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I didn’t deserve their grace.

Nor did I deserve Layla.

I didn’t want to become the man my father was before his death. Alone, closed off, angry, and if I didn’t change, I would be him.

I would lose everything I held dear.

I knew meeting with Capribella was the right thing for the family.

Putting the feud behind both families was the only way forward.

I knew there was no way I could let Layla go.

She was mine.

Forever.

I just needed to forgive myself.

I made a mistake.

I owned it, accepted it, and now it was time to move forward.

Everything was in turmoil because my hotheaded brother and my delinquent cousin put their two heads together and started a war I wasn’t ready for.

My hands were tied.

I was left with no choice.

Salvatore and Dwayne may have started the fire, but Bianchi threw gasoline on it when he came after Layla and me. That was something I couldn’t forgive.

The time had come to put my family back to rights.

If he wanted a war, I was going to oblige him.

My phone vibrated. Looking at it, I noticed it was a text from Reaper. Sighing, I opened it and read.

Reaper:Bullseye knows. He’s in the wind. Protect Layla. Watch your back.

Lowering my phone, I laid my head back on the headrest and closed my eyes. This wasn’t good. I wasn’t worried about Bullseye coming for me. However, I did have his sister. If the man was anything like what Reaper and Layla described, I knew to expect him soon.

A man of his caliber wasn’t just going to let bygones be bygones. He was going to seek revenge. Looking at Layla, I didn’t know what I would do if something happened to her. In the short time we’d been together, she had become my life. How a woman could infiltrate and weave herself into my very existence, I would never know. But now that she was there, I couldn’t imagine my world without her.

“Don Valentinetti,” Mattia said, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Don Capribella just sent word. He thanks you for the invitation and will meet you at the airport.”

Saying nothing as the car sped down the road, I looked at the Italian seaside. So much had happened in such a short time. My cousins returned home, I got the alliance with the Golden Skulls, I met my future in the beautiful woman in my arms, ended a long-standing family feud, and told my family my darkest secret. None of it would have happened if it wasn’t for her. She made all this possible. She had inadvertently given me everything I ever wanted.

There was so much I wanted to do for Layla. I wanted to give her the life of her dreams. Spoil her with her every desire. Weep at her feet as she carries our children. Walk hand in hand with her through everything that life threw at us. Experience joy through her eyes.

She truly was an amazing woman.

I wanted to endeavor to deserve her.

The car started to slow as Mattia turned into the small airport. Looking out the window, I noticed the heightened security as men moved about quickly to get all our bags on board. As the car came to a stop, Layla’s guards rushed to surround the car as Mattia exited the vehicle and walked to open my door.

“Tesoro. We’re here,” I whispered, caressing her face.

She groaned, opening her eyes. “Drive wasn’t long enough.”


Tags: Rebecca Joyce Crime