Page 42 of Unworthy Ties
Together, we finished our drinks, the warmth spreading through us not just from the coffee but from the bond we shared. And as we rose from the table, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew that no matter what obstacles we encountered, we would face them together.
Chapter 21
Rocco
Watching Gabriella flinch at every creak in the floorboards since the break-in tore something inside me. I could handle enemies, bullets, blood—but not the look in her eyes as she jumped at every sound and glanced towards the window as if expecting shadows to manifest into something more menacing. It was as if every tiny noise reminded her of the chaos we had endured, the vulnerability that clung to her like a second skin.
I couldn’t protect her from the ghosts in her own head.
Not with guns, not with locked doors, not with the men I stationed outside. Those were threats I knew how to crush. But the kind that crept in when the world went dark? The kind that twisted a strong woman into watching shadows on the wall like they might come alive? That was a war I didn’t know how to fight.
A low rumble of thunder rolled through the sky, rattling the panes. She flinched again, arms wrapping tighter around herself. The sight of it carved a hollow ache through me.
I moved closer, my heart pounding louder than the storm outside. “Gabriella,” I whispered, voice low and steady, cutting through the tension that hung thick in the air. She turned, eyes shimmering like the rain sliding down the glass, reflecting both fear and something softer—something buried deep beneath the surface.
“Come here,” I urged, my hand reaching out toward her. She hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face, but the tremor in my voice seemed to reach her, pulling her in. Her steps were tentative as she crossed the room, each footfall echoing in the oppressive quiet.
When she stood before me, I could see the storm inside her—a tempest of anxiety and unspoken words. I gathered her into my arms, encasing her in warmth and strength. “You’re safe,” I murmured, feeling her body relax against mine, if only a little. “I promise you’re safe.”
As the thunder continued to roar outside, I felt the tension in Gabriella’s shoulders ease ever so slightly. Her breath was shallow, but a stillness settled between us, one that seemed to quiet the chaos that had surrounded her. I tightened my grip, anchoring her to me as if I could shield her from everything that haunted her.
“I don’t want to be afraid anymore,” she whispered, her voice trembling, yet laced with a quiet strength that made my chest ache. I pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, taking in the depths of her brown eyes, swirling with shadows of doubt and flickers of something brighter—something hopeful. “I hate it.”
“You won’t be,” I promised, searching for the right words. “I will find them.”
The storm pounded against the house, but my focus was sharper than the thunder. Nothing would touch her—not while I was breathing.
A surge of protective anger rolled through me, and I felt the need to take immediate action flood my veins. I stepped back, creating a small distance between us, just enough for her to see the determination etched on my face. “I’m going to take care of this right now.”
“Huh? Rocco, it’s storming. Just leave it for now.”
I shook my head firmly, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me like the dark clouds outside. “No,” I replied, my tone resolute. “I can’t let them get away with this.”
Gabriella’s brow furrowed, the flicker of fear returning as she glanced toward the window, the rain lashing against the glass like fingers clawing for entry. “What if something happens? What if—”
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I interrupted, grounding my words in the certainty of my resolve. “Stay here; keep the door locked. We have men posted right out front.”
Her lips parted as if to argue, but I saw the moment her will crumbled under the weight of my conviction. She nodded slowly, though reluctance shadowed her features. I could tell that she wanted to protest, wanted to scream at me to stay, but the unyielding look in my eyes quelled her instinct to resist. Instead, she stepped back, her expression shifting to one of reluctant acceptance.
The hallway felt darker, the shadows deeper, as I made my way to the front door. I wondered if what I was about to do was going to be worth it.
The hallway felt darker than usual, shadows pressing close as I moved toward the front door. Every step tightened the knot in my chest. What I was about to do—call in a favor from the most hated man in the mafia world—made my stomach churn.
It was akin to making a deal with the devil.
I stopped for a moment, hand hovering over the phone in my pocket. Fabrizio’s name alone was enough to make my blood boil, yet every second I hesitated felt like I was gambling with Gabriella’s safety. Pride and principle screamed at me to walk away, but the thought of her trembling behind me in the storm left no room for argument.
I dialed the number, each ring stretching the tension tighter. When he answered, smooth and mocking as ever, my teeth ground together.
“Rocco,” Fabrizio drawled. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Cut the pleasantries, Fabrizio,” I said, my voice low, edged with the anger that simmered beneath my skin. “I need information. You know who broke into my place.”
“I might,” he replied, feigning indifference. “But I know a lot of things.”
He knew goddamn everything that went on in this city. Fabrizio was tied, or may have even surpassed Dino with how much he knew about the workings of the underworld.
“And I’m sure you know this one,” I said dryly.
