Page 53 of Savage Enemy

“I don’t know yet for sure…”

He let the sentence hang, not giving voice to the horrible things already filling my head.

I released a slow breath.

“When are they coming to evaluate the goods?”

“Masquerade ball at the Palmer House in three days. They’ll send someone to get the first look at you before reporting back.”

“What?” I stared at him in disbelief. “I can’t be there. I’m supposed to be dead.”

“No, Valentina, you’re not. The papers here picked up Vignali’s announcement, so everyone realizes you’re alive. You’re expected to make an appearance, to make small talk, explain your absence, and celebrate your happy return to the family, however brief it might be.”

I leaped to my feet and paced, vibrating out of my own skin.

“I don’t care whatI’m expected to do.”

The walls had closed in on me, and I just couldn’t take it anymore. Too much energy coursed through me, too many senseless thoughts swirled around inside my head.

Marco watched me, his gaze following me back and forth.

“Father wanted them here to conduct whatever inspection they wanted, which would have meant getting their answer as soon as tomorrow. But I convinced them the masquerade ball would be a better opportunity to negotiate further.”

I shot him a quick glance, unable to stop my frantic pacing.

“How? Or did you really just want to show me off?”

“I think you know me better than that. Father never gave a fuck about you. He didn’t care what happened to you, and he still doesn’t. I made the arrangement because I would prefer the assessment be made in public, where they can’t hurt you.”

God, I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, so I chose to behave like any other Moscatelli asshole.

“Yay for me. Oh, I guess I should thank you for this great reprieve, but fuck you, Marco.”

With that one gesture, though, he’d already done more for me than Saul ever had or would, but I needed to lash out.

“What you shouldthank me for is giving Vignali a window of opportunity to claim you and take you back to his home where you belong, with your son.”

“What?” I tripped over my own feet as I spun around to stare at my brother. “What did you say?”

“Come here,sorellina. Sit and talk to me. Let me fill you in on the plan, yeah? If this is going to work, I need to know a few things about your man. I need to know if he’s gonna come through if I set this thing up.”

Sorellina. His baby sister.

I wanted to throw my arms around him and sob.

He was giving me a fighting chance.

I’d been so afraid for so long, and I never let myself miss any part of my old life—not even my protective big brother.

I climbed onto the bed beside him, my heels tucked under my bottom, and gave him my full attention.

Just like when we were children.

“What do you need to know about Stefano?”

“Does he have any friends in Chicago?”

I shook my head. “Not like that. The Commission makes it impossible. The only person he knows who can move between the two cities is Benedetta Capaldo.”

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