I walked toward the door, but just as I reached for the lock, she balked.
“What if they’re out there waiting for us?”
I traced a finger across her chin. “My sweet, naïve little mouse. Soon you will learn to trust me.”
The lock clicked open, and I kept my gaze on her face as I opened the door. The fear on her face was toxic, and for the first time I yearned for someone’s trust—hers. But maybe it was better this way, that she didn’t trust me. There was no way I could guarantee her that she or I would come out of this alive.
When the door was open, one of Uncle Gino’s associates stepped into sight, holding a semi-automatic gun in his hands. Tatum moved in behind me, and I fucking loved the fact that she sought my protection.
“Tatum, meet Giovanni. He’s here to safely escort us down to the dining hall.”
Instantly, she paled. “The dining hall?”
“Yes. As you probably guessed, that’s where all our meetings and…eventstake place.”
I knew nothing I said would have been able to settle her. Even the air we breathed seemed laden with fear and uncertainty. But this all had to be done.
“Come on. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
I let her walk first, following Giovanni. I took the back, making sure she was covered at all times. More of Uncle Gino’s associates stood scattered around the halls. I’d never felt as goddamn thankful for that uncle of mine as I did right now. He made sure there was no way we could be intercepted. Still, every step I took felt like I was a man living on borrowed time. I’d always been the type of man who preferred—no, needed to know all the risks involved. Only then would I make any kind of decision, but only if I was one hundred percent sure the reward outweighed the risk. But that wasn’t the case today. I had no way of ensuring the reward outweighed the risk I was taking now, by leading Tatum straight to them. And that thought alone killed me slowly, each step another stab through my chest.
I watched her while she walked, her head held high. How did she do it? How did she manage to face her demons head-on even though she knew her chances of survival were slim? Putting one foot in front of the other, Tatum walked with confidence, but I knew on the inside she was scared beyond comprehension…and so was I.
After passing each associate, they fell into step behind us, instantly becoming allies. A family that stood vast for so many years got cracked right down the middle within the blink of an eye. It made me wonder if our family was ever that strong to begin with. And now, as we stopped in front of the dining hall doors, I knew life as I’d known it was about to change.
Giovanni glanced at me, and so did Tatum. Her eyes spoke volumes, displaying equal parts bravery and terror. If I was able to spare her what was about to happen, I would. I would do anything, give anything, if it meant keeping her away from what awaited us behind those doors. But there was no other way. We needed to face these demons…together.
I broke eye contact with her and looked up at Giovanni. I nodded, and he opened the doors.
Chapter 25
TATUM
The second those doors opened, everything around me went mute. All I heard was the wild beating of my heart resonating through my head. I didn’t know if I would walk out of this dining hall alive. And as I stared at all the faces in front of me, there was one face in particular that I sought out.Hers. Mrs. Fattore.
Sitting in the middle of the long table, flanked by Vico and other men I didn’t recognize, my confidence momentarily left me. Surrounded by all these powerful men, she looked invincible, and even though I had faith in Castello for a moment, that was no longer the case. This woman wanted blood, and blood was what she was going to get…today.
Giovanni stepped in, but I couldn’t move. My body was frozen, like when Nicollo had his disgusting body all over mine, my mind no longer registering anything but red and the hatred that seemed to emanate from almost everyone in the room.
A soft hand touched the curve of my spine, and his scent surrounded me. “This has to be done, little mouse. You need to walk inside.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing myself to be the little mouse who obeyed. “Yes…sir.” I heard him suck in a breath, and I walked.
Vico got up, one eye swollen shut. “Finally decided to be a man, hey?”
Castello snorted. “How’s the eye, little brother?”
The way Vico’s face hardened, his glare shooting daggers at Castello’s forehead, I was ninety-nine percent sure this gathering wouldn’t last five minutes without bloodshed.
Castello’s mother got up from her chair. “What have you done, son?”
“All I want is the truth.”
“And I told you the truth.”
Castello walked forward all along the table to where Uncle Gino was sitting. “The thing is, Mother, I don’t believe a word you told me.”
Her glare shot to me. “This is your doing. One son wasn’t enough for you? You had to go stick your manipulative claws into Castello as well.”