26. Alessia
Chapter twenty-six
Alessia
T he sound of the doorknob twisting doesn’t disturb me as I lay in bed staring at the wall.
Tullio had confined me to my bedroom after I tried to get a hold of a phone and put a gun to someone’s head. Twice.
No matter how much Gemma cried and begged them not to do it, they did it. All of my brothers locked me away in my old bedroom with several men guarding my door around the clock, knowing one man wouldn’t be enough to hold me.
Santino comes into my line of sight with a tray of food. “Come on, piccolina . Come eat.” He sets the tray down over on the coffee table.
“ Vaffanculo ,” I mutter halfheartedly.
Standing in front of me, he sighs and shoves his hands into his pockets. “You know we’re only trying to protect you. Your insubordination is only punishing yourself.”
“Your nearsightedness is only turning me against you,” I retort.
“Look, if we find out Massimo had nothing to do with it, we’ll let you speak to him. But as of right now, we’re unsure.”
I pick my head up to look at him. “Unsure? I’m locked up because of uncertainty?”
“It was the De Luca’s, we’re certain about that. But it is possible that Angelo was working alone.”
I sit up and scoot off the bed to my feet. “Then let me call him and talk to him, Santino. He really wouldn’t lie to me. I know I can get the truth out of him.”
“I’m sorry, Alessia. I can’t do that.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t.”
I pause, knowing that Santino really is not the enemy here. Tullio is now a capo, and just because we’re family doesn’t mean we can disrespect the boss whenever we’re in discord. “How long are you guys going to keep me here?”
“I don’t know. Maybe until you come around to reasoning or when the problem is dealt with.”
“Dealt with.” I take a deep breath through my nose. “Can you at least promise me one thing?” He waits. “Whatever you find out, can I please talk to Massimo before you do anything to him?” The thought of his betrayal is like acid in my throat.
“I’ll do my best and advocate for you, I promise. But you know I don’t call the shots around here. Now, come eat.”
Unable to argue with Santino any longer, I sit with him, and we chat while I eat. He lets me know that Mamma is stable, and if she continues to improve while her body is trying to heal, they’ll try to pull her out of the coma soon.
Another thing I will never forgive Tullio for is keeping me from visiting our mother.
There’s a knock on the door, and I call out to whoever it is to come in. It’s one of our men who pokes his head in. “Tullio needs to see you, Santino.”
“I’ll be down in a minute.”
“He says it’s urgent.”
I frown. “What’s going on?”
Santino stands up. “I’ll be back.”
“Oh, come on,” I whine and stand up to follow him to the door. “I’m not going to try and run, I swear. Please let me go with you.” I don’t even try to disguise the desperation in my voice.
“I’ll see if you can come out. Just hang tight for a minute.”
I growl and slap the door when he closes it in my face. “Damnit!” I fucking hate not having a clue as to what is going on outside of these walls. Gemma is the only one who would tell me anything, but she’s no use. She never knows anything.
I’m pacing my room when Santino comes back, not much later. “Alright. Come with me.” He looks tense, so whatever is going on, it isn’t good. Santino is hardly moved by anything.
I follow him out and down to our father’s office, which I guess Tullio has now taken over. We walk into Armando and Tullio having some heated conversation. It comes to a halt when their eyes snap in my direction.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Armando growls as he runs his hand through his jet-black hair.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Massimo is at our gates,” Tullio says calmly.
My heart rate automatically picks up from the mention of his name and knowing that he’s near. It’s been over a week since seeing or speaking to him, and I miss him so fucking much. “Right now? Let me go talk to him.”
“Alessia.” Tullio stiffly approaches me. “Massimo has been on a rampage. He’s cleaned out three of our businesses so far.”
“What? Why?”
“Because he thinks he’s still entitled to you,” Armando says, his anger and disgust directed at me, and I choose to ignore it.
“He’s here for me?” He wants me back .
“You sound excited,” Armando says through his teeth and stomps towards me. Santino turns to stand in his way. “Like this is somehow all one big romantic gesture for you.”
This gesture is the epitome of romance.
“This wouldn’t have happened if you guys didn’t take away my fucking phone! I could’ve talked to him and prevented it!” I yell.
“You’re right,” Tullio says when Armando opens his mouth to argue.
“What do you mean I’m right?” I look at him with apprehension.
“Massimo is here…with Angelo.”
I narrow my eyes and stare at him in confusion. “Okay…?” As in joined forces? Because if that’s the case, then—
“As a contribution,” Santino fills in.
“He has Paolo!” Armando roars.
“He has Paolo?” I ask, still trying to get my brain to play catchup.
“He’s okay. He took him as collateral,” Tullio says with a sigh, no malice in his tone. Tullio can be stubborn, but he isn’t bullheaded, and he can see when someone is shedding light on something. He’s fair, just like Babbo was.
“And we’re just going to let that go?!” Armando yells, Santino still holding him at a safe distance. I know my brother would never hurt me, but he may cross a line in a moment of passion. He and I definitely compete for the shortest fuse.
Tullio ignores him as he talks directly to me. “Angelo and Paolo for you in exchange.”
“Fine. Then let’s go make the exchange,” I say, trying to mask the excitement.
“You’re not leaving with that psycho!” Armando yells.
“I’m not being held here prisoner anymore!” I yell back.
“You don’t have to marry him, Alessia. With Babbo gone and Angelo calling the hit on him, the truce is automatically broken,” Tullio speaks gently.
If the truce is broken but Massimo still demands me back, does that mean he still wants to marry me, alliance aside? Well, I won’t know until I get to talk to him.
“Let’s make the exchange, Tullio.” He studies me as we both tune out Armando and his hysterics. He’s silently asking me if this is what I want, and I’m telling him it is. I want to be with Massimo. He unleashed a wrath on the city for me because he wants me back. Truce or no truce. And I want to be back with him. Truce or no truce.
Santino makes Armando hand over his piece before we go out there, and Tullio finally gives me my phone back. Walking down the long driveway with armed men surrounding us, Massimo comes into view, and every fiber of my being screams to close the distance between us.
I’m so fixated on him that I almost didn’t notice the gagged and beaten Angelo De Luca on one side and a bruised and gagged Paolo on his other. He has a firm grip on his father, but I don’t see him holding back Paolo.
His hazel eyes bore into mine as we get closer. The pull between us becoming too overwhelming to function. He inspects my body from head to toe as if making sure I’m unharmed. My eyes clash with Paolo’s as he starts screaming around the gag and struggling against his restraints, making Massimo place a firm hand on him.
I look up at Tullio, and he looks back at me. “He would never hurt me, Tullio.”
“I’m only doing this because I feel as if I don’t have any other choice. I can’t keep you locked up forever.” He pauses and glances at the other side of the gate, then focuses on me again. “I’ve already talked with Massimo, and the fact that he’s handing his father over to us not only to exonerate himself but to get you back, shows he cares for you. This isn’t about proprietorship.” He glances over there again. “He’s doing it out of despair. He may have been enraged and on a warpath, but I know a man in agony over a woman when I see one.” He gives me a sad look. “I’m sorry for—”
I shake my head. “No. Don’t. You were doing what you thought you needed to do. We just lost Babbo, and we’re worried about Mamma, and emotions were high. I’m sorry for being so rebellious.”
He snorts and gives my chin a playful pinch. We have an audience, so he won’t go over the top with his apology and affection. “No, you’re not.” I crack a smile, knowing he’s right. I’m only apologizing to get this thing moving along. “I love you, piccolina .”
“Stop sounding like this is goodbye,” I murmur.
“Life is uncertain.”
We all know that now more than ever.
The gates open, and I give each brother a subtle smile, reassuring them that I’m okay. Massimo tells his guys to lower their weapons, and without reservation, he shoves his father into the arms of my brothers.
His gaze is locked on me as he stomps forward, and I quicken my pace towards him. The space between us diminishes, and I throw my arms around his neck as he crushes me against his body. “I swear I had nothing to do with it, amore ,” he rasps into my hair as he strokes it and holds me close. Not giving a shit that we have eyes on us. For him to be so bold with his longing in front of his men and in front of another family is a proclamation that says much.
“I know. I knew the whole time. I knew you wouldn’t ever do that,” I say in a hurry, clinging to him and unwilling to let go. Basking in his scent and the heat from his embrace. It’s precisely what I’ve needed during the most agonizing week of my life.
“Can I take you home now?”
“Please.” I pull back, and we stare at one another. He looks at me as if he hasn’t seen me in years, and I know exactly how he feels. It was painful to be separated like that, and I wish to never be torn from him again. My family home will always feel like home, but he is where I belong.
I look back and see that Paolo is safely back with my brothers, and he and Armando have joined forces in their dismay. I look between Tullio and Santino. Neither of them wants to let me go, but they know they have to.
I turn back to Massimo. “Let’s go home,” he says, taking my hand.