Chapter 11
EMBERLINE
There were too many Demente soldiers packed onto the boat for us to speak freely, so after a nearly silent return trip, we arrived to find Rocco propped up like a king against silk cushions in the villa’s main living area, Valeria by his side.
A very angry king.
His missing hand was wrapped in fresh bandages, brutish face pale from blood loss, and when he saw us, his entire being radiated contempt and pure, unbridled fury.
Luca paused beside me, his face even whiter than Rocco’s. “I’m exhausted, Em. I’m going to bed.”
Are you okay? You haven’t said a word since… Blackwood.
I’m fine. Just tired, and besides, what is there to say? His lips tried to form a tired smile. That was… fucking intense. Just… give me some time alone to think everything through.
I frowned, but finally nodded. “I’ll come check on you later, okay? Make sure that wound is healing properly.”
Without another word, Luca disappeared toward the guest quarters, rubbing his arm before vanishing around the corner.
I watched him go, instincts prickling.
Something wasn’t right. He’d been acting strange ever since we’d escaped, and I still couldn’t pinpoint when he’d hurt his arm… on the dock by one of those spiders, during our race through the palazzo, or when we’d escaped Blackwood?
Nico stood apart from the rest of us, hands in his pockets, expression hollow as he gazed out the window at the sun rising over the breaking tide. Dante kept brushing his hand over my skin, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, making any excuse to touch me.
I leaned into his touch as Valeria’s healer knelt in front of me and unwrapped the fabric Gabriel had wound around my upper arm.
The gashes had finally stopped bleeding.
With a click of her tongue, she laid her palm over the wounds, the pain fading as her magic sank in, skin knitting back together, muscles and tendons healing.
Dante waved her away, but one by one she went to Gabriel, then Nico, checking us over for injuries.
We were all clearly rattled and needing to talk about what just happened—especially those fucking spiders—but first, we’d be dealing with Rocco, apparently.
“You kept your word.” Valeria gently squeezed Rocco’s shoulder, her warm smile that of a daughter, happy to see her father safely returned. “You brought my father home, at great cost, it seems. Thank you.”
Gabriel inclined his head. “I never break my oath, especially to my ally.”
“You have my thanks.” Valeria’s bottom lip trembled, and honestly, if I didn’t despise her so much, I would have found the reunion heartwarming.
At least until Rocco snorted, glaring up at Valeria beneath bushy brows.
“They’ve served their purpose; now be done with this travesty.
” Silence fell between us, everyone instantly on high alert, knives slipping from sheaths, feet braced solidly on the floor.
“Execute them. Or better yet, turn them over to Lord Blackwood and forge a real alliance that benefits this family.”
This fucking bastard…
Even the soldiers who had escorted us back stiffened, glancing between Valeria and her father in confusion.
Here it comes. The betrayal I knew was right around the corner. How like a Demente to use us for their own ends, then sell us out for a seat at the table or a bigger piece of territory.
But instead of agreeing, Valeria flinched, her lips thinning out, two spots of color blooming on her cheeks.
“I’ll do no such thing.” She looked to Gabriel instead. “Gabriel and I swore an oath, and I will keep my word. Your rescue in exchange for Demente resources backing their revolt. Once Giovanni and Blackwood are finished, Gabriel will take his place as Don, as is his right.”
“They know too much. They are valuable bargaining chips,” Rocco snapped the fingers of his remaining hand at the soldiers.
“Seize them. I’ll contact Blackwood myself, offer them up as a peace offering, buy our way back inside the inner circle.
” His voice rose at least three octaves, almost sounding hysterical.
“That’s an order,” he screamed at the soldiers. “Obey me.”
“I countermand that order. Stand down.” Valeria’s calm words landed harder than hammer blows. Rocco’s jaw worked, teeth grinding loud enough for us all to hear.
“I am your father and the leader of this family. I control the Demente Syndicate. Me.”
“Not anymore.” Steel lined Valeria’s every single word, her spine straight. “I called a meeting of family heads while you were… away. I was voted in as the new head of the syndicate. I’ll show you the contract if you’d like proof.”
For several seconds, no one breathed.
The tension in my body loosened, tired muscles unclenching, my heart rate slowing as I reached the inevitable conclusion—I’d misjudged Valeria.
As if she’d read my mind, she dipped her head to me, then faced Gabriel once more.
“We made an agreement.” She extended her hand. “I intend to honor my side of the oath as well. Anything you need is yours. Destroy Giovanni and bring Blackwood to his knees. Take our Dynasty back, and I will be honored to serve at council at your side when you are sworn in as Don.”
“And I will be honored to serve at yours.” Gabriel clasped her hand firmly as Rocco spluttered out a foul insult.
“Anything you require in your war against Giovanni and Lord Blackwood,” Valeria repeated louder, “my ships, my soldiers, my entire intelligence network—they are yours.”
“Your ships? Your fucking networks? This is a fucking travesty.” Rocco exploded. “You’re soft. Worthless. Nothing but a female. What do you even know about business matters?”
“Far more than you ever did, father,” she said dismissively. “We’ve entered a brand-new age, and I will bring our operations out of antiquity and into the future… without burning the world down around us and destroying lives.”
She released Gabriel’s hand and leveled a withering look at her father. “I did this to save your ass, you know. And these people risked theirs to bring you home alive. Do try, for once in your miserable existence, to find some gratitude in your heart.”
“Gratitude?” he muttered bitterly. “That bastard cut off my hand.”
“And you betrayed Emberline and almost got her killed,” Valeria snapped. “You deserved to pay for that with your life. Gabriel showed you mercy.”
I hated to admit it, but watching them together, I was starting to understand Valeria a little bit better.
At least I’d had Enzo as my moral compass.
How would I have turned out, having someone like Rocco manipulating my entire life with his toxic version of control, using my love for him and my own insecurities against me?
Maybe I didn’t exactly like Valeria, but I respected the hell out of her right now for standing up for herself and not raising her voice. I wanted to throat punch the misogynistic old fucker for being demeaning.
Nico remained over by the windows, staring out over the ocean.
Not once had he looked anywhere else, not even when Rocco threatened to turn us all over to Blackwood.
Normally, he’d have some smart-ass—and clever—retort ready, but now he just…
stared, as if he didn’t even see what was in front of him.
He hadn’t said a word on the return journey, and while I had questions, I got the distinct feeling if I pushed too hard, he might just push back.
I didn’t know what happened at La Sala today, but I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything would be okay.
Gabriel and Valeria already had their heads together, planning the next step. Dante caught my eye from across the room and glanced down the hallway, where my brother had disappeared.
“You need sleep too, tesoro,” he urged, nudging me toward our bedroom. I was dragging, legs like lead, side aching from where I’d crashed into a wall… or something.
“I should check on Luca first,” I told him, debating between concern and respecting my brother’s boundaries as I paused beside his door. When I pressed my ear to the wood, all I heard was… snoring.
“He sounds like he’s fast asleep.”
“And so should you be. He’s a big boy,” Dante murmured, urging me down the hall, crowding me so I had no choice but to keep walking until we reached our room. “He just needs time to process what happened.”
“Gods, you’re bossy.” I tried to smile, but couldn’t quite manage one, feet tangling together as he steered me through the door, closing it behind us. “But you’re right. I’m just…”
“Being a good sister.” He kissed the top of my head. “Luca’s not the only one who was exhausted.” His nose wrinkled. “And you need a shower.”
“At least I don’t smell like a bonfire,” I huffed. “And I’m not ripping my clothes at the seams.”
“At least I don’t…” My husband paused, nostrils flaring. “What do you smell like? Whatever it is, the scent is odd, like… spent magic?”
“That’s… a long story,” I finally settled on since any answer would lead to a complicated explanation. “But since I apparently stink, I’ll be taking a shower first.” I sniffed my shirt.
Okay, so maybe he was right. The fabric did smell weird, a mix of ozone and chemicals.
Like that cloud of black smoke that had saved our asses.
“I’ll be right here when you’re done,” Dante said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed, running his fingers gently over the healing furrows in my arm. “I’m sorry about those. I should have been there.”
“Don’t be. It’s better than getting bit by one of those nasty spiders.”
He shuddered, all the blood draining from his face. “You don’t know the half of it,” he muttered, and when I cocked my head to the side, he just sighed. “That’s a long story, too.” Dante stared past me to the closed door, his expression closing down.
“We really should talk about what happened. But first, take your shower.” He stretched his arms up over his head and the entire front of his shirt popped open, buttons spraying everywhere.
“Well, shit.” My husband plucked at the ruined shirt. “Now I’ll have to find another guard with excellent taste in clothes. In a bigger size, of course.”