15. Finally Free
CHAPTER 15
FINALLY FREE
I sabella
“I’m going to miss you so much!” From beneath the airplane hangar, I pull Serena into another hug before she steps onto the tarmac. The rumble of the jet echoes around us, a steady reminder that my best friend is about to leave me. My brother Vinny, and my cousins, Alessia, Alessandro, Matteo and all of his siblings have already had their turns. The entire Valentino-Rossi clan showed up for her departure, and next week, if all goes well, I’ll be the one saying my goodbyes.
“Not more than me,” Uncle Dante grumbles.
“You already agreed, Pa, no taking it back.” Serena shoots her dad a grin. “Besides, it’s only one year.”
“Of course, we wouldn’t take it back.” Aunt Rose jabs her elbow into her husband’s side then squeezes Serena’s shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Yes, of course, proud,” her father adds. “And don’t forget, I’ll be visiting often. There’s a new business venture I’m considering in Milano?—”
“No business talk today, D.” Aunt Rose cuts him off with a deviously sweet smile. “Today, is about Serena and her accomplishments.”
My uncle’s lips press into a hard line. “Right, and I trust you’ll be in good hands with Jia.” He eyes his half-brother’s wife, and I can’t say the look inspires much confidence.
The twins’ mom moves into step beside Serena after a steamy kiss with her husband, my uncle Marco. As unpleasant as it is seeing my relatives make out, it’s kind of sweet to see how happy they all are with their spouses. It gives me hope that one day, I’ll have what they do, in spite of the dark world we inhabit and the questionable ways in which some of those relationships started.
Speaking of that world, my ever-present shadow inches closer as if one of my family members were an actual threat.
“I can’t wait to see you two in Rome in a few weeks.” Serena winks as her eager gaze bounces between Raf and me. Then she leans closer and whispers, “I told you he was the right pick.”
“Yeah, never mind the fact I had to blackmail him into going with me.”
She shrugs. “Whatever works.” She inches closer still, and murmurs, “And don’t forget to get on the pill before you leave for Italy. Trust me when I say there is no way you’re coming back home with that V-card still intact.”
I nearly choke on a laugh. “I’ll see if I can make that happen with my dark shadow in tow.” Having Raf escort me to the gynecologist would be the ultimate embarrassment.
The pilot appears in the doorway of the jet and waves down Serena. “We’re clear for takeoff Miss Valentino, whenever you’re ready.”
“Eek, I can’t believe you’re really doing this.” A hint of sadness lingers in my tone despite my best efforts.
“Me either.”
“You’re going to kill it in Milano.”
“Thanks, cuz. And I hope you don’t kill anyone in Rome.” She tosses me another wink before she pulls me into one final hug. “I’ll come down to visit as soon as you’re settled in.”
“Promise?” I’m suddenly nervous, and it doesn’t sit well. All I’ve ever wanted is to be free, to have an ounce of independence, and now that it’s nearly upon me, I am terrified.
“Absolutely.” Serena throws her designer carry-on over her shoulder and waves at all our family gathered beneath the shade of the hangar. “See you all soon! Ciao !”
I can’t tear my eyes away from my best friend as she hurries up the steps in her chunky heels behind Aunt Jia. A mixture of excitement, happiness and fear jostle around my insides. I remain planted to the spot long after the door to the jet closes.
“Come on, principessa , we can’t stay forever.” Papà ’s hand closes around my shoulder and steers me back toward the awaiting car. “You’ll see Serena soon enough.”
“In Rome, right?” I cock my head to the side and give him my best puppy dog eyes. After I’d gotten my reluctant bodyguard to agree, I’d gone straight to Papà ’s office with Raf to let him in on the exciting news.
He was just as excited as I imagined him to be.
“Were you able to get the men you wanted on board for our Italian excursion?”
Because apparently one psychotic guard isn’t enough, my father had to ensure he could attain another dozen guards as back up. As most of the King’s operations took place in the U.S., he was hard-pressed to find a team in the motherland so quickly. Papà had emigrated to New York when he was just a kid, and though he had some connections in Italy, there weren’t many he trusted with my life.
Or at least that was the story I’d gotten.
“Almost.” He kisses the top of my head before steering me toward the limo. Raf cuts in front of us and opens the back door where Vinny and Mom are already seated.
“ Grazie ,” says Papà as he ushers me into the oversized backseat next to my brother, and Raf slides in beside me. I don’t bother complaining anymore as to why my personal guard must be within inches of me at all times while Vinny’s can remain within a normal distance. In fact, his guard rides in the car behind us along with my mom’s security team. Tony, my father’s right-hand man rides up in the front with our driver, completing the Valentino entourage.
As my parents slip into an easy conversation about my Aunt Maisy’s next fundraiser, I elbow my brother in the side. I’ve barely seen him in the past few weeks since he started his summer job at King Industries. “How’s it going at work?”
He lifts a nonchalant shoulder. “It’s fine. Clara gives me all the grunt work, and I spend hours buried under stacks of paperwork, but I guess I have to start somewhere.”
If I hadn’t chosen to study medicine, the job would’ve been mine. A part of me still hopes that the role of CEO will fall to my brother one day. My father insists there’s no reason I can’t be a pediatrician and run the family enterprise, but it’ll never happen. I know one day I’ll be forced to choose.
Papà has been more than patient with me, allowing me to pursue my passion, but it doesn’t take away from the ever-looming presence of my title as mafia princess.
“I still can’t believe Papà is letting you go to Rome,” he whispers.
“Same.” I lean closer to my brother, and I swear Raf scoots along with me. “I won’t really believe it until I’m on that plane, like Serena.”
“I think he is actually trying to pull it off. I overheard him yelling at Tony yesterday about making it happen.” He grins and curls his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve come a long way, big sis.”
“You better come visit.”
“You know I will, as soon as Papà gives me a day off.”
“I’ll be waiting forever then.” I muss up my brother’s dark hair, and my heart pinches. As much as I dread the idea of taking over the Kings, I’d never want it for him either. Vinny was named after our mom’s older brother who was killed when he was around my brother’s age now. He’d been involved in the family business too. The idea of losing him in such a tragic way has my throat tightening and emotion surging to the surface.
A volley of shots pierces the calm, and the giant limo swerves across three lanes of traffic. “Everyone get down!” Raf shouts as his massive body blankets my own, and I pull Vinny down beside me.
My parents are across the backseat, Papà pinning my mom to the floor as the shots ping off the bulletproof windows. I always wondered why we had to stay down if the glass is supposed to be thick enough to protect us. I don’t dare ask Raf now.
“Who the fuck is shooting at us?” my father growls toward the front seat.
Tony’s head appears through the opening, his expression pinched. “Some BMW is trailing us,” he shouts.
“What color is it?” Raf calls out over my head.
“Dark, black or maybe navy.” Tony rolls up the back window before turning to his own and shooting off a round.
“I wonder if it’s related to the one that shot at us in the Escalade a few weeks ago.” Papà mutters a curse.
“I thought Tony was supposed to find out who was behind that.” Raf drags Vinny and me closer so he and my dad can continue their conversation over the barrage of bullets outside the window.
“He was ,” he growls. “The guys we picked up were hired thugs, and they refused to give up their benefactor. Whoever it was, must have paid a shit ton of money to dare take a shot at my family.”
Ricky swerves, cutting across another lane and speeds off the exit. The thundering spray of bullets falls away, and the massive male on top of me shifts his weight so I can finally breathe.
Papà springs up and rolls down the window between the back and the front seats. “Tony, I need you to find that pezzo di merda before the day is out or find a new fucking job.”
“Sure, capo , I’m on it.”
My father and Tony have been best friends for decades, and I’m certain this isn’t a fireable offense, but it’s a sharp reminder of how serious this situation is. Most of the big crime syndicates have been living in relative peace over the past decade. My father and my uncles went to painstaking lengths to ensure it.
So what the fuck is happening right now?
Papà helps Mom back onto the seat, and the rest of us follow suit. He ticks his head at Raf, eyes murderous. “Get everything ready for Isabella’s trip. I want her out of the city before I burn it to the ground. It appears as if the long-lasting standoff in Manhattan has come to an end.”
My heart leaps up my throat, a lethal mixture of anxiety and exhilaration battering my insides. I can’t believe this is really happening. I’m finally going to be free.