Page 12 of Shattered Choices

Maybe it’s too late, but I will never know until I try. I don’t have to have a perfect plan. I just need to decide what I want. And what I want is Isabella back.

I want my family all together and a chance for a new life.

A life where I can have what I want. A life where I get what I deserve.

seven

Salvatore

The moment my jet touched Italian soil, I was ready for anything that would bring Isabella back to me.

And when I say anything, I mean it. That’s why I didn’t question my cousin Rocco’s intention in helping me. Money is not a problem. This is not the first time I’ll have to pay him huge amounts of money, but he always has other requests. I’m still waiting to return him a favor for helping me last time I was here.

Last time I came here with Isabella, for the alliance. This time, there is no alliance and I’m almost sure if I cross her father’s path, he will put a bullet between my eyes.

Do I care?

No.

I’m ready to die if I can’t get her back.

“You sure you don’t want us to go back to my villa?” I look toward my cousin, who is driving casually. His left hand is over the wheel and his right hand rests on the gear stick.

“No, just drive me to the borders of Calabria. I don’t want you involved. I will do everything by myself.”

“By yourself? And what exactly is your plan? Do you have one?”

I shrug. “No, but I don’t need one. For the first time in my life, I’m letting things go with a flow.”

He shakes his head. “You’re crazy, you know that, right? Ruggeri will kill you if he catches you. And that guy who is always with her, Pino… they are supposed to get married.”

My breath catches and his words are like a knife in my heart. “What?” I can barely ask.

“Well, that is the word on the street. How about we start from the beginning?”

“Talk!”

“According to my sources, with the support of her father, she is becoming a mafia queen with that big guy Pino by her side.”

I turn to him and study his expression. “I thought only sons could inherit their father’s place in ‘Ndrangheta?”

He shrugs. “Maybe before, but come on, Salvatore. Every organization on this planet is evolving. It’s time they do as well.”

“What exactly does that mean for you?”

“Nothing, for now. We have a deal. I actually couldn’t care less if I deal with a woman or a man.” He smirks. “At least a woman is better to look at.”

“What about his men? Do they agree with it?”

“As far as I know, they do. The deal breaker is she is marrying Pino…”

I cut him off. My voice low and firm. “She is not marrying him. She is still my wife. She is still mine.”

“You sure about that? On paper maybe, but they seem too cozy to me.”

“What do you mean?”

We stop at the crossing as he lets an old lady cross the road. He leans over and opens the glove compartment, taking a yellow envelope from it and tossing it on my lap. “Take a look.”

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