Chapter 33
ADRIANO
Days blend together after I overhear Eva with Ivan. I keep expecting her to show up at our gates with tearful eyes, playing victim again.
But she doesn't come.
Each morning, I check security reports, scanning for signs of her. Each night, I find myself staring at the ceiling, replaying everything I heard in that Bratva dining room.
"When's Mommy coming back?" Mirabella's voice pulls me from my thoughts. She sits across from me at breakfast, pushing soggy cereal around her bowl. Dark circles shadow her eyes. She hasn't been sleeping well.
Neither have I.
"Soon." I lie because I can’t figure out how to tell her the truth. I resent Eva for putting me in the position to break our daughter’s heart.
Her bottom lip quivers. "You said that yesterday."
I reach across the table, smoothing a strand of her hair. "I know, Princess."
"I want Mommy." Tears pool in her eyes as she shoves her bowl away. Milk sloshes over the rim. "You said you’d get her from the bad men."
Fuck. What do I do?
I circle the table and lift her into my arms. She buries her face against my neck, her tears soaking my collar.
The truth is, if Eva came back now, I'd have no choice. She'd be dealt with as any traitor would be. Alessandro would demand it. The Family would expect it.
But looking at my daughter, I find myself grateful Eva hasn't returned. Because despite everything, I don't want to be the man who takes a mother from her child.
Or perhaps I simply don't want to be the man who puts a bullet in the only woman I've ever loved.
“Sir?”
I glance over at Nico.
“There’s a Bratva courier to see you.”
Hmm. This is it. Ivan is playing his hand and I have no doubt Eva is involved. As much as I hate to leave Mirabella, I need to deal with this.
“Come on, sweetie pie,” Sophia says, taking Mirabella from me. “I think I saw a new fairy in the yard.”
Mirabella sniffs. “You did?”
“I did. Let’s go find her.”
I walk with Nico to the foyer where one of Ivan’s men waits. He’s Russian through and through with his bulldog face and perma-scowl.
“I have a message and I’m instructed to wait for your response.”
I take the paper from him and read, nearly laughing at the absurd demands. Surrender control of our shipping routes, withdraw from disputed territories. In return, he’ll send Eva back to us unharmed. If not, he’ll kill her.
My stomach clenches. It’s an automatic response to the idea of Ivan killing Eva left over from when I loved her.
I glance at Ivan’s man. “No deal.”
He arches a brow. “Perhaps Don Dante should—”
I laugh. “He’ll say the same.” But I nod for him to follow and we go to Alessandro’s office.
When he sees the Bratva stooge follow me in, he scowls. “Bringing mongrels into the house now?”
“He’s a courier.” I hand him the note.
The courier shifts slightly. “I’m prepared to give you proof of life.”
“Is she enjoying Ivan’s company in his bed too or just at his dining table?” Alessandro asks, and even though I know the truth about her, it rubs me wrong what he’s insinuating.
The courier’s head jerks back, clearly surprised by the response. “She is a prisoner—”
“We know that’s not true.”
The Russian looks from me to Alessandro, and there’s something in his confusion that has me wondering if I’m missing something. I know what I saw, what I heard, but he clearly believes Eva is a prisoner.
A seed of doubt takes root. What if I misheard that night at the compound? What if Eva's cooperation isn't willing but coerced?
The courier nods. "You doubt Pakhan Vasiliev?”
Alessandro laughs. “I doubt everything connected to Ivan Vasiliev."
“Wait outside. I want to talk to Don Dante,” I tell the courier.
He nods and exits the office.
“Don’t tell me you’re buying this,” Alessandro says before I can speak my mind. "She's playing you again."
“Maybe. What if she’s being forced—"
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Adriano.” He stares at me like he doesn’t recognize me. "You've always been the one who sees through lies. Yet this woman blinds you every time."
"She's the mother of my child."
"And a proven liar." He leans forward, palms flat on his desk. "Did you forget how she faked her death? How she ran from our protection? How you found her dining with Ivan, conspiring with him?"
I haven’t forgotten, and yet… "I know what I heard, but—"
"But nothing." His eyes narrow. "I bet this is why he sent her away. He could see her effect on you. It’s not good.”
“We have men watching them. What do they say?”
He blows out a breath but picks up his phone. He dials and then puts it on speaker.
“Don Dante,” Ricci, a capo who specializes in Russian intelligence, answers.
"What do we know about the Santoro woman’s situation with Ivan?" he asks.
"My sources say she's kept under heavy guard. Not allowed to leave the house or compound."
"A guest or a prisoner?" Alessandro interjects.
"Hard to tell.”
Alessandro looks at me. “Ivan is not a generous man. No way he’s giving her free run of the house if she’s a prisoner.”
“She can’t leave, though—”
“Probably because he doesn’t want you swooping in and taking her back.”
I shake my head because this doesn’t make sense. “If he wants her to work for him, why isn’t he sending her back?”
Alessandro crosses his arms. “Maybe she told him we won’t believe her. She knows she’s DOA if she comes here.”
“So what’s this?” I pick up the note and wave it at him.
“A hail Mary? Maybe a trap thinking you’ll come save her. Who the fuck knows, and frankly, I don’t care. I’m not handing over the business to Ivan, and you’re delusional if you think I would.”
Alessandro is right in that Eva has a dangerous hold on me. Every instinct screams to protect her, to storm the Bratva compound and bring her home, not just for Mirabella, but for me.
But logic overcomes emotions. What if this is exactly what she wants? She knows she can’t return here, so this is the new plan she’s concocted with Ivan. She's orchestrated this entire situation to manipulate me once more.
I fold the note, tucking it into my pocket. "We ignore the demands.”
"Finally, something we agree on." He nods toward the hallway where the courier waits. "Question is, what message do we send back?"
I shrug and open the door. “Come in.”
The courier enters, standing at attention as he awaits our answer.
"Tell Ivan the Dantes refuse his insulting offer,” Alessandro says, sitting in his chair, looking like the powerful Don he’s finally becoming.
"He anticipated this response," the courier says. "He said to remind you of what happens to the woman."
“I can read.” Alessandro sneers. “He can do what he wants with that traitor.”
It’s not easy to hear those words, but I stay quiet.
The courier glances at me. “I was told you’d be more sympathetic. She is the mother of your child, is she not? The Pakhan was certain you were weak when it came to her.”
I arch a brow. “I assure you, I’m quite strong.” I smile as I pull my knife, and with a single move, I slip it between the courier’s ribs before he knows what’s happening. His eyes widen in shock as I twist the blade, ensuring the wound is fatal.
He drops to the floor.
“Well… that’s one way to deal with him,” Alessandro quips. He rises from his desk and opens his office door, calling Nico in.
“Pack the head and send it back to Ivan,” Alessandro instructs. "Make sure the eyes remain open. Get rid of the rest of him."
“Yes, sir.” Nico calls for his men, and they carry the courier out. I can already imagine Ivan getting the box with his messenger’s head in it. That alone will signify our answer.
It takes all my will to tamp down on the doubt about Eva’s role in all this. Once Ivan sees that head, if she really is a prisoner, he’ll kill her. Odds are he’ll send her head to me.
I close my eyes, trying not to see that image.
I know what I saw and heard.
She is Ivan's accomplice.
And if she isn’t… well… at this point, either way, there's no turning back.