296

I had not heard from Dante in hours. My nerves were tense.
What if he hadn’t come back to me?
Remo Falcone could not be trusted. He was one of the worst monsters in our world. Dante was sure Remo wanted to continue his devious game to destroy us, but maybe he changed his mind and simply ended it all that day with a bullet in Dante’s head. It was Remo’s chance to kill three high-ranking members of the Outfit at once, and he would throw the Outfit into total darkness. He and Luke would attack and try to tear our territory apart. My eyes darted to Leonas who had climbed the tree in the garden of the safe house. Sofia and Anna were sitting on a blanket on the grass, talking. If the Outfit had fallen, what would have happened to them? I would have protected them with everything I had, but where could I escape? Everyone knew my face and we were surrounded by enemies. If I had to choose between Camorra and Family, I would have sought refuge with Luca. I did not like him, I trusted him even less, but he was more than just a monster if Aria could be trusted.
My children, especially my daughter and Sofia, would have been safer in his territory. Leonas. I closed my eyes. I had to stop considering the worst.
Footsteps creaked beside me on the porch and my eyes widened. Enzo lifted a cup of coffee for me.
I gave a small smile. “Thank you.”
He set the cup down on the coffee table beside me, then dropped into another chair on the porch. He had been separated from his family for long periods of time because he supervised my family in Minneapolis, but he never complained.
“Have you heard from Dante?” I asked, although I knew I hadn’t.
He shook his head. “They’ll be fine.”
I nodded. Anna began braiding Sofia’s long hair and sang “Somewhere Qver the Rainbow.” My heart was pounding in my chest. That day would not mark the end of this conflict. It was only the starting point. Dante would seek revenge no matter what I said. The Outfit longed for blood.
This war would be resumed. It would kill many, and leave even more scars, emotionally and physically.
Yesterday Anna had turned eleven, an age when the future shone with hope before you, but all I could think about was how to protect my girl from the horrors of this world. Who could say if Remo would not try his luck again and this time kidnap my girl?
A small sound escaped my lips.
Enzo shot me a look, his dark eyebrows coming together.
He had turned fifty this year, and his age showed on his sun-scarred face. Gray sprinkled his hair and eyebrows.
Taft was even older. They were good bodyguards. Dutiful and vigilant. I trusted them but we needed fresh blood and more protection.
“I want a bodyguard for each of my sons,” I said.
Once Leonas was older, Dante would insist that he could protect himself but for now he, like Anna, needed a bodyguard to protect only him. Taft had taken Leonas to school and protected him there while Enzo had guarded our house with some men who were responsible for the general perimeter.
“You mean a bodyguard who is specifically assigned to one of them and only pays attention to his protege.”
“Yes.” Anna sang another song, a sadder tune that I did not recognize . “Especially for Anna. After Serafina’s kidnapping, I want her safe. She is growing so fast and we can’t lock her up forever. She needs someone to be by her side all the time.”
Enzo nodded. “Some of my men would be good options.”
I knew the men who guarded our house and they were good, but I wanted more for Anna. I wanted someone who was more ruthless. Someone who would not hesitate to choose the most brutal option if it meant protecting my daughter.
“Do you want someone else?” asked Enzo.
“Who are the most dangerous men in the Outfit?”
Enzo thought about it. “Obviously I can only consider soldiers.”
“Sure.”
“If we were to judge only by combat skills and level of brutality, definitely Arturo and Santino. They are Dante’s Enforcers for a reason.”
“Okay.”
Enzo shook his head. “I have to be honest, Valentina.
Arturo is too… deranged to be a bodyguard.”
“What about your son?”
“Santino is not like me. He is dutiful, but he chose the job of Enforcer for a reason. He likes the thrill and brutality .”
“Would he be a good protector for Anna? Would he keep her safe?”
“I’m sure it would be an honor for him,” she said after a moment’s thought. “I can talk to him.”
“Please do, and once back in Chicago I would like to have a word with him as well. I’m sure Dante will do the same.
Protecting our daughter is not something that can be taken lightly.
“Of course not,” agreed Enzo.
I hoped Dante would agree with my choice, but he always said he cared about my opinion and that I thought I would be a good Councilor, so I might as well make important decisions.
My phone rang. I lunged for it on the table and brought it to my ear with trembling fingers. “Dante?” I gasped.
“Val, we’re in the mansion. We’re all okay.”
I let go a shuddering breath. Sofia and Anna rushed toward me and even Leonas came down from the tree. “And Fina?” I whispered.
“She’s fine, physically as far as I know, but …” He sighed . “Can you come with the children?”
“Sure. We’ll get ready now.”
“I need to see you,” he said quietly, steeped in worry and weariness.
“I love you,” I said. Enzo looked away, trying to pretend not to hear me. I usually avoided these kinds of emotional exclamations when other people were around, but at that moment I didn’t care if the whole world was listening.
I could hear voices in the background. Dante cleared his throat.
“We’ll be there soon,” I promised, then hung up.
Anna and Sofia spoke at the same time. “Was that Dad?”
“Where’s Fina?”
I turned a quivering smile to them. “They are at your house, Sofia. Everyone is fine.”
Sofia and Anna jumped up and down, clapping, and even Leonas fell in.
I relaxed for the first time that day. Whatever lay ahead, we would get through it.
The moment we set foot in the mansion, Sofia rushed into the living room, from where voices were coming. Leonas, Anna and I followed her at a slower pace. Inside we found Sofia hugging Peter tightly, sitting on his lap. He and Dante sat on the couch, talking. Samuel, Danilo and Ines were not present. Anna and Leonas also rushed forward and squeezed into Dante’s side. He hugged them, but his smile remained strained. I approached. “Where is the rest?”
“Serafina is taking a shower,” Dante said in a strange tone of voice. My stomach swelled as Pietro blanched and the meaning behind the words registered with me. “Samuel is upstairs with her. Ines is in the kitchen, cleaning, and Danilo is in one of the guest rooms.”
“Maybe I should go check on Ines,” I said softly. Dante nodded. His eyes met mine for a moment and I wanted nothing more than to throw myself into his arms as Leonas and Anna had done. Instead, I turned and went looking for Ines.
I found her furiously rubbing a cutting board. It was stained from use and impossible to restore to its previous state, but Ines cleaned it vigorously, tears streaking her face, her blond hair half loosened from its ponytail. I walked over and took the brush from her.
Her hands were red. She looked into my eyes and I had to blink to hold back the tears.
I hugged her and she buried her face in my neck, sobbing. After a few minutes of crying, she swallowed loudly. “Fina has her marks on her throat…. She was wearing her wedding dress and it was torn and bloody, and she looked so … destroyed. He destroyed her, Val. He-he raped her.”
I bit my lip. “Did you send for a doctor?”
“Fina doesn’t want to be examined.”
I nodded. Wasn’t that how many rape victims reacted?
Their shame was too strong. “Fina is as strong as you Ines.
She will overcome this.”
“I hope so. God, I hope so.”
Peter and I left the office to give Serafina a moment to talk to Danilo. Samuel leaned against the wall opposite the door but straightened up with a frown when I closed the door.
“You left her alone with Danilo?”
Peter rubbed his forehead. “She insisted.”
“Danilo and Serafina need to talk,” I said.
Samuel stared at me. “She can’t marry him. She’s not the girl she used to be.”
I said nothing, but I feared he was right. Danilo still wanted Serafina and according to our rules he was entitled to her, but a marriage seemed unlikely given Serafina’s emotional state .
“She will recover,” Pietro said. “They can still get married next year when she is healed.”
I wasn’t sure Serafina would soon get over what had happened. We didn’t even know exactly what she would have to endure. Maybe we never would.
Ines hurried toward us. “Is Fina with you?”
“In my office talking to Danilo,” Pietro said. Ines stopped beside him, looking eager to get inside to check on her daughter.
A few minutes later, Danilo emerged, a somber look on his face and Serafina’s engagement ring in his flat palm, like a reminder of what he once was. He looked up. “Serafina, you will not marry me.” Her eyes met mine. “I have to talk to my father.”
She strided away, pulling out her phone.
“I need to talk to her,” I said.
“Let me talk to her first. I need to make sure she is okay after her conversation with Danilo.”
I nodded and Ines slipped inside the office.
“The Mancinis won’t like that,” Pietro said softly. “Our families were bound to come together to strengthen the Outfit. Indianapolis is the most important city in the Outfit.”
“Let’s not worry now.”
Ines finally came out again, her lips tight with sadness.
“Please be careful, Dante,” she said softly. “She’s been through enough.”
“I know. But if we are to have any chance of getting back at Remo for what he did to her, I have to gather information.”
Ines nodded, then stepped back and finally let me into the room.
Serafina was standing by the window, looking young and lost.
I closed the door quietly. She looked up. My eyes flicked to her throat and she pressed her hand to the spot, blushing with shame.
“Don’t.” My voice came out sharper than expected. I approached my niece, watching her carefully to see if she felt comfortable having me near. She had pulled away from Danilo, and I wasn’t sure how strong her trauma was. “Don’t be ashamed of something that was forced on you,” I added in a lower voice, although it cost me a lot to do so because seeing Serafina this way infuriated me . “I don’t want to reopen painful wounds, Serafina, but as head of the Outfit, I need to know everything you know about the Camorra so I can take them down and kill Remo Falcone.”
Serafina avoided my gaze. “I don’t think I know anything that can help you.”
“Every little bit helps. The habits. The dynamic between the brothers. Remo’s weaknesses. The layout of the villa.”
“Remo trusts no one but his brothers and Fabiano. He would die for them,” he whispered.
I had suspected as much. Remo was not as invincible as he thought . If he worried about his brothers in whatever twisted way he was capable of doing, it meant that he was exposed to attack.
Serafina continued, without looking at me. “Apart from the family, only Fabiano and Leona are allowed to enter the villa, and occasionally the housekeepers. Remo always keeps a knife and a gun handy. He is a light sleeper…” I shuddered at what he had revealed. I had suspected that Remo had taken her to his bed. Kidnappers often played with their victims by alternating between treating them like garbage and then showing them hints of kindness to gain their trust. The Stockholm syndrome was based on this tactic. Eventually, the victims would blame themselves for the rape and even try to convince themselves that they wanted it or give the abductor signals indicating consent, when they did not. Serafina began to tremble, her face torn with guilt and shame. I reached out and gently touched her shoulder. “Serafina.” I was surprised when she leaned into me. I took her head in my hands, trying to comfort her. “What am I going to do? How will I feel at home again? Everyone will look at me with disgust.” Blaming the victim was always easy. “If someone does it, you’ll let me know and I’ll take care of it.” Serafina nodded against me. “And you never stopped feeling at home. You are part of the Outfit , you are part of this family, nothing has changed.” Yet everything had changed. We were all. Our family had changed. Serafina had changed. None of us had remained unscathed by the horrors Remo Falcone had brought us. Danilo asked for a meeting. Of course, I expected it. We all settled in Pietro’s office. By then, Pietro had at least removed some of the debris Danilo had left behind during his sheet rage, but the place was still a mess. Pietro dropped behind the desk and Samuel stood by the window, his hands stuffed in his pants pockets. Danilo and I sat on armchairs facing each other . It was past ten o’clock at night, but neither of us felt like sleeping. Danilo sighed deeply, turning the engagement ring over in his fingers. “My father insists that I marry someone from your family,” he said. “A bond between our families is necessary, especially at this time.” He was right. We needed to show solidarity to silence dissenting voices. I would rather not have to silence them with violence. We needed every man in our ranks to fight the Camorra and the Family. Peter sighed, slumping in his chair. Samuel shook his head with a glare of lightning. “Serafina will not marry. She needs time to heal.” “There are other options,” I said. Danilo’s eyes flashed. “What options? I will not accept the daughter of any other Sub-Chief. My city is important. I will not settle for less than what was promised!” I squinted my eyes. “Watch your tone, Danilo. I realize this is a difficult situation, but I still expect respect.” Danilo lowered his gaze to his fist, which held the ring. ” I will not settle for less than a bond with your family.” “You can’t have Fina!” repeated Samuel, stepping forward, anger warping his face. I signaled for him to stay back. “You can’t have Anna either,” I said abruptly. I wasn’t sure that was what he was alluding to. But I was not going to promise my daughter to Danilo without looking into his troubled, angry eyes, not when I knew he wanted Serafina. Danilo stood up.
“You need my support in this war. You need a strong family behind you.” “Is that a threat?” I growled. Danilo smiled bitterly. “It’s a fact, Dante. I think you are a good Chief, but I insist that you get what my family deserves. I will not settle for less.” “I won’t force Fina to marry, not after what she’s been through,” Peter said. I nodded, “I agree.” Danilo put his hands in his pockets. ” Then we are in a stalemate.” I exchanged a glance with Peter, who briefly closed his eyes. He stood up and turned his back on us. “Is that what you’re asking me, Dante?” I was selfish, but I could not promise Anna. I simply couldn’t. Not now. “Pietro, if we follow the rules, Danilo could demand to marry Serafina. They were engaged.” Samuel looked at us, frowning. Danilo waited calmly. Peter turned away. His eyes were hard and full of warning as he pointed them at Danilo. “I will give you Sofia.” Danilo huffed. “What is she, eleven years old? “Twelve in April,” Samuel corrected, frowning at his father. His hands were clenched into fists. “I’m ten years older than her. I have now been promised a wife.” “You will be busy with this war and establishing your reign over Indianapolis. A later marriage should be an advantage for you,” I said. I knew Danilo would eventually accept, but he wanted something else. Danilo lowered his gaze to the ring again, lost in thought. “Danilo?” “I have one condition.” “What condition?” Danilo nodded to Samuel. “Marry my sister Emma.” Samuel’s eyes widened in shock. “She is in a…” He paused with a grimace. Danilo looked homicidal. “In a wheelchair, yes. That’s why no one of value wants her. My sister deserves only the best, and you are the heir to Minneapolis. If you all want this bond, Samuel will marry my sister, and then I will marry Sofia.” “Fuck,” Samuel muttered. “What kind of twisted deal is this?” “Why?” Danilo growled. “Your father has been probing for possible brides, and my sister is a Mancini. It’s a good match.” Samuel exchanged a glance with Pietro, then looked in my direction.
The Mancini girl would not have found a good husband had it not been for Danilo’s agreement. Samuel took a deep breath, then nodded. “I will marry your sister.” Danilo smiled darkly. We all knew it was a deal made in hell. “Then it’s settled?” asked Peter. “Will you marry Sofia and accept the cancellation of the engagement with Fina?” “That’s not what I want, but it will have to be enough.” “Will that have to be enough?” growled Samuel, stepping forward with half-closed eyes. “You’re talking about my little sister . That’s not a fucking thing to accept as a consolation prize.” Danilo laughed again. “You should remember that too when you meet my sister.” “That’s enough,” I growled. They were getting irritated on purpose when their anger was directed at Remo, not at each other. “The wedding will have to wait until Sofia is of age,” said Peter, looking tired. “Of course,” said Danilo. “Even my sister won’t get married before her 18th birthday.” Pietro nodded. “Then it’s settled,” I said. “I have to go home now. We can work out the details later.” Danilo cast me a look for confirmation, and I nodded sharply. “Just one more thing. I don’t want Samuel’s connection with my sister to be known yet. He must not know that this was a deal in exchange for Sofia.” I nodded again. It really didn’t matter when we announced it. People were going to talk anyway. He turned and strided away, but Samuel ran after him. I hoped they wouldn’t start a fight, but I didn’t bother to meddle. Instead, I approached Peter, who was holding onto the edge of the desk. “Ines will be furious.” “Danilo is a good match for Sofia.” Pietro raised his head angrily. “He would also be a good match for Anna.” I couldn’t deny it. An Underboss was the best possible match for my daughter at that moment. “But you couldn’t let her go, could you?” The reproach was in her voice, and it was not unfounded. “It makes sense to give Danilo the other daughter when Serafina calls off the engagement.” “You can spin it any way you want. You didn’t want to give up your daughter. That’s all. Instead you force me to give up mine.” “You accepted a bond with Danilo years ago, Pietro. It was not my doing. You wanted a bond between him and Serafina.” Pietro sighed and straightened up.
“You are right.” He shook his head. “In any case, I feel like I’m betraying Sofia. Danilo is not the boy I gave Serafina. This evidence has changed him.” “He is not a man who would abuse a woman, no matter how much he has changed since what happened.” “You are right. But Samuel marrying the Mancini girl? I don’t know. I pity the poor girl, but Samuel must have heirs. Can that girl have children?” I did not know, but Carla was also barren and I had not loved her any less for it. “There are other options if that’s the case.”