Chapter 40
I walk into the conference room and lower myself onto a black leather chair. Antonio’s already seated at the head of the table, his face unreadable. Julian, Leo, and Damien are also here.
I texted them during the flight, asking them to meet with me here.
My chest feels heavy as I say, “I have something to tell you.”
None of them speaks. Just wait for me to continue.
It takes a good five seconds before I can get, “Aurora is still alive,” to leave my mouth.
It’s about time I’m honest with them.
The room explodes in response.
“You’re fucking joking,” Damien snaps.
“How long have you known about this?” Antonio slams his fist on the table.
“Man,” Julian says, shaking his head.
“Explain—now,” Antonio roars.
I blow out a long breath, and then that’s exactly what I do.
I tell them how my mother called that day, hysterical. She said she didn’t have much time, but needed me to promise that I’d protect Aurora. I tried to talk her down and ask where she was. She wouldn’t say. Only said she loved me and would see me in the afterlife.
Then, I heard it.
The impact of her hitting the guardrail.
Glass shattering.
The splash as the SUV went underwater.
She didn’t scream once.
On the phone, I kept yelling her name, but she never answered.
She drowned in the lake before I could even help her. It killed me to end the call and dial 911 for help.
Later, Maggie called me, crying. She said my mother left a letter for her to give to me.
Shutting my eyes, I clear my throat and repeat her words in the letter.
Her handwriting was the sloppiest I’d ever seen—so unlike my mother. She didn’t have the letter locked in some drawer, waiting for the right moment. Her last words were written in a rush.
And I’ve had them memorized for years.
Emilio,
I’m so sorry, honey, but I have to go.
Your sister will never be safe from your father as long as I’m alive. By the time you read this, the Range Rover will be at the bottom of Lake George.
You need to tell them Aurora was in the car with me.
Maggie knows to do this as well.
We must keep Aurora safe. This has to be kept a secret. Only the three of us know.
Aurora’s life depends on it.
And if the day comes and you’re given the opportunity to kill your father, you have my blessing.
May he rot in hell.
Burn this after reading.
I love you. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.
Mom
Tension is on every man’s face as they listen.
When I’m finished, Damien leans forward, resting his elbows on the table, and steeples his fingers. “Why the hell would you keep this from us?”
The betrayal and hurt bleed through his voice.
We’re brothers.
Family.
And I’ve been lying to them for years.
I drag a hand across the back of my neck, guilt clawing at my spine, and shake my head.
Antonio studies me, not saying a word, as if calculating how to deal with the situation.
How to deal with me and whether I’m someone he can still trust.
“Where is she now?” he finally asks.
I keep my tone neutral as I say, “Chicago.”
“Chicago?” His eyes narrow. “What the fuck is she doing in Chicago?”
“Maggie’s family friend took her in.”
“She’s with that friend now?”
“She was.”
Antonio leans forward slightly. “Where is she now?”
“She married into the Ricci family.”
His chair scrapes back as he pushes up from the table. “Excuse me?”
I expected that piece of information to make him the most reactive.
“And since I’m laying everything out,” I go on. “She just had Andre Ricci’s baby. My niece. Named her Evalina.”
Antonio freezes, his face softening at the memory of my mother.
The other men have similar reactions.
Antonio drops back into the chair and drags a hand over his face. “I assume that’s why you were in Chicago?”
I nod.
His back straightens. “You brought Liliya? Knowing what this secret could cost you? We still don’t know if we can trust her.”
This is why I chose to follow Antonio and not his uncle when his father died.
He’s worried about Aurora’s safety.
Even after finding out I’ve been lying, he still has that loyalty toward my family.
“I trust her,” I say, my voice deep with certainty.
His jaw is tight, and he breathes through his nose while checking his watch. “You guys get home to your wives. Let me speak to Emilio alone.”
I rest my elbow on the armrest and lean into it as the other men filter out.
Each one of them says something before leaving the room.
“I’m glad she’s okay,” Damien says. “Tell Aurora we’d love to meet little Evalina.”
“She made the best pumpkin cookies,” Julian adds. “Tell her to make us a batch.”
“Dude, how the hell did you keep a secret like that?” Leo says. “You’re a lot better at keeping a straight face than me.” He laughs, clasping me on the shoulder as he leaves.
When they’re gone, Antonio stares at me like a disappointed father.
“Keeping something like this from me is bullshit,” he spits. “It could get you killed. Me killed. All of us killed.” His voice is bitter yet controlled. “This also makes me stop and wonder if you’re hiding anything else from me.”
I throw out my arms. “That’s my only secret.
You can be pissed, make me suffer consequences, whatever.
But I don’t regret protecting my sister.
My father made it clear to my mother—if she ever did anything to piss him off, he’d kill Aurora.
Every day, she had to deal with that fear.
” I slam my hand on the table as the pain of that memory seeps inside me.
“Every. Fucking. Day!” I relax in my chair, telling my heartbeat to chill out.
“I should’ve told you after my father died, but I’m still always worried one of our enemies will use her to hurt us. ”
Antonio scrubs his hands together. “And now she’s involved with the Riccis?”
“They love her and aren’t a threat to us.”
“Constantino Ricci is a cold-blooded bastard. He’s the Cristian Marchetti of the Chicago underworld, not some elderly grandfather who wants to rock Aurora’s baby to sleep at night.”
“They aren’t a threat to us,” I state again, making myself as clear as possible. “I’m not saying we should fucking brunch with them, but if shit ever hits the fan? I guarantee they’d make a damn good ally.”
He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fair point, and speaking of allies, what’s going on with Aleksy? I’m ready to get rid of that pain in the ass.”
“Liliya is aware we know he asked her to kill me.”
He rears back, surprised. “How’d that play out?”
“I gave her the option of a knife or a gun to kill me with.”
He smirks in amusement. “We’re all so fucked up.” His smile broadens. “I did something like that with Gigi. At the cabin, when I kidnapped her and she was making a fuss.” He flicks his hand through the air like taking her was nothing but a misunderstanding.
“We have Liliya’s loyalty,” I say, going to bat for my wife.
He cocks his head to the side. “How sure are you?”
I hesitate—a big fucking mistake.
He slams his hand on the table. “Get back to me when you know it’s guaranteed she’s with us and only us. In the meantime, take your wife home. It’s late, and I need to get back to mine. She doesn’t like it when I stay out late anymore.”
We leave the room, and Antonio doesn’t turn toward the exit.
“Maybe I should go say hi to Liliya,” he says, walking alongside me.
I peer over at him. “You don’t think you scared her enough when you barged into my house and threatened to kill her while I was sleeping?”
“I had to send a message,” he says with no regret. “It’s what we do.” He slaps my shoulder. “I can’t have you murdered on me.”
We round the corner, and I walk into the room, fully expecting to find my wife.