Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
SOFIA
I spent the day weighing my options and talking with my mother and the Donatis while I formulated a plan. Taking over the Savoca family wasn't a decision to make lightly—especially not with a baby on the way. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn't stand by while Ernesto went after those I loved and put them all at risk.
"Are you sure about this?" Gray asked as we pulled up to a modest house in the suburbs of Vintmere as night began to fall.
My mother sat in the back seat, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of her purse. "Caterina has been keeping me updated all these years. She never trusted Ernesto, even before..."
"Before he got her son and husband killed," I finished grimly.
The memory of Uncle Gio and Orlando's death still haunted me. Orlando had been barely twenty, and was assisting my uncle Gavino and his family with a business matter. Instead, he'd walked into an ambush alongside them—one of the "bad calls" that had cost my uncle Ernesto his position as underboss. One we'd just recently learned the truth behind.
I'd never been close with Uncle Gavino, who was the youngest of my father's siblings, but learning that both he, his wife, and young son had perished alongside Gio and Orlando had struck deep all those years ago. Gavino had strayed from the main business, meaning I'd not gotten close with his children like I had with Marco and Orlando to some extent, but it still hurt, especially since little Edmondo had been only six at the time. My father had not taken that blow lightly at all, but no family would claim the ambush, and Ernesto had claimed it to be a business dispute gone wrong under his orders. My father had brought about the death of the business Ernesto had blamed, but now I wondered if they'd played any part at all or had been another pawn in his endgame.
"She'll help us," my mother assured me. "And she still has influence with some of the old guard who were loyal to your father. Not to mention her son has always been close with her."
Caterina's other son, Davide, was still an integral part of the family's business, and when his father and brother had died, they definitely leaned on one another through their grief.
Gray turned in the front passenger seat to reach back and squeeze my hand. "Leo and Canzio should be meeting with Ernesto and Juan right about now. The distraction should keep anyone from noticing this little gathering."
"Let's hope so." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Leo and Canzio had received a call by midday about a meeting in regard to an alliance talk that they wanted to discuss quickly, so they'd agreed to meet this evening, providing me with cover to meet with my aunt in Vintmere.
My aunt Caterina opened the door before we could knock. She was thinner than I remembered, her face showing the time that had passed, but her eyes lit up when she saw me.
"Sofia." She pulled me into a tight embrace. "Look at you. You've grown up so much."
"Aunt Caterina." I hugged her back, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Thank you for seeing us."
"Of course." She nodded to my mother. "Gabriella. It's good to see you again, I'm sorry you felt the need to leave, but I also understand." Then her eyes landed on Gray, narrowing slightly. "And you must be the Donati boy."
"Cassaro," Gray corrected smoothly. "Though I'll be taking the Donati name soon. Gray Cassaro."
Caterina's eyebrows rose. "Interesting times we live in." She stepped aside. "Come in, quickly."
"Take a seat, would you like anything to eat or drink?" Caterina asked as she beckoned for us to get comfortable.
"Water, please," I answered, both Gray and my mother agreeing. Caterina was quick to get a jug of water and glasses while we settled around the living room.
"Whose place is this?" I asked, since Caterina had not used her own home for our meeting.
"Short term rental I own, I had to come here to inspect it anyway, so came in handy," she said as she joined us on the opposing couch. Gray had opted to sit in the armchair, while my mother and I sat on the other couch.
My aunt produced a burner phone and dialed a number.
"I'll get Bianca on the line," she explained. "She agreed to chat as well with a burner phone."
I'd done my best to organize a meeting with the women I trusted, but I'd not been able to get Cara to agree, which I had accepted. She wasn't as involved as the others, and if she didn't want to be, I didn't blame her.
"Hello?" A younger voice crackled through the speaker. "Sofia? Is that you?"
"It's me, Bianca." I leaned toward the phone. "How are you holding up?"
"Better now that I know you're wanting to do something about my father." The bitterness in her voice surprised me. She was soon to be eighteen, but she spoke with the weariness of someone much older. "He thinks I don't know what he's done, but I've heard things. He has me already sold off to another family when I'm of age."
I glanced at Caterina. "That's why we're here. I need your help if we're going to take back the family. To change what the Savoca name stands for."
Caterina clucked her tongue as she poured the glasses of water. "The men won't stand for it. I doubt they'll follow a woman." She shook her head. "They're too set in their ways."
I'd wondered about pushing for Caterina to take over, but I knew she'd never wanted anything to do with leading. Could she support someone who led? Yes, but she had always told my father she was glad she'd never have to do it.
As for her remaining son, despite having a good standing in the family, he was not smart enough to lead, not something any of us would say to his face though. He was a soldier through and through, could follow orders but not give them, but none of us had cared. He was loved for who he was.
"Then maybe it's time to change those ways," Bianca's voice came through the speaker. "If it weren't for the women, the men would have nothing. No heirs, no homes, nothing. They need us, and if all the women stand together behind Sofia, the men will follow."
The conviction in her voice made me smile. Even Gray raised his eyebrows at her words.
"We have more power than they think. And more knowledge. We hear everything, see everything," I said as Caterina studied me.
"True. when you reached out this morning, we began gathering information," Caterina murmured. "About Ernesto's finances, his movements, his connections. Things that don't add up. There are still people loyal to me. Davide will always support me." She pursed her lips as she mulled over the pros and cons of such a move.
"What about Julia?" I asked after a moment. "Where does she stand in all this?"
Caterina's expression softened. "My sister-in-law has always been loyal to Ernesto, but Marco was her son. Since the Donati made their appearance at the engagement party, she's been uneasy, questioning the circumstances around Marco's death. I'm guessing you all have more to share in that regard?"
I exchanged glances with Gray.
"Yes, we do,” Gray said firmly. "About more than just his death as well."
"Go on." Caterina crossed her legs, watching Gray closely. She'd always been a strong woman, and losing her husband and son had only hardened her more.
Gray looked to me, having told me on the way here that I should be the one to deliver the news.
I took a deep breath. This was the moment—the point of no return. Once I shared what we knew, there would be no going back.
"We have evidence," I said, my voice steady despite the churning in my stomach. "Solid proof that Ernesto was involved in Marco's murder."
Caterina nodded slowly, as if she'd already figured as much, while Bianca cursed in Italian.
"You said there was more?" Caterina asked, and my mother rested her hand on my thigh, as if she was anchoring herself, knowing that what we were going to share was going to hurt her, being a mother herself.
"We also have evidence that shows Ernesto was behind that ambush that killed Uncle Gio, Orlando, Uncle Gavino, Aunt Litizia, and Edmondo. That he did it to kickstart this alliance and has been getting payouts to offshore accounts."
Caterina's eyes widened, the movement of her throat as she swallowed making my chest tight. But she held strong, nodding slowly, although her eyes glistened momentarily before she blinked them away.
"You're sure of this?" she asked softly, and I nodded.
"All the records can't be coincidental, calls made to the Ference family right before the ambush, money getting wired to him immediately after," I shared.
"My own brother…" Caterina's clenched her jaw, closing her eyes for a moment. "My husband, my son, my other brother, sweet Litizia, and little, innocent Edmondo…" Her voice broke the slightest bit as she opened her eyes. "He's a damn bastard."
"He is," Bianca whispered through the phone, and my heart ached for them both. Hearing that family, such close family, had hurt his own like this, was shattering. He was Caterina's blood brother, and Bianca's father.
And yet, they'd been the ones I'd believed would be the best to go to for support. If I could rally them with me, then I could get the family. I just hated the pain I'd have to bring them for it.
"I wish I could say I can't believe it…" Bianca's voice cracked. "Marco, God, this isn't fair at all."
"He arranged it," Gray spoke up. "We believe he made a deal with the Ference family. Marco's death was the first step in a larger plan—one that included marrying Sofia off to Juan, then having her killed off down the line. He wanted there to be none of the true Savoca line left."
"Which leaves me wondering how my death would have been set about," Caterina mused, holding her hand to her face. I realized she was still wearing her wedding ring, and she was pressing it to her lips. "I never did trust my brother, even when we were young. And after losing Gio and Orlando, and him saying it was just a bad call… Now to find all of this out. And Marco. Marco was his son."
Caterina's hand trembled as she reached for her glass. "I always knew he was ambitious, but this..."
"Cara needs to know," Bianca's voice was soft. "And my mom needs the truth. She deserves to know what kind of monster she's married to."
"She'll never believe it coming from us," I said. "She's always been loyal to him."
"She'll believe it coming from me, hopefully,” Bianca said. "And when she sees the proof... Marco was her world. She worshipped my brother, how he was trying to change things."
"The entire family will turn against him once this comes out," Caterina stated. "Marco was loved by everyone. And those deaths years ago, those wounds never healed. Most of the family only follows Ernesto out of fear. Not loyalty."
"Then we use that," I said with determination. "We expose Ernesto for what he is, and we offer an alternative. A Savoca by blood, backed by blood. The one who was named as underboss before Marco, who was trained by my father."
"With the backing of the Donati family as well," Gray added. "Canzio has pledged his full support."
Caterina sipped her water before leaning back and playing with her necklace. I wondered if it had been a gift from Orlando or Gio. She may have always seemed tough, but she was also sentimental.
"It won't be easy," Bianca warned, speaking as if she was well beyond her years. I hated that this life, this family, had made her grow up ahead of time. "Ernesto still has his loyalists. And challenging him directly could spark a war within the family."
"Better that than letting him destroy everything and everyone from the inside out," I said. "Better that than watching more innocent people die for his ambition."
"I'm with you," Bianca said through the phone. "Whatever you need."
"We'll need to move carefully," Caterina cautioned. "Gather more support before confronting Ernesto directly. And we'll need to approach Julia delicately. Offer her proof as well if she wants it."
"I'll speak to her, and if she doesn't listen, then I'm sure she'll listen to you, aunt Caterina."
"Yes. And I'll reach out to Cara. She deserves to know all of this. Although, perhaps I'll wait until we have the evidence as well." Caterina arched a brow at me expectantly, and I nodded.
"Of course, I'll get it to you as soon as I can."
I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. I wasn't alone in this fight. I had allies—strong women who had survived in this world by being smarter and more resilient than the men gave them credit for. Even Bianca, who I knew had had to change to survive even at her young age.
"What about the meeting between Canzio and Ernesto?" Caterina asked, glancing at Gray. "I heard that they were meeting this evening as well. What do they hope to accomplish?"
"It's mostly a distraction," Gray explained. "Ernesto and Juan reached out, claiming they wanted to discuss a peaceful resolution. Canzio doesn't believe them for a second, but he saw an opportunity. While they're focused on him and Leo, we could come here."
"They're desperate," I added. "They tried to find someone within the Donati organization they could buy off, but they failed. Now they're looking for another angle."
"Which makes them dangerous," Caterina said. "Desperate men make reckless choices."
"We're prepared for that," Gray assured her. "Canzio didn't go in blind. He has security measures in place."
I nodded, trying to ignore the knot of worry in my gut. Leo and Canzio were more than capable of handling themselves, but Ernesto had proven how far he was willing to go.
"We should discuss next steps. How do we approach the men? When do we confront Ernesto?"
"First, we need to secure Julia's support," I said. "Without her, this will be much harder. I don't want her getting caught up in this and getting hurt. I don't want anyone getting hurt if I can help it."
Our meeting continued for another hour as we outlined our plan. Bianca would speak with her mother, Julia, with my aunt's help if needed. Once she had the evidence as well, she'd begin reaching out to other family, starting with her own son, Davide. He had good standing, and he'd be able to garner support. Caterina was willing to speak with the other women of the family, see who would sound out potential allies among their husbands and sons, gauging who might support my claim.
As everything wound down, Bianca asked to speak off speakerphone, and I picked up the burner and moved to the kitchen for some privacy.
"Marco always spoke highly of you," she said quietly. "He said he was glad you got out, that you had a chance. But he also told me once that if anything happened to him, he hoped you would come back and set things right. That you were strong, stronger than anyone realized. You had the stomach and heart to lead."
Tears stung my eyes. "I wish it hadn't come to this."
"So do I. But Rosette, my little niece, deserves to grow up in a family led by someone with honor. Someone like you. Ernesto may be the man who I come from, but he's no father of mine."
"I'm doing this for her, and for you. For all of us who deserve better," I said quietly.
"Good, Marco would be proud," she said. "Stay safe, Sof." With that, she ended the call, and I let out a heavy sigh.
Gray appeared at my side, his hand settling protectively on my lower back. "We should go. Leo texted that the meeting with Ernesto is wrapping up."
We said our goodbyes, promising to stay in touch through secure channels with Caterina. As we walked back to the car, Gray kept me close, his eyes scanning our surroundings.
"What do you think?" I asked once we were safely inside.
"I think your aunt and cousin are formidable," he replied with a slight smile as he looked back at me. "Remind me never to cross any of them."
My mother chuckled from beside me. "The women have always been the backbone of any family. Antonio understood that, even if he never said it aloud. It was why he wanted to train Sofia. I never agreed with it, I didn't want her to be so involved in it all…" She reached over and took my hand as the car lurched into motion. "But maybe his harshness helped in some twisted way, helped prepare you for something like this."
"Do you think it will work?" I asked as I glanced between them both, voicing the doubt that had been nagging at me. "Can we really do this?"
Gray reached back and took my other hand. "Together? Yes. But it won't be easy."
I nodded, knowing what we were doing was something big, something difficult.
My free hand drifted to my stomach. "Am I being selfish, putting our child at risk for this?"
"You're securing their future," my mother said softly. "Creating a world where they can grow up safely despite the family they're a part of."
Gray squeezed my hand. "I'll protect you both every step of the way. I promise."