Chapter 20 Adrian
I continue to relish the sweet weight of my sleeping Mia, running a hand gently over her back, savoring the warmth of her skin, the feeling of her body against mine. She’s curled up against me, trusting, vulnerable—and completely unaware of the choice I’m facing.
I can feel the storm of conflicting emotions building inside me.
I lie awake, staring up at the ceiling, my mind racing, unable to shake the weight of the conversation I had with Massimo this morning.
I’ve defied orders before, but never like this. Never when it would mean going against everything I’ve pledged to uphold, against the family, and against the only life I’ve ever known.
It had started out as routine, the check-in call I’d expected. But Massimo’s voice on the other end had been colder than usual, sharp and edged with impatience.
“Have you heard from Dante?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even, though every muscle in my body was tense, bracing for the answer.
“Yes,” Massimo replied, voice as icy as the air outside. “Got his response this morning.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Mia as she stood at the sink, rinsing off the breakfast dishes. Her back was to me, her hair spilling over one shoulder. I adjusted my stance, my voice low, forcing a casual tone, though the knot in my stomach was tightening.
“And?” I asked, willing myself to sound unaffected.
“He told me to kill her.”
The words hung in the air, harsh and unforgiving. I could almost see Massimo’s expression as he said it, that hardened gaze, the remorseless line of his mouth. “Said he didn’t give a damn if pieces of his sister ended up scattered across Winter Haven. If that’s what we wanted, we should go ahead.”
My chest had tightened, anger surging in a mix of disbelief and fury. Dante hadn’t just ignored his sister’s plight—he’d coldly handed down her death sentence as if she meant nothing.
I glanced toward Mia, unable to help it. She’d turned halfway, her gaze catching mine, a spark of concern flashing in her eyes as if she could feel the darkness settling over me. She didn’t know what was being said, but I could see the unspoken question there, a flicker of worry that made my chest tighten.
“Are you sure?” I pressed, hoping that there had been some mistake.
Massimo’s voice sharpened. “I don’t need you questioning me, Adrian. The message is clear. Dante has washed his hands of her, and now she’s our responsibility to deal with as we see fit. And if we want to make an example out of her, all the better.”
The blood roared in my ears as I clenched my jaw, fingers trembling with a mixture of fury and desperation. Mia hadn’t taken her eyes off me. She was watching, sensing my tension, her brows knitting in a silent, puzzled concern. She didn’t understand what was happening, but she knew something was off.
“What if we’re missing something?” I pushed. “Maybe she knows more than she’s letting on. I could get more out of her.”
Massimo paused on the other end, and I could feel him weighing my words, assessing whether there was anything worth the delay. He sighed. “How much time are you asking for?”
“Just a few days,” I replied, trying to sound as practical and detached as possible. “Snow’s blocking all the roads anyway. We couldn’t move her even if we wanted to. Give me until the storm clears. If she’s hiding anything useful, I’ll find it.”
Massimo let out a frustrated breath. “Fine. But once the roads are clear, it’s done, Adrian. We take care of her, and we make it graphic. Enough that her execution will be remembered for decades to come.”
My stomach had twisted at his words, the brutal reality of what he was asking searing itself into my mind. “Understood,” I had replied, forcing my voice to remain emotionless, hoping he couldn’t sense my disgust simmering just beneath the surface.
“Three days, Adrian,” he said, tone leaving no room for argument. “After that, I expect results. Call me when it’s done.”
The line went dead, but the weight of Massimo’s order lingered like a heavy stone in my chest. I shoved the phone back into my pocket, taking a moment to collect myself before glancing back toward the kitchen.
Mia was watching me, brows furrowed, a question in her eyes. She walked towards me and hugged me hard. Pulling her head back to look up into my eyes, she opened her mouth to say something, then hesitated, studying me as if trying to read whatever I was holding back.
““They’re really going to kill me, aren’t they?” she asked, her voice dead with empty resignation.
“They won’t touch you,” I say firmly, holding her closer. “Not while I’m here.”
But as I looked at her, the worry tightening her expression, I knew I couldn’t keep lying. Not to her. Not when her life was on the line. I had to protect her, even if it meant defying Massimo, even if it meant tearing down everything I’d built within the family.
Because the truth was, I’d already chosen her above my family. And now, I had to find a way to save her life—and mine—before time ran out.