyes narrowing as I study Rinella's face. He appears baffled. He's good, I'll give him that.

"I still don't know what you're talking about."

"Cops raided my downtown office. Cuffed my sister." Elio seethes, and it will only be a matter of moments before he reaches across Rinella's desk to throttle him. "You have a problem with me, Rinella, you take it out on me. Not on my sister."

Rinella's face contorts with anger. His voice rises, echoing off the opulent walls of his study. "How dare you come into my home and accuse me."

"Only a pussy ass coward comes after family," Elio sneers.

Rinella's door opens and his eighteen-year-old daughter, Ava, enters. Her eyes widen as she takes in the tense scene before her. She stops short. "Oh… sorry, I didn't know you had company."

The poor girl has no idea what she's just stumbled into. For a moment, I almost feel sorry for her.

Elio catches Matteo's eye, giving him a nod. In a quick move, Matteo grabs Ava, pulling her against him, one hand banding her body and arms, the other holding her neck. The girl lets out a startled gasp, her eyes wide in fear.

I want to object, but I won't dare do anything against Elio. Not in front of Rinella.

Rinella's underboss reacts instantly, his hand flying to his weapon.

"Don't!" Rinella says. "You could hit my daughter."

The air in the room grows thick with tension. My heart races in fear. Rinella has more men here, I'm sure of it. We could be outnumbered in an instant.

"Let her go," he growls, his voice low and dangerous.

I glance at Elio, silently questioning our next move. This is a precarious situation. One wrong move could send us tumbling into chaos. I hope he has a plan.

"How does it feel, Rinella, to have a member of your family threatened?"

"Fucking let her go, Elio."

"What? You don't seem to have any problem harassing me and what's mine. My sister was cuffed today, you fucking asshole. After you assured me that all was good between us."

"Maybe we can take a breath," I say, earning a glare from Elio.

But Rinella seems to hear me. He sucks in a deep breath and holds up his hands as if my brother is a skittish cat. "I assure you that whatever happened to Lana today was not my doing. Let my daughter go now, and I'll let this offense pass."

Elio's jaw tightens. "You think you can use the cops to harass us? To humiliate Lana?" Elio steps forward, and Rinella's man lifts his gun. My breath holds.

"Let me make this crystal clear. Any harm that comes to Lana, any more 'anonymous tips' to the police, will be considered an act of war."

Not long ago, I was harassing my brother for not being aggressive enough with Rinella. Right now, I'm worried this behavior might get us all killed in Rinella's office.

The tension in the room is suffocating. Rinella's man shifts nervously, unsure whether to act or stand down. Ava whimpers in Matteo's grip.

Taking a deep breath, my voice is steady and composed as I speak to Elio. "I believe he's received your message loud and clear. There's no need for further… demonstrations." I turn to Matteo, who's still holding Ava in a tight grip. "Matteo, release her. Now."

For a moment, Matteo hesitates, his eyes darting between me and Elio. I give him a subtle nod, silently conveying that it's okay to stand down. With obvious reluctance, he loosens his hold on Ava.

The girl doesn't waste a second. As soon as Matteo's arms drop, she bolts toward her father, her eyes wide with fear and shock. Rinella pulls her close, his protective stance at odds with the calculating look in his eyes.

I keep my expression neutral, but inside, I'm relieved. Although we're not out of the woods yet.

"I trust we understand each other now," Elio says.

Rinella gives a curt nod, but I don't imagine this tension is over. We leave, our lives intact.

I sit in silence as our car speeds away from Rinella's mansion. Elio and Matteo are equally quiet. Our fragile alliance with the Rinellas hangs by a thread now. We've made our point, but at what cost?

When we get home, I head to the kitchen, where Anna and Diana are working. I'm sure Piper and Elysse had dinner without us. Elio and Matteo will likely have dinner in Elio's office. I should probably join them, but I'm so tired.

"Can I have my dinner brought up to my room?" I ask.

"Of course," Diana says in her usual perky manner. Does she ever feel down? "I'll bring a bottle of wine up too."

"A woman who knows what I need." I exit and head up to my room. I have my dinner and take a long bath, drinking half the bottle of wine.

As I get into bed, my phone pings with a notification.

How are you?

I can't stop the smile on my lips at Henry's text. Yep, I've got it bad for a man I shouldn't want.

I type out my reply, Tired, but fine.

Good. Will you dream of me tonight?

My cheeks flush. Maybe. Will you dream of me?

You've featured in my dreams since I met you.

I have mixed feelings about statements like this. I mean, yes, the woman in me loves it when Henry talks like this. But we both know there's no use in developing this relationship into something more. There's no future in it unless Henry wants to join the dark side. He's too good for that. And I couldn't leave my family even if I wanted to.

It's official. I'm part of a tragic love story.