Page 68 of Deadly Vows

“I’m not trying to fight,” I say. “I just want to understand.”

Luca scoffs, his eyes cold as he looks at me.

“What is there to understand? I kill because I am a monster. Isn’t that what you believe?” he says, throwing my words in the car back at me.

I’ve never known Luca to care how I feel about him. If anything, he’s always embraced the darker side of himself. This is new.

“Luca—”

“You want to cast stones at the man who has done nothing but protect you? Do you think Iwanthim in my house? He is the reason my father is dead. He is the reason your mother is dead. He is the reason you were almost killed. He has caused me moretrouble than he’s worth, Elise. And I have kept him around for your sake. If not for me, his mother would have ended you next,” he snaps.

“He’s just as innocent as—”

“Innocent?” Luca laughs, cutting me off.

“Your brother helped me kill off most of the Trovoli clan. He put a bullet in William Anderson’s skull. And now that his mother has been killed, he is going to help me in tracking down the rest. There is a reason Eli was so eager to bring his son into this. He’s as cold-blooded as I was, Elise. He follows orders without asking questions. So maybe pick and choose your battles a little more carefully and just stay out of my way. Because if we had done things your way, you would be dead by now,” Luca growls.

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond as he storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

But I can’t focus on anything other than the fact that he just revealed to me the fate of my family. I knew a lot was going on that I wasn’t aware of. But this is much more intense than a few bullets flying. Everyone is dead, including Ari’s husband.

I choke on a sob, my need to know hitting me like a train. He said most of my family, meaning Ari, could still be alive. I take a deep breath, pushing the thought from my mind. If Ari is dead, it would be a good thing. She betrayed me on so many levels, and if not for Luca finding me before she did, things would be very different right now, I am sure of it.

I now know why Luca threatened me last night. He no longer cares about keeping secrets. He doesn’t care if I know that’s my brother. My words to him yesterday affected him in a way I didn’t know possible, making him no longer bother with hiding and sparing my feelings. He wants me to know that my worldview is skewed. I pick and choose who I think is good andwho is evil when, in reality, there is no correct choice. Everyone is out for themselves.

And he wants me to stay out of the way as he finishes the job. He’s meticulously planned everything, originally taking much more elaborate steps than necessary for my sake. But he is no longer going to do that. He wants me to see it all. He wants me to know that I cannot protect my brother’s innocence. My brother never had any.

It takes me a little longer than usual to compose myself as I come to terms with why Luca brought him into our home. When I finally gather enough courage to exit the room, I pass by Luca’s office on the way to the kitchen, and the door is slightly ajar.

Luca is sitting at his desk, and my chest clenches when I see Enzo with his back to me. Luca’s expression is cold as he speaks to my brother, and somehow, my brother is able to nod and respond in his presence, shining more light on what Luca said about him earlier.

Luca’s eyes shift, falling on me. He doesn’t falter in his speech as he looks at me. After a moment, he looks to the left, gesturing for someone before pointing at the door. It only takes a few seconds before Romelo steps into my line of vision with a firm expression, closing me off from the evil brewing in that room.

Luca

The room is silent as Enzo studies the images in front of him. Every important person in his life lies atop my desk as I explain his new situation.

“Obviously, you already know that my wife is your sister. Or rather, half-sister. But she has vehemently lobbied for your life over and over again, even though you are the cause of all the trouble in hers,” I say, watching his reaction.

I’m done playing this game with both of them. I’ve been desperate to relieve Elise of some of her stress, pretending to be something I am not. I am not patient. I am not thoughtful. I am the Capo, and what I say goes instantly.

Enzo doesn’t respond, looking at me in confusion.

“Eli Trovoli, your father, was also her father. And once you were born and showed signs of being a capable heir, he plotted to kill his daughter. If not for me, she would be dead. And if not for her, you would be,” I say.

Enzo’s eyes widen at this revelation. I only ever told him about his father’s occupation. I never told him just how low he stooped for power.

“So when William said she killed him—”

“She did no such thing. She vomits at the sight of blood. She can’t even pull a trigger. She begged for Eli’s life the day I killed him, even though he admitted to plotting to have her murdered and never even said that he loved her. She is a gentle woman, much too gentle for this world,” I say, dropping the picture of Eli’s dead body in front of Enzo.

He visibly pales, looking at me.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asks.

“Because in this world, it is kill or be killed. Your mother learned that the hard way, and now you have been dropped into my lap. And after all of your fuck ups, I have decided to give you another chance. A chance to not only earn your place among my family and be worthy of your sister’s love but also to get your revenge,” I say.

“I want you to know that your father killed mine. He killed Elise’s mother and attempted to kill her. He has never deserveda position of power. And I am glad that he has given me an excuse to wipe his family from the map. That included you up until a few weeks ago,” I say.

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