Reformed (Gangsters at War #5)

Chapter Thirteen

Alessandro

T he car ride to my brother’s was done in silence, with Jane staring out the side window with her overnight bag clutched on her lap, her lips tight and her shoulders stiff. That she’d barely even said more than hello to Tony spoke volumes.

She was scared. And who could blame her.

She’d had bullets fired into her damn shop!

That my enemies now knew about her and were warning me—my entire family!—to back off made my blood boil. I had no doubt their next bullet wouldn’t miss. I had to keep her away from the shop for a while and ensure she was safe. That doing so would make her hate me was a secondary concern.

Better that she hated me than having to bury her.

A shudder went through me. How had Ethan even contemplated getting rid of the woman he loved? All my brothers, except Evander who had yet to find a woman worth loving, would die to protect their women.

Knowing Ethan’s love for Sabrina I had no doubt it’d half-killed him knowing what he had to do...what he’d thought he had to do.

I glanced over at Jane. I wanted her and her alone. No other woman could possibly compare. That my protective instincts had all but consumed me thanks to the shooting at her store told me exactly what path I was heading down.

I was falling in love with her.

Tony flicked on the indicator and steered the car under the Italian restaurant with its private parking. A gate slid open and Tony guided the car into a parking bay next to an elevator.

My thoughts cleared then as my training kicked in and I scanned the underground carpark for any possible suspects. The two men in suits patrolling the area were Serafino’s men, trustworthy soldiers who’d been a part of our family long enough to know better than to turn on us.

After getting out of the car, I ushered Jane toward the elevator, nodding at Tony who took position next to the lift to ensure no one tried to enter the building. Another guard had already been assigned to stand guard at the elevator of the Italian restaurant.

Jane said nothing as we ascended. She stayed mute and withdrawn even after the door slid open and we stepped into the foyer, then into the dining room where most of my family already waited.

Serafino and Delilah were there, of course they were. This whole building was my brother’s, including the restaurant beneath. He pushed back his chair and stood, his gray suit impeccable. Delilah followed his example, her black pantsuit highlighting her long, claret-red hair that fell down her back, her green eyes shining as she looked our way.

“Alessandro,” Serafino greeted.

I smiled. He really was a man of few words, he always would be. Only his wife seemed able to draw him out of his shell.

“Serafino,” I returned. I nodded at his wife. “Delilah.” I put an arm around Jane and went through the introductions.

“Hi,” Jane said, her face pink. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

Carlo stood up next, and I added, “And you might remember the friend of the family, Carlo.”

“I do,” she said her color climbing higher as he leaned close and kissed her on each cheek.

Ethan stood last, his eyes dark but his voice warm as he glanced at Jane then back to me again. “So this is the woman who has finally claimed my little brother’s heart?”

Jane giggled. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

I would. But she didn’t need to know that, not yet.

Ethan smiled, then echoed my thoughts. “I would.”

Sabrina pushed back her chair and stepped toward us. “I’m Sabrina, Ethan’s better half.” Her platinum blonde hair glinted under the chandelier, her teeth a bright white as she smiled welcome. “Would you like a wine or something stronger?”

“Yes, please. Whatever you have.”

Sabrina’s smile widened. “Something to knock back the nerves, I’m guessing.”

Jane grimaced. “Is it that obvious?”

Sabrina laughed, the sound tinkling like wind chimes. “Honey, we’ve all experienced it at one time or another.” She thrust an arm out. “These men aren’t the easiest to be around, not until you get to know them.”

Ethan stepped forward and encircled Sabrina’s waist with an arm. “Don’t give away all our secrets. Alessandro has enough of them to tell as it is.”

Jane looked at me, her face tight. “I’m keen to find out.”

She’d be eating her words soon enough. I managed a dry smile and said, “All in good time.” I looked at Ethan, then scanned the half-empty dining table. “Where is everyone?”

Ethan released his wife before he answered with a clipped, matter-of-fact voice. “Valentino and Chantilly will be here shortly. Evander is also on his way. Salvatore and Isabella send their apologies; they’re dealing with their own family matters.”

“No doubt the same fallout we’re dealing with,” I muttered. The turf wars didn’t just affect us Agostinos, it affected the Costa family as well. That Salvatore was next in line as the Costa don only made the situation more volatile.

Sabrina returned with two crystal glasses, round ice cubes clinking in the amber liquid. “Here you go,” she said, proffering Jane a drink along with one for me. “It’s 6.00 pm somewhere in the world, right?”

Jane thanked her and took a sip, then choked convulsively, her eyes watering.

Sabrina winced. “I take it you don’t like bourbon?”

Jane cleared her throat. “I guess not.”

I looked at her. “You’ve never had bourbon before?’

She shook her head. “Never.”

It only highlighted how little I knew about her, and how much more I wanted to know. I took her glass and tipped the remainder of her bourbon into mine. “I’ll have yours, then I’ll get you a gin and tonic.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

The elevator pinged then, footsteps sounding across the foyer before Valentino and Chantilly stepped into view. I smiled at them. I had to admit they made a striking couple. Chantilly wore her dark hair pulled to one side, a delicate peach dress hugging her figure before the fabric fell gracefully to her ankles.

She somehow softened Valentino’s hard veneer. Though he was a killer at heart, his ruthlessness was no longer as apparent while he basked in the love he shared with Chantilly.

“Sorry we’re late,” Valentino offered, the apology not offered with any explanation, though going by the glow between them I had a fair idea why they’d been held up.

“No need,” I drawled. “We’ve only just got here ourselves.”

After going through a quick introduction, I swallowed my drink and went to the bar to get Jane her preferred gin and tonic. She’d no doubt need every bit of liquid courage she could get.

Ethan waited until I gave Jane her gin before announcing, “Breakfast will be here shortly, but I think we should get the discussions underway first.”

Carlo frowned, his fleshy lips pulling tight. “Shouldn’t we wait for Evander?”

“We’ll catch him up on anything he needs to know.” Ethan looked at me. “What do you think, Alessandro?”

I nodded, my chest tight just imagining Jane’s reaction. “Let’s get this over with.”