Page 6 of Until You Break
“I’m awake.”
“That’s one word for it.”
The gates opened. Two matte-black SUVs slid in. Tinted windows, patient and watchful. No plates. Engines tuned to a quiet threat.
Luca leaned forward, squinting toward the path. “Son of a bitch took the SUVs? What for?” He snapped his fingers without looking back. “Lina, another Negroni.”
The clink of ice and the clean pour answered him before the glass reached his hand. Lina always moved like the next order had already been given.
I tracked the SUVs as they curved around the roses and slipped toward the back. Toward the basement.
“I guess the streets are making more noise than we thought,” I murmured, staring over the gardens and letting the thought settle.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Mama and Luciana had arrived.
Footsteps on stone. Alessandro stepped out, whiskey in hand, sleeves rolled, hair set like he’d walked through a storm and come out smiling. Sun had turned his skin to bronze; a faint scar near his temple kept him distinct. He looked smug, as if he carried a secret he had no intention of sharing.
“Where the fuck were you?” Luca barked, knife still spinning.
Alessandro smirked, eyes glinting with a secret he didn’t plan to share. “Sorry for the delay. Kitten had claws.”
“Kitten? Please do tell.” Luca’s eyes gleamed.
Alessandro only smirked, sipping his whiskey slow, letting the silence stretch.
Before Luca could press him further, heels clicked against stone. Perfume cut the air first, clean, expensive, edged. Luciana’s laughter followed. Then both of them appeared, shopping bags like trophies, pace unhurried, eyes already calculating. Luciana talked fast. Mama listened with that half-smile that meant she’d arranged the ending and was letting us guess.
“Wow.” My baby sister surveyed us. “Three brothers, four drinks, and not a brain cell between you.” She kissed my cheeks, hair sliding over one shoulder, silk whispering trouble. “Good thing one of us inherited the brains. I’ll fix it.”
“Sorella.” Alessandro lifted his glass. “Late, as always. You find anything left in Milan after maxing out Mama’s cards?”
Luciana grinned. One shoulder tipped, maybe yes, maybe fuck you. She folded into a chair and owned the view by sitting in it.
“Trust me, I’m only here because Mama insisted it was important.”
Luca toasted her. “How was Milan? Still full of art dealers who think your last name makes you collectible?”
“Still full of men who think your abs make you tolerable,” she shot back. “Why were you out with both SUVs, Alesso?”
“He’s running errands for Mama now.” Luca smirked. “Something about kittens?”
Alessandro rolled his eyes.
“He’s right.” Mama arrived at my back like a decision. Perfect posture, tailored cream blouse, heels that made marble sing. She took the nearest glass and drank. She never asked if it was hers. “And I’m glad you succeeded,caro. I take it he is well?”
“He is.” Alessandro’s voice stayed calm, professional. “He’s downstairs.”
“He?” Luciana’s brows lifted.
The air cooled. No one answered. The quiet landed hard, instructional.
Luca’s knife slowed. Alessandro’s fingers went still on his glass. Even Luciana’s smirk thinned under the weight of what wasn’t said.
“So this isn’t just family aperitivo.” My words landed flat. “Mama?”
Mama’s smile was exact. “Nothing ever is.” Her gaze moved over us with the patience of a surgeon. “At the casino opening I saw Riccardo’s smug face, parading his win over graves. He called it Belladora, as if memory could be renamed and buried. That man has taunted the devil so many times he shouldn’t be surprised hell came knocking. That’s when I knew I wouldn’t let it pass.”
“What did you do?” Luca’s tone was too bright.
