Chapter 12
TWELVE
The warmth of Sin’s touch lingers long after I leave him.
Even as I sneak back into the house, my mind is still reeling from everything.
The truth about his so-called betrayal, the way his lips felt on mine, the way he looked at me like he’d been drowning without me.
The sheer fact that I never found out what my family is supposedly planning because we got wrapped up in each other.
But the second I step inside; I know something is wrong.
Cameron is waiting for me.
He stands near the staircase, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. The dim glow from the chandelier casts shadows along his sharp features, making him look severe.
His eyes land on me, flicking over my windblown hair, my wrinkled coat that’s concealing a ripped dress, the flush still lingering on my face.
“Where were you?” His voice is calm, too calm.
I swallow hard. “Out.”
Cameron exhales through his nose, tilting his head slightly. “Out where?”
I lift my chin. “I don’t owe you an answer.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “I think you do.” He doesn’t raise his voice. He doesn’t need to. The weight of authority settles over his words effortlessly.
I’ve noticed it before, how everyone listens when Cameron speaks, how his presence alone demands attention. It’s not just because he’s the head of this family. It’s because he carries that responsibility with an unshakable certainty.
I shift on my feet, avoiding his gaze. “I just needed some air.”
“And you happened to find that air with Sin Donati?”
My eyes snap to his, but I don’t say anything. There’s no point in denying it.
Cameron lets out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. When he speaks again, his voice is quieter, but firmer. “I didn’t want to do this, Magnolia. I wanted to give you space, to let you come to terms with things at your own pace. But you’re making choices that could get you hurt.”
“I can take care of myself.” The words come out sharper than I intend.
His brows lift slightly, like he’s amused at my defiance but too exhausted to argue. “Really? Because sneaking off to meet with a man who has every reason to manipulate you doesn’t sound like taking care of yourself.”
I flinch. “You don’t know him.”
“I know enough,” Cameron says, fingers trailing a marble statue on the foyer. “I know that Sin will do whatever it takes to keep his power. I know that if he wanted to, he could twist you into something you don’t even recognize.”
He exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. “I also know that he’s dangerous, Magnolia. And that’s what worries me the most.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me.”
Cameron studies me for a long moment, then sighs. “I believe you.” His voice lowers. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t let someone else do it for him.”
Silence settles between us, heavy and suffocating. I don’t know what to say to that.
He shifts slightly, his tone softening just enough to sound like an older brother rather than a mafia boss.
“You’re my sister, Magnolia. You might not have grown up with us, but that doesn’t change the fact that I would do anything to keep you safe. And right now, I need you to trust me when I say that being around Sin is a risk.”
A lump forms in my throat, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “And what about Bria?” I ask.
His expression flickers with something unreadable. “No Donati is safe.”
“She’s my best friend.”
“She’s also one of them…” He exhales, shaking his head slightly. “Look, I get it. I’m not asking you to stop caring about her. But you need to start thinking strategically. We’re not just people, Magnolia. We’re pieces on a board, whether we like it or not.”
I swallow hard. “And what am I? Some pawn to be moved around?”
His expression tightens, something almost like regret flickering in his eyes. “No. You’re a queen.”
I don’t know why, but the way he says it sends a shiver down my spine.
His voice lowers. “And that means you need to start acting like one.”
For a moment, I let myself really look at Cameron, not as the head of the Rusco family, but as my brother. And beneath the frustration, beneath the hardened exterior, I see what he won’t say out loud.
He’s worried about me.
Not as a mafia leader. Not as someone trying to control me.
As my brother.
The next morning, I’m called to the study.
It’s the first time I’ve been included in anything that even resembles a family meeting. I don’t know if Cameron wants my opinion, or if he just wants me to see the mess I’ve been dragged into.
Sin never listens to Bria’s ideas. Will my brother treat me the same way?
The room smells of old books, dark wood.
My mother is by the fireplace, legs crossed, a coffee cup balanced delicately in her hands. She looks serene.
Cameron sits behind the desk, flipping through papers with surgical precision.
And then there’s Bria.
I do a double take.
Leaning against the bookshelf like she doesn’t trust the floor beneath her, arms crossed tight, gaze sharp and restless. When I walk in, her eyes immediately find mine. Fear flickers there, but also relief.
I smile at her, small, confused, but hers. She exhales, like my presence is the only reason she hasn’t bolted.
I lower myself into the chair across from Cameron. “You wanted to talk?”
Cameron sets the papers down and studies me like I’m another document to dissect. “It’s time you understood what’s at stake.”
Bria rolls her eyes. “Here we go. Mr. Serious.”
Cameron ignores her, but the muscle in his jaw ticks. “This isn’t a game.”
Bria pushes off the shelf, stepping closer to me. “Could’ve fooled me. Dragging me here without Sin, under false pretenses? That’s not strategy. That’s cowardice.”
“Watch yourself,” Cameron warns.
“She’s fine,” I cut in before Bria can snap back. “What is this?” I look to Bria. “What do you mean under false pretenses?”
Bria smirks faintly and drops into the chair beside me, shoulder brushing mine in quiet solidarity. “Yeah, Cameron.” Her manicured nails circle the air. “What is this?” She shows me her phone, a text message from me.
Magnolia: Please come over, no one is here! We need to talk. It’s urgent.
I look to my brother, “You stole my phone?”
“I did.”
“To get Bria here, the girl who just last night you warned me not to be around?”
“Things can change in the blink of an eye Magnolia. We may need to form an alliance-” He blurts out, choking on his own words, “with the Donati family.” Cameron’s gaze flicks between us, cool and unreadable. “This isn’t about friendship. It’s about survival.”
“Friendship is survival,” I shoot back. “If you can’t even tolerate Bria in the room, how do you expect to handle her brother?” I can’t believe these words are coming out of my mouth, and I certainly can’t help the smile that comes to my lips from the sheer hope of it all.
Sin and I could be together. Unrestrained.
Bria grins at me like I just handed her ammunition. “Exactly. But let’s be real, he doesn’t want my brother in the room because he knows Sin would eat him alive.”
Cameron’s glare sharpens. “Your brother doesn’t scare me.”
“He should,” Bria fires back without hesitation.
“Stop,” my mother says softly, setting her coffee down. “Please. This isn’t about who can shout the loudest.” She looks at me, her expression warm but firm. “Magnolia, things are fragile. We’ve rebuilt so much, but one wrong move could undo it all. Tensions…” she adds gently.
A polished word for we’re standing on a fault line.
Cameron leans forward, elbows on the desk. “The alliances we make now, who we trust, who we don’t, will shape everything going forward. And whether I like it or not, the Donati’s are part of that equation.”
I glance at Bria, who leans into my space like she’s ready to fight for me if she has to. Her presence steadies me.
“So, you’re admitting you need them,” I say.
“I’m admitting,” Cameron replies tightly, “that if we fail, we’ll be alone. And alone means vulnerable. Bria is here so we can talk about the future.”
Bria scoffs. “The future, huh? You keep circling that word like it means something. What are you actually hiding?”
“Pieces are moving,” Cameron says, evasive. “Things have come to light. I’m not ready to say more.”
“Not ready,” Bria repeats, mocking. “Or you just don’t trust me.”
Cameron leans back, unflinching. “I don’t trust anyone.”
Bria’s shoulders tighten, but I lay a hand over hers under the table. She glances at me, her anger softening for just a second.
I face Cameron. “If you brought us here to dance around the truth, then don’t expect loyalty. Not from me. Not from her.”
Cameron studies me, like he doesn’t know whether to be impressed or frustrated.
“You both know the history,” Mom says, looking at me, then Bria, then Cameron. She’s demanding our attention, and I hope she gives more answers than Cam. “The death’s we’ve endured at each other’s hands. We’ve been at war ever since. A blood feud, each scarred by the other’s loss.”
Bria’s jaw tightens. “And you invited me here to remind me that you murdered my mother?”
I reach for her hand, squeeze it lightly. “Bria-”
“Should we cancel tomorrows party?” Mom ask Cameron.
“No,” he shakes his head, “We need the unity, the togetherness, now more than ever.”
Cameron steps towards us, voice low and sharp. “You’re here because things are changing.”
Maria raises a hand, stilling him. She looks at Bria with something I can’t name, a mixture of pleading and protection. “Because something worse is coming. A third power. A gang that doesn’t care about Donati or Rusco. They only care about taking what we’ve bled to keep.”
I swallow hard. “Who?”
Maria shakes her head. “The Nero Syndicate. They’ve been buying men, businesses, corners of this city we thought were untouchable. If they grow, if we stay divided, they’ll crush us both.”
Bria laughs, bitter and sharp. “So suddenly we’re supposed to play nice? After decades of war?”