Unforgivable

Chapter 26

We Were Family

Oni

“Can I get you anything else?” the stewardess asks as I sit stewing in my seat.

I know I’m doing this for the safety of my mom and uncle, but something in the pit of my stomach is screaming something is wrong. Rico needs me as much as I need him. I don’t know what’s going to greet us at the end of all of this.

“No, thank you,” I reply with a smile.

None of this is her fault. I’m not going to take my attitude out on her. She’s just here to do her job like I am.

This summer has turned into a shit show. I wish I could rewind time and do so much of it over. I didn’t even get to make all the money I was promised. I’m taking a big risk trusting Emilio’s word.

At least my debt has been erased. Emilio gave his word to me and Uncle Claude that I’ll never have to worry about that again. I’ll be honest, things have already started to change. Not all for the better, might I add.

The hardest part was the day I was moved out of the hospital. I felt like my heart was torn from my chest. As we exited the hospital, the cops were walking in.

I couldn’t help the eerie feeling I got seeing them. I wanted to jump from the wheelchair and run after them to see where they were going. Were they looking for me or Rico?

Fredrico assured me everything would be okay.

He helped me into Emilio’s car, which would be transporting me to the house where everyone was waiting so we could get ready to leave.

I was angry to learn Juliana got away. I wish I had gotten a chance to pop her head off her shoulders before I went down.

Now I’m just angry and sad. I knew Emilio would find a way to drive a wedge between us, but I didn’t realize he would get me to go along with it. The man is always ten steps ahead of everyone.

I’m going along with this, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Rico will have to understand that I did this for him. He wants the world, and I want it for him. I deserve an Oscar for the act I’m putting on to get through this.

Even Emilio seems impressed with how unbothered I am. Rico and I were the delusional ones in all of this, thinking we could hide anything from this man. In the past few days, I’ve come to see that more and more.

Our foolishness is why I’m on this plane headed to Italy. I have no one but myself to blame. It’s a mistake I will never make again. Emilio is someone I will always keep an eye on from now on.

“You sure you don’t want anything?” Emilio asks from across the aisle of the private jet.

Yup, the man ended up following us. I’m not sure what that’s about, but Fredrico seems more than annoyed about something. The brothers have been at odds since the day they walked into my hospital room, and I was given the ultimatum.

“No, I’m fine,” I reply.

“We had a big breakfast,” Fredrico Sr. says.

True to his word, he’s looking after me. Once we had a moment alone, he promised he would do everything in his power to look out for me and make sure I got back to Rico someday. He also promised I wouldn’t be a sacrificed pawn in all of this.

We all know Emilio is moving pieces on the board according to his plan, not any of ours. Emilio grunts in response to his brother. I ignore them both and go back to the magazine I’ve been flipping through.

I flip the pages as hard as I want to flip Emilio. Emilia sits on the other side of her father, looking like a frightened bird. She’s been this way since I got out of the hospital.

If she thanks me one more time for saving her life, I might take it myself. She’s driving me crazy. Isn’t this her world? Shouldn’t she be used to all of this?

“You will learn a lot on this trip,” Emilio says, breaking me from my thoughts. “You are Fredrico’s assistant, no?

“You should know how the big boys do things. Stealing cars and trafficking are child’s play.

“You should be honored. We haven’t allowed Rico to learn any of what you are about to embark on. You pout now; you will thank me later.”

I narrow my eyes at him, still not sure what his endgame is. I get he wants his nephew to toughen up, but my gut keeps telling me there’s more to it. Fredrico snorts, drawing my attention to him.

He has a deep scowl on his face. I also get that he understands his brother more than I do. They are both holding cards Rico and I can’t see.

At this point, I’m ready to be done with the whole family. Rico can have his empire. Emilio can have his precious nephew, and I can take my Black ass home.

Home. I don’t have one of those anymore. If I go back, I’m putting everyone in danger. I’ve been trying to connect the dots there.

I believe the Sullivans had something to do with that shoot-out. I know where I know Juliana from, which tells me my gut feeling is right.

“Do you know why I respected and loved your father?” Emilio asks, halting my thoughts.

I jerk my head back in surprise. I knew Fredrico Sr. knew my dad. However, this is new news to me.

“What? You knew my father?”

“Yes, we were once the best of friends. I know your mother too. We were once family.

“Don’t think my family is so weak we would have allowed you to get away with that stunt you pulled in New York otherwise. I would have killed you myself.”

“You’re not going to keep threatening me,” I bite out.

He chuckles. “Relax, Oni. I’m not your enemy. I am only stating a fact.”

“Same.”

“You are so much like him. Your father always said what he thought too. That’s why we got along.

“He wasn’t afraid of me. If something needed to be said, he spoke up. Your father was an extremely smart man.”

“I’m hearing a whole lot you haven’t said. What are you getting at?”

“Your uncle and maybe even your mother will blame me for your father’s death. The real blame should be with your friends back in New York,” he says.

“This is the second time you’ve mentioned my friends. What don’t I know?”

“The Sullivans are all trash. They respect no one and have no loyalty. You think you came across Rico by accident? I’m not the first to use you as a pawn. You were thrown to the wolves from day one, cara.”

I gasp. “The dare. Mason knew that was Rico’s truck?”

“Now you see. Some best friend. Everyone knows what the consequences are for taking from a Gallo.”

“So you know Juliana is working for them, don’t you?”

“I know a lot of things. I know the bastard you killed for trying to rape you was sent to Miami by your friend Mason, but he’s from Connor McFeely’s crew.

“I know Juliana is the one who told Larkin to attack you in my brother’s home. I know that Sullivan is plotting to have my nephew arrested even now.”

“What?”

“A drug charge that will be knocked down to a gun charge. None of it should stick, but it will. Rico will learn a tough lesson, but he will be better for it.”

“You’re going to allow him to go to jail? Then what is any of this for? Why am I leaving and allowing you to fake my death?”

“Because it will all harden him. And you … you are about to learn to be a true donna. Your father helped me get to where I am. If you can be half of what your father was to me, you will be the greatest prize my nephew has.”

“But you’re allowing him to go to jail. What if he doesn’t make it back?” I nearly sob.

“He will. I will ensure it. I owe your father this.

“Sullivan got to him before I could get him out of that hellhole. You will not lose another man you love to prison or those Irish bastards. This I promise you. Capisce?”

I work my jaw as I allow all of this to sink in. The Sullivans are behind my father’s death. On top of that, Mason did this. My own best friend.

I trusted him and he set me up. All of this started because of him and his family. I know Juliana because she was one of Lorcan’s whores. I’ve seen her on her knees for him before.

As it all clicks together, one thing plays in my head.

They’re all going to pay.

Rico

I’m numb. This is not how I thought things would end. I never saw it coming.

Oni is dead. She took a bullet for Emilia and now she’s gone. I will never forgive myself for this.

I deserve to be here, locked behind these bars. She had her whole life before her, before me. Now she has nothing. There will never be another day for her.

I laughed in my uncle’s face when he first told me. I thought he was playing one of his games. I didn’t want to believe she was gone.

As I lay in that hospital bed, I prayed it was all a lie. If she had walked through that door, I would have let her go. I would have freed her from me if I had a second chance.

I would rather know she’s somewhere safe from me, alive. Instead, she’s gone, and I’m here. Uncle Emilio could have gotten me out of this shit. Fuck, my father should have gotten me out by now, but I know this is where I belong.

I’m broken. I have nothing left but anger. Mario comes to check on me, but I do nothing but stare into space while he’s here, like now.

“Rico, did you hear me? What do you want me to do?”

I shrug. “I don’t care.”

“Bro, you can’t give up like this. You know he’s testing you.”

“Testing me for what? I’m done. He doesn’t give a shit about me. If either of them did, I wouldn’t still be here.”

“I told you, your father had an emergency in Italy. I don’t know if he knows you’re here. No one has been in touch with him.”

“Yeah, well, my uncle knows. He wouldn’t even get me out of here so I could go to her funeral. I should have been there.

“I owed it to her to be there. I should have buried her and had the chance to say goodbye. Instead, I’m in here over some bullshit.”

“And all your enemies are out there. When you get out of here, they need to answer for Oni and all the other bullshit. Let me do my job.

“Tell me what you need done. All my life, I’ve been by your side. Since we were little, you wanted to be at the top.

“She wanted that for you. Make this shit happen in her memory. Lift your head, bro and take this shit.”

I scoff. “He’s punishing me for her. Do you really think he’s going to promote me? Let alone hand me it all?”

“Yes, I think you’re forgetting who he is. You see a punishment. I see a test.

“Hold your head up and tough this shit out. I’ve got your back. If he doesn’t give it to you, we take it. For Oni.”

I ball my fists on top of the table. He’s right. I can’t fail now.

Oni did everything she did in order to see me at the top. I vow in this moment I’ll be Don. Because my girl believed in me without a doubt, I’m going to make it happen.

I nod. “Let the crew know nothing changes. They now answer to you, and you will report back to me. They keep shit clean like before.

“Find the rat and deal with it. When I get out of here, this shit will never happen again.”

“What about Sullivan?”

“I’ll deal with that shit when I get out.” I pause and swallow hard. “They set her up. All of this started with them. Mason Sullivan will answer for his betrayal.”

“I’ll be back next week. I’ve got you, brother.”

“Yeah, thanks.”