Chapter 31
Elena
I wake up to a knock on the bedroom door. For a moment, I'm disoriented—this isn't my room. Then I remember. The attack. The escape. Marco bringing me here to Vito's penthouse.
I look next to me. No Marco. He must have left after I fell back asleep.
The door opens and both Gianna and Rina step in. Rina's smile is warm but there's concern in her eyes.
"Room for two more?" she asks.
I pull the blankets back and they both climb in beside me. Gianna on one side, Rina on the other.
We talk for a while about nothing in particular. Gianna tells me about classes and about what she wants to take next semester. But I can tell something else is on Gianna's mind. She keeps fidgeting with the blanket.
"What did you really want to talk to me about, G?" I ask.
Her eyes fill with tears. "I overheard Vito and Marco talking about what happened to you last night. Are you okay? What happened?"
Shit. She was never meant to hear any of that. She's not made for the mafia life. She wants out and nothing to do with it, and I don't blame her.
I pull her to me and hug her. "You were never supposed to hear any of that. I'm so sorry it scared you."
"Are you okay?" she asks again through tears.
"I'm okay, G." But she doesn't believe me, giving me a questioning look while wiping tears from her cheeks. "Really, I am. It was scary, but Marco protected me, and we got out of there safely."
My face feels hot at the mention of Marco.
Gianna notices and frowns. "Why did your face get all flushed? Is there something going on between you and Marco?"
"No! No, nothing. He just protected me and I'm grateful he was there." But I can't help the smile on my face, thinking back to us having sex, the day we spent together, the tender moments last night.
Gianna sighs and runs a hand through her hair. Clear frustration on her face. "You can't get involved with him, Elena. Don't you know what he does? He kills people. He's ruthless and cold and will stop anyone who gets in his way of protecting this family."
"Of course I know all of that. But that's not the only Marco that I see.
I see the one who wipes the tear from my cheek, and holds my hand when I'm scared, and steps in front of bullets to protect me.
That's what he did last night. He kept me out of harm's way and got me away from the threat. " Raw emotion fills my voice.
"You're just a job to him, Elena. I've heard the way Vito talks about your situation. You. Are. Just. A. Job." She punctuates each word. "That's all you'll ever be."
"That's not fair, G," Rina interjects softly. "You don't know what's between them."
"I've lived in this house. I've heard more than I probably should.
I've heard every time one of their men died.
I've heard when warehouses were attacked.
I've heard the rage when one of the family was threatened.
" Gianna's voice breaks. "You don't want that life, and neither do I.
I want to graduate and move somewhere secluded where I can teach kids and live a quiet life. I don't belong here."
She's sniffling now. Crying. "You're my friend and my family, and I only want what's best for you. You're playing with fire, and you're going to get burned."
The words sting because part of me knows she might be right.
"But maybe it's worth it," Rina says quietly. We both turn to look at her. "This life—it's dangerous. It's violent. It's not what either of you chose." She takes my hand. "But loving someone in this life? That's what makes it bearable. That's what makes the danger worth facing."
"Rina—" Gianna starts.
"I'm not saying you should stay if you don't want to, G. You deserve to live whatever life makes you happy." Rina squeezes my hand. "But Elena isn't you. And Marco isn't just some soldier following orders. I've seen the way he looks at her. That's not how you look at a job."
"But what if she gets hurt?" Gianna's voice is small. Scared.
"Then she gets hurt. That's the risk of loving anyone." Rina looks at me. "But hiding from it doesn't keep you safe. It just keeps you alone."
The three of us sit in silence for a moment. Then Gianna wipes her eyes and hugs me. "I just don't want to lose you."
"You won't lose me," I promise, even though I'm not sure I can keep it.
After they leave, I shower and get dressed. Someone brought me clothes—there's a pile on the bench at the end of the bed.
Walking to the kitchen, I notice it's eerily quiet. Normally I hear the girls chatting or Dante's booming voice, but today it's silent. Unnerving.
Entering the kitchen, I see one of Marco's men sitting at the island. The same one who picked us up last night.
"Good morning," I say. He looks up from his phone and nods.
I make myself a coffee. Raise a mug in his direction. "Want a cup?" He shakes his head.
Okay, not a talker.
I sit near him. "Where's Marco?" I ask hesitantly.
"On assignment with Don Vito."
"What assignment?"
"Meeting with your father."
I blink, thinking I must have misheard. "What? When?"
"This morning. You're to stay here under guard detail."
"They went to meet my father without me?" My voice rises. "I'm the one who knows how to contact him. I'm the one who—"
"Those were Don Vito's orders."
I stand abruptly, my chair scraping loudly. "This is bullshit. They can't just—"
"Elena." Rina's voice comes from the doorway. She walks in, her expression sympathetic but firm. "They're trying to keep you safe."
"By cutting me out? This is my father. My problem. I should be there."
"And put yourself in danger again?" Rina moves closer. "After last night?"
"I can handle myself. I proved that last night."
"No one's questioning that. But Vito made a call. Marco agreed with it." She pauses. "For what it's worth, I don't think Marco wanted to leave you here. But he didn't have a choice."
The information doesn't make me feel better. "I need to get out of here. I need air. I need—" I look around the penthouse, the walls suddenly feeling too close. "I can't just sit here and wait. I can't breathe in here."
"Where do you want to go?" Rina asks.
"My apartment. I need to get my plants. If I'm going to be stuck here, I at least want my things."
"Miss Messina," the guard says from his seat. I think his name is Luca. "You're not authorized to leave the premises."
I turn on him. "I'm not a prisoner."
"You're under protection. That means—"
"I don't care what it means. I'm going to my apartment."
"I can't allow that."
"Then stop me." I grab my jacket from the back of the chair.
He stands, moving to block the door. "Ma'am—"
"Dante." Rina's voice cuts through the tension and Dante appears from somewhere down the hallway. "You're going to take her to her apartment. You're going to let her get her plants and whatever else she needs. And you're going to bring her back safely."
Dante and the other guard share a look for a moment. "Rina, Don Vito specifically said—" he begins with an uneasy expression.
"I don't care what my husband said." Rina's voice is steel wrapped in silk. "I'm telling you to take her. If you have a problem with that, I'll call Vito right now and explain that you refused to follow my direct order. How do you think that conversation will go?"
Dante twists his lips. He looks between Rina and me, clearly calculating his options.
"Fine," he finally says. "But we go in, get what you need, and come straight back. And Luca comes with us."
"Deal." I grab my purse.
Rina catches my arm as I pass. "Be careful," she whispers. "And come back. Okay?"
"I will." I hug her quickly. "Thank you."
As Dante signals to Luca and we head to the elevator, I try to ignore the uneasy feeling in my stomach. This is just about getting my plants. Getting some air. Feeling like I have some control over my own life again.
Nothing bad is going to happen.
Right?
The drive to my apartment is tense. Dante drives while Luca sits in the passenger seat, both of them scanning the streets like they expect an ambush at any moment. I sit in the back, my knee bouncing with nervous energy.
When we pull up to my building, I can see the police tape still across my door. The reminder of last night sends a chill through me.
"Stay close," Dante says as we exit the vehicle. "We go in, you get what you need, we leave. Ten minutes max."
"My plants need care—"
"Then work fast."
We make it to my apartment. The door frame is splintered where it was kicked in. Bullet holes dot the walls. Glass crunches under our feet.
"Jesus," I whisper, seeing the destruction in daylight.
"Ten minutes," Dante reminds me, positioning himself by the door while Luca does a sweep of the rooms.
I head to my bedroom first, carefully lifting the potted plants from the windowsill. Then to the living room for the larger ones. I'm trying to figure out how to carry them all when I hear it.
A shuffle. A creak.
Dante's hand goes to his weapon. "Someone's here."
"Clear," Luca calls from the bedroom, emerging into the living room. Then he freezes. "Dante—"
Tony steps out from the kitchen, gun already drawn. "Hey there, Miss Messina. Fancy meeting you here."
Dante's weapon comes up. "Tony? What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Just following orders." Tony's smile is cold. "New orders."
"Marco sent you?" I ask, confused.
"Not exactly."
Everything happens fast. Two more men emerge from my bedroom—they must have been hiding in the closet during Luca's sweep.
Dante shouts a warning. Gunfire erupts.
Dante takes a hit to the shoulder and goes down. Luca returns fire, taking out one of the men, but the second one catches him from behind with a blow to the head. He crumples.
I'm frozen. Staring at Tony. At this man who was supposed to be one of ours.
"Why?" The word comes out strangled.
"Money talks, sweetheart. Ronan pays better than the Rossos ever did." Tony moves toward me. "And delivering you personally? That's bonus money."
I turn to run but there's nowhere to go. He catches me easily, one arm wrapping around my waist, gun pressing into my ribs.
"Let's go. We have people waiting."
He drags me toward the door. I try to fight, try to scream, but his grip is iron. We're in the hallway, then the stairwell. A black van is waiting in the alley.
I'm shoved inside. The door slams. Tony climbs in after me, along with another man.
"Drive," Tony orders.
As the van pulls away, I catch a glimpse of my building. Of Dante pulling himself up in the doorway, phone to his ear, blood staining his shirt.
At least he's alive. At least he can tell Marco what happened.
"Where are you taking me?" I keep my voice steady.
"Someplace quiet. Boss wants to have a chat with you."
"Ronan?"
Tony laughs. "Ronan? That Irish prick works for someone else now. Someone with bigger plans than collecting your daddy's gambling debts."
The van turns. Then another turn. I try to keep track but it's useless. We're heading east, toward the river.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Tony notices and holds out his hand.
"Give it."
I don't move.
He presses the gun harder into my ribs. "Give. It."
I pull out my phone. He takes it and throws it out the window.
The other man in the van suddenly pulls out a syringe.
"Wait—no—" I start to struggle but Tony holds me firm.
The needle pierces my neck. Liquid fire spreads through my veins.
"Just making the ride easier," Tony says as my vision blurs. "Don't worry. You'll wake up soon enough. Ronan's been looking forward to this."
The darkness pulls me under.