41. Luna
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
LUNA
I stayed in the chair longer than I meant to, watching the slow rise and fall of Nico’s chest, making sure that he was still breathing.
But eventually, exhaustion won out, so I slipped upstairs and curled into bed for a few hours.
Now, sunlight filters through the windows, and my body is telling me to stay, but my mind refuses to listen.
There’s a knock at my door, and I don’t usually entertain in my bedroom, but I guess there’s a first time for everything. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Amara steps inside like she’s been waiting for days to talk to me.
“Sorry to bother you, but we need to discuss the women. They’ve made their decision, and I’d like to stay.”
She sinks into the chair next to me. “It’s split down the middle. Half will stay, and half will leave. The ones staying will follow you, follow Nico, but only if there’s a set plan.”
Leaving means cutting ties altogether. Staying means choosing a side.
“I’ll talk to Nico. See what he can do.”
“The ones who want to leave are getting restless.”
“Some of them want to leave because of what happened to Nico, right?”
“They do. Seeing him like that, how bad he was, it was like going backwards instead of forward. They’re scared. They don’t feel safe here anymore.”
And just like that, my anxiety has returned. “It’s safer here than anywhere else.”
“We both know that, but they don’t.” Amara crosses her legs, trying to get comfortable. “They were already living with fear, but this solidified the fact.”
“If they want to go, I won’t stop them. But for the ones who want to stay?” I cock my head. “We need to make sure they want this life. Because once they commit, there’s no walking away. And their loyalty to the Caputo family is their bond.”
“Agreed.”
The position of leadership and responsibility weighs more heavily on my shoulders than I expected. Because one way or another, we have to move forward.
When the door clicks shut, I try to stay present, but the past has a way of dragging me back.
Because I’ve buried the truth and locked it away where no one, not Nico, the family, or anyone, can touch it.
And that’s how it has to stay.
Some secrets change everything, tear families apart, and rewrite history with a single revelation. And this? This is one of them.
I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Because no matter what happens, no one can ever know.
I rise from the chair, pushing my thoughts aside like always. Dwelling on it won’t change a damn thing. What matters now is action.
After changing, I step into the hallway, and the relentless rhythm of Caputo business is carrying on like nothing has changed. But everything has.
Doors are opening and closing, and his guards are walking about like it’s just an ordinary day, as if Nico didn’t almost die. Like I didn’t sit by his bed, willing him to live. I keep walking. Because if I stop, I might fall apart knowing that life goes on regardless of the cost.
My fingers glide along the railing as I walk down the stairs. And I’m trying to figure out what comes next. Ultimately, I have to make a choice, one way or another.
And once I do?—
There’s no turning back.
I quietly slip into the room, finding him exactly where I left him—propped against the pillows, but looking stronger than he did earlier. Yet, he’s still not himself.
He glances up as I enter. “Didn’t expect you back so soon.”
I arch a brow, hiding my smile. “You expecting someone else?”
He smirks, shaking his head. “Never.”
I’m relieved when the mercurial man I married stares back at me.
“About the women,” I say, cutting straight to it. “Some are ready to leave.”
“I knew they’d want their freedom once they were healed. Tell me, did it have anything to do with me being shot?”
“They’re scared. Seeing you that close to death brought back memories they can’t forget. Now this place doesn’t feel safe anymore.”
“If they’re afraid, knowing this is the safest place, they were never meant to stay.” It’s not cruel, just a fact. Nico doesn’t deal with indecision.
“The ones who want to stay are hoping for work. Perhaps you could find something for them to do.”
His fingers tap absently against the blanket. “They’ll have jobs. A real place here. But they need to understand, this isn’t temporary. If they stay, they’re in. Loyalty isn’t negotiable.”
I know there’s no half-in, half-out in this life. You either commit or you die. And I suspect that’s the reason why some of the women want to leave. “Agreed.”
We both know what’s at stake—what staying here truly means.
“I’ll make sure they have jobs, as long as they realize they’re in this for life.”
“I’ll talk to Amara,” I say. “We’ll organize the ones leaving, ensure they have everything they need before they go.”
Nico just watches me, as if gauging whether I feel the burden of this. I do. But I don’t falter.
“And the ones staying?” he finally asks.
“We integrate them. Give them real roles. Make sure they understand exactly what they’re signing up for.”
His lips curve, not quite a smile, but enough to show his approval. “Then let’s get to work.”
I step forward, resting my hand against his shoulder. “You’re still recovering,” I say. “I’ll take care of it.” He doesn’t argue because he’s starting to trust me.
So, I walk away, confident that I can do this.