Page 21 of Reign Of Triumph
“Giusto put a weapon in my bag and told me you were going to rape and beat me to avenge your sister’s death. I’m sealing my brother’s fate by telling you all this, but I had to choose, and I choose you.” She sobs out the words. Her hands are trembling as she unzips the bag. “I-I haven’t t-touched it. It’s in there.”
I take her small, shaking hands in mine. Her lips are trembling, she’s pale as a ghost, and her makeup is ruined, and still, the urge to protect her overshadows my need to plunge a dagger into her brother’s ice-cold heart. Giusto’s not even man enough to do the job himself.
“I want this marriage to work, gioia mia.” I make sure to keep my voice low and calm. “I have no intention of making an innocent pay for what your brother did to Miranda. He deserves to pay with his life, and unfortunately, after what you said, I cannot let this go,” I tell her truthfully. She weeps silently. “I’m so sorry, Fi, but he’s given me no choice. And it’s shitty that he put you in this position. He’s a fucking coward. But worst of all, he’s ruined the one day of your life that should only hold happy memories.” I wipe a fallen tear.
“I am forever going to be responsible for Giusto’s death,” she whimpers with a hiccup.
“No, baby. He sealed his fate the day he raped Miranda. I would have killed him that same day if it weren’t for what it would do to my parents. Nero held me off too. He told me that Giusto’s been fucking up, and it would just be a matter of time before Marco would have to intercede. That time came, and this is Giusto’s way of keeping his hands clean while he dirties yours.”
She shakes her head. “Mom, Bianca, they’re not safe.”
“Your mother is going home with my parents. As for Bianca, Anita, and Alia, I’ll figure it out.” I reach inside the overnight bag and feel around until I find a switchblade and pull it out. Giusto thought this through. He had nothing to lose. If Serafina succeeded in ending my life, he’d win. And if his sister tried and failed, I’d have to kill her to show my men that I am not weak, and he would swear he had nothing to do with it and come off looking like the grieving brother and making me out to be a vindictive monster. I pull Serafina into my arms. “I’ll take care of you, baby,” I murmur as she clings to me tightly. This has become a day to remember, but for all the wrong reasons.
Eleven
Tears on My Pillow
Eros
When we pull up to Il Castillo, we remain in the car until I can get Serafina upstairs to the room reserved for brides without being seen. I then call Nero and tell him what I need. Instantly, he comes up with Felicia, and Nero and I step outside while Felicia repairs Serafina’s makeup. Guisto hasn’t made much of an attempt to get close to Serafina while I’m around, but I don’t want him forewarned of what’s to come.
“Someone’s got to have eyes on him at all times. And we need to keep his family away from him,” I say.
“We can grab him now and deal with him later,” Nero suggests.
“This is hitting Serafina hard. Could you imagine what this will do to Vera? No matter what, she’s going to lose her son, but let her have this day,” I respond.
“Do you think Serafina can hold it together?”
“She’s stronger than you think. Serafina made a choice tonight. She’s feeling the guilt of what will happen to Giusto, but I made her see that he put her in an impossible position and would have traded her life for his own if he succeeded.” I rake a hand through my hair. “I would do anything to have Miranda back, and he threw his sister to the lions.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” Nero replies with a sigh, putting his hand on my shoulder. “How do you want this to go down?”
“After we leave, I want him picked up and brought to the warehouse. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll make arrangements for Danilo to guard Serafina while I’m gone. I need a couple of men on Bianca and the girls. I was thinking Luciano can ask the girls for a sleepover.”
“And Bianca?”
“She should be safe in her home, as long as we have a trusted man with her.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Nero replies. Then he says, “Not the day you were expecting.”
“No, and as much as I want to kill the bastard for what he did to Miranda, I hate what he’s doing to Serafina. He’s a waste of space, and it ends tonight. I need to tell Marco,” I say, not knowing how much our capo is aware of the situation.
“Dad is onboard. He’s not happy about any of this, but this must be done. I’m sure he would appreciate it coming from you, though,” Nero says. Nero has been the middleman between me and Marco since my sister’s death. I was so angry with Marco, I couldn’t be in the same room with him. At one time, I considered Marco a close friend, and that relationship was torn to shreds. Marco’s been distant with me but has been trying to make up for it since my return.
I’ve thought a lot about the position Marco was put in, and although I don’t agree, I do understand it. If Nero or Luciano came to me to ask me to protect their child, I wouldn’t hesitate. The difference is, neither man would allow that to happen. “I’ll keep watch if you want to go and find him downstairs,” Nero suggests.
I mutter a quick “Thanks,” then hurry to find our capo. I don’t need to look far because he’s waiting for me at the bottom of the steps.
“It’s time to set things right,” he says with a heavy sigh. “Walk with me.” He takes a few steps down an empty hall. “I made an error in judgment years ago, and those families are still suffering today. I am capo and will not make excuses for my decision. At the time, I believed a dying man, a friend, when he implored me to believe his son’s innocence. We’ve come full circle.” He stops and faces me. “I know you to be a good man. Nero speaks of you as if you were his own blood, a brother. This makes me feel better that when I am gone, he’ll have a strong team of men to support him as capo.”
“I will never betray La Famiglia, or Nero. Or you, sir,” I respond. Marco tilts his head to the side, silently indicating for me to continue. “I left because I could not accept your decision, but never have I spoken of our family. My faith wavered after seeing Giusto get away with what he did, but I also believed that this day would come, and Giusto would finally get what’s coming to him. Perhaps it’s best that it all worked out this way. The waiting rewarded me with a beautiful wife.” I give him my brightest grin, and Marco laughs.
“You’re welcome, then,” he jokes.
In a more serious manner, I explain that I want the evening to go as planned. With all the work the women have put into this day, I would rather they not know about Giusto’s plot to murder me.
“How is Serafina?” Marco asks solemnly.
