Page 126 of Impenitent Claim

“Well, you worked for Fabrizi,” the lad countered.

“Let’s get one thing straight.” I pushed him to sit on the wood step—gently pushed. “I came to the East Coast for Izzy. Everything I’ve done, including tolerating Fabrizi’s sponsorship and rescuing you, has been for her.”

The kid blinked up at me. The way his eyes widened made him look impossibly young. Yet there were shadows growing there, like wrinkles, but these would tell a far more terrible tale than the lines of age.

“So it’s true,” he breathed. “You and her.”

“She’s mine.”

Alonzo nodded once. “You killed Fabrizi senior.”

“And you robbed me of the delight to kill his son.”

“Sorry,” Alonzo snorted. “But I got a little fed up with being his human pincushion. When the opportunity came to strike back, I didn’t stop.”

Making it impossible for me to think badly of you.“You did well. He’s a mess.”

“He deserved worse.” Alonzo scrubbed his hands over his face. “Did you know Fabrizi senior was going to marry my aunt?”

It didn’t surprise me. The Italian Mafias loved their arranged marriages.

But Alonzo wasn’t done with his story.

He went on to say how the aunt planned to end her brother and me, putting Fabrizi in the position to be the don, while Isabella was to be Cosimo’s prize. “You know she was here, my aunt? Told me the whole plot,” Alonzo laughed bitterly. “Shecame to take pictures of Gio’s body—annoyed that he died so easily. She cautioned Cosimo not to nick any arteries with me. My own aunt. She wanted me to stay a prisoner here in case they needed me as a bargaining piece. But she didn’t say Cosimo couldn’t play with me.”

My insides twisted into a tight knot. One that only violence could release.

Gio was dead.

I’d failed. I’d taken too long.

When I finally discovered Cosimo’s lair after five days of searching, I was prepared to find both lads dead. Upon entering the basement, and only seeing Alonzo, I hadn’t allowed myself to wonder where Gio was. Although if I was being honest, I knew. But Alonzo’s words were a bitter confirmation.

“The worst thing? My father found out about their plot—weeks ago!” Alonzo slapped his palm into the brick. “He’s been bargaining for his life ever since. Not mine. No, not the son who embarrasses him.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“No!” Alonzo’s gaze cut to mine. “No, Elijah. He’s mine.”

Arguments bubbled inside me.

But Alonzo pushed to his feet. Standing on the second step, he was actually eye level with me. “You get Isabella. Let me have this.”

And just like that, anything I could say lost any merit.

“Alright,” I agreed. “But you’re never to touch her—ever.”

Alonzo raised his hands. “Done. We’ll part ways after this, but Elijah?”

“It’s Ilya.” The admission absently fell from my lips as my mind reeled with the knowledge that I failed my siren.

“Okay…Ilya,” Alonzo cleared his throat.

This one lived.Was it wrong to wish it was the other way? I wished it was the other way. Hell, the look in Alonzo’s eye toldme he wished it was too. He was bitter and angry. Who wouldn’t be in his situation? Yes…I would let him kill his father. That would sate him. But as I stared into his eyes and saw the fierce determination, a sharp realization hit me: Izzy would be just as broken by Alonzo’s death as her brothers.

One lived. That was good.

The skin on his palms was crisscrossed with lacerations.Fuck, he’s a mess.“Yeah, kid?”

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