Page 53 of Impenitent Claim

“Let me go,” Gio snapped, wrenching his arm away. “We have orders.”

I blanched. Gio wasn’t a sworn soldier of the criminal organization. Hell, half a dozen of the youths who walked out that door weren’t inducted members.

“It’s time for bed,” I said under my breath. “Go upstairs—now, Gio.”

“Rilascialo,” Cosimo barked.

I glared at the underboss’s son. He dared to order me to release my brother? Me? But Gio jerked away, slipping from my grasp.

“Quit, Izzy. You’re embarrassing me,” he snapped.

“Gio!” I scrambled after him. No.No!He couldn’t be going out with the soldiers. That wasn’t right. He wasn’t ready!

“You’ve got her, Tony?” Cosimo sneered.

“Yeah,” the soldier rasped as he shot out an arm to block me.

I stumbled after Gio, but they were already leaving.

He didn’t even look back.

I rushed after him, but rough hands pushed me.

“Gambino!” I shouted at the older soldier, hating the catch in my voice.

“Try it again, principessa.” Tony didn’t hide the lust-filled look in his eyes.

I wasn’t supposed to fight back. I wasn’t supposed to show spunk, determination, or intelligence. But I reared up, attempting to sprint past him. I needed to reach my brother—before it was too late!

Tony wrapped me in a hug, palms splaying to touch me where he damn well shouldn’t. “So soft yet squirmy. Alonzo has his hands full with you, I bet.”

“Let her go,” a voice, dripping with boredom, said. “She won’t follow them. She knows what’s at stake.”

I glared at the underboss as he left the don’s office. His presence brought with it the terrible reminder of the threat he’d made against me. My body fell still.

“There, see? You just have to know how to handle the womenfolk, Gambino,” Tullio said condescendingly. “She’s just a little shocked to see her brother finally called to action. She won’t bother you or your recruits again. Will you, Isabella?”

Hating myself, I gave the response the underboss wanted to hear.

Tony shoved me down before jogging to the waiting cars.

Body shaking, I peeled myself off the floor. My heart thudded painfully against my chest. I did everything in my power to protect him, and if he was killed? Because he wasn’t experienced—or something worse! There was always the possibility Gio was removed because of who his father was. He would always be seen as a threat, even if he was married to another family and his sister shackled to the current don’s offspring.

“Oh, don’t worry about him.” Tullio’s chuckle crept through the air, poisoning this space. His foul presence brushed against my side as he walked to the don’s office. “It’s time the lads got a taste of the real world, no?”

Spiders crawled down my spine.

“Gio’s life was spared. I’m doing everything that was asked of me,” I breathed.

Tullio looked at me with that gummy expression. “Sometimes everything isn’t enough, now, is it?”

“Tullio! Get back in here, we’re not done,” the don shouted. “Your mongrel can entertain himself a few more minutes without you.”

Snorting, the underboss looked around. “Wonder where he’s gone,” he muttered under his breath as he scuttled back toward Aldo’s office.

Not having a clue what they could be talking about, nor able to properly care, I stood tall until the door shut. With that deafening click, the strength that had been keeping me upright failed. The weight of reality rose to crush me. Collecting my planner from the floor where I’d accidentally dropped it, I turned on my heel and ran. The corridors of the house blurred. A sob threatened to choke me, but I struggled to stifle it. The cool air of the garden was a sharp slap against my face. I kept running, darting off the path and weaving through the trees.

When I finally found a place, deep in the sanctuary of nature, I sank to the ground. The cold immediately broke through the thin material of my slacks. The frost on the leaves lent a crispness to the night. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

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