Page 62 of Beloved By the Irish

But Nero speaks before I can, “Antony was at the warehouse on the night he died to make a deal with the Russian bratva. He was there to sell women and girls to their leader. At least, that’s what he thought.”

Doubt begins to creep into Salvatore’s gaze, but he’s not convinced. Not yet. “What do you mean?”

I clear my throat. “The bratva never had the chance to show up before my people acted.”

His eyes narrow. “Why were your people there?”

“One of the women taken was related to a member of my inner circle. She was tracked to the warehouse, and my men were instructed to do whatever was necessary to retrieve her.” I gloss over the tale of Joseph’s cousin. The sight of Lisa’s battered and bruised body after rescuing her that night haunts me to this day.

“Did you,” Salvatore pauses to swallow down the lump in his throat. “Did you kill my son?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “But Antony was caught in the crossfire when my men fired on the ones detaining the women.” Again, I leave out the fact Enrique Santiago’s men took action the day before we were planning on engaging the traffickers. The detail doesn’t change the fact Antony Salvatore ultimately died because of my order.

Salvatore stares at me as the truth settles on his hunched shoulders like a heavy weight. After years of not knowing who was responsible for his son’s death, the mystery is over.

Now, Salvatore knows he promised his daughter to the man ultimately responsible for his heir’s death. A death that effectively destroyed his legacy, considering his second son wants nothing to do with the family business.

I brace myself for his anger, prepared to take it in whatever form it comes in. Except for death. I will fight to save my life. I still need to save Catarina, and I can’t do that from the grave.

But instead of the violent outburst I expect, Salvatore Furnari falls back into his chair. His elbows rest on the metal table, rattling the half-empty cup of espresso, as tired, weary eyes stare at it, lost in thought.

Seconds pass.

Nero shifts his stance, crossing his arms, and continues to share the rest of my story, “Luis Diaz was aware of Declan’s order at the warehouse, Father. He’s been blackmailing him, saying he would tell you about what happened to Antony if the MacKenzies didn’t stand down and stop thwarting his attempt to take over Harlem.”

Salvatore’s gaze lifts to meet mine. “I take it you didn’t comply or else he wouldn’t have my daughter.”

I nod. “I couldn’t allow a man who traffics women to take over Harlem.”

“And he took Catarina as a result.” Salvatore looks at the table. He moves around the contents of the emptied envelope from the bike messenger, searching for the piece of information we all know is in there.

Sure enough, he finds an envelope with his name scrawled on the outside. He rips it open and takes out a piece of paper. His lips form a grim line as he reads. Then, he holds it out to his son.

Nero takes the letter and growls low. “It’s from Luis,” he confirms what we’ve suspected. “He admits he took Catarina.”

I’m going to kill him.

“And?” I prompt.

“And he demands the alliance my father promised you for himself.”

That wasn’t what I expected…

“What do you mean?” Salvatore asks.

Nero crumbles the paper in his fist. His eyes blaze with fury. “Diaz plans to marry Catarina. He’s arranged a ceremony for this evening.”

I thought I was angry before, but that was nothing compared to the rage coursing through my veins at the thought of Luis Diaz daring to think he can take my fiancée from me.

“For what purpose?” The Italian Don scoffs. “The marriage can easily be annulled when Catarina is free, and my men can easily kill him for daring to threaten her.”

“His letter threatens to reveal Antony’s involvement in the trafficking ring to the world if you don’t acknowledge the marriage,” Nero tells his father, then his gaze turns to me. “He also accuses you of murdering Antony.”

“And the evidence he presents looks damning, but I assure you, my bullet did not kill your brother.”

“I wouldn’t care if it did given what Antony was involved in,” Nero declares, but there’s a flicker of pain behind his eyes that he can’t hide. Despite his actions, Antony was still his brother, and it will take time for Nero to reconcile the man he grew up with the man who sold women into the sex trade just because he could.

I imagine it will be even harder for Catarina.

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