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Gideon was right. There was more going on here than some low-level thug like Costa. I still wanted that fucker to get what was coming to him but I needed to ensure that Donatella was safe and protected.

That fucker would get his soon enough and I looked forward to that day.

Sitting beside Donatella, I held her hand in mine while we listened to our family argue over what was best for us. Since I flat out refused to leave her side, whatever they decided had to include me. I was not going to be separated from her. Ever.

She was mine.

Mine to protect.

“Why don’t we send them to California,” Luciano offered. “I’m sure Reaper has a place for them to hide out.”

“The Golden Skulls are already on everyone’s radar thanks to that fuck up in Louisiana. The next time your family decides to help, make sure the house you are storming isn’t owned byLegion. Fuck, you assholes just don’t get it. When you joined sides with the Skulls, you marked your whole family. This isn’t about some human trafficking ring. The world is a big place and you just made the big leagues.”

“I may just be a lawyer but I do understand that something bigger is going on here. That’s why I came over today Gio,” Antonio said, getting to his feet. “I found something while looking into Costa’s background. The man is not who he seems. None of this is. Nothing makes sense anymore. Yes, Costa is a low-level drug dealer but him working with Bianchi never made sense to me. We know Bianchi is mafia. He runs and operates a breeding farm in Italy. But even he has to have someone he reports to, right? So, I started digging into Bianchi. Did you know he has been linked with a man named Abdul-Jamil Ascari, a known militant and human trafficker in Afghanistan? There’s more too. This Abdul dude is also a known associate of something calledthe Division.”

My eyes snapped to Gideon’s.

I knew that name.

It was in the brief he gave me.

Fuck this was bad.

I knew my brother Antonio was good at finding information but not that damn good. I also knew that when something didn’t add up, Antonio would never stop looking until everything made sense. My brother loved fucking puzzles, excelled at them. Throw in some cloak and dagger shit and my brother would be salivating at the mouth. He lived for this shit.

I needed to end this conversation fast and the only way to do it was to hurt my family. I didn’t relish the idea of causing them pain but to keep them safe, I would do and say anything.

Looking at Giovanni, I said, “We are leaving with Gideon, Gio. The decision has been made.”

“No, you’re not! You are my brother and you will stay with the family. We can protect you.”

Fuck me. He was going to make me say it.

When her hand tightened in mine, I knew she was giving me the strength to say what I had to. Taking a deep breath, I said, “No you can’t. None of you can. I don’t trust the family to protect her.”

Giovanni looked as if I slapped him. I could clearly see the hurt and pain I just caused with my words. I wanted to take them back so badly but I knew if I did, I would only be putting my family in more danger. That was something I couldn’t allow. I may be the fuck up of the family but I loved my family with every breath in my body. If leaving them meant they would live to see another day, I would do so gladly.

“You don’t mean that,” Giovanni said, so softly I barely heard him.

“I do. We are leaving with Gideon as soon as he can make the arrangements. He has resources the family doesn’t.”

“Lorenzo, do you know what you are saying?” Luciano carefully asked, shocked.

“Yes. It’s the truth. This is bigger than the family can handle. Donatella is my main concern. I need her safe. The family can’t promise me that. Gideon can.”

“You trust a stranger over the family?” Salvatore asked, angrily.

“Yes.”

“I will make the arrangements,” Gideon said, leaving the room. Alone with my brothers, I felt the tremendous disappointment, hurt and pain I had caused.

My whole life, every decision I made, I did with my own needs in mind. Now, all I wanted was to make sure my family stayed safe. I knew they would never understand, so I didn’t bother explaining myself. Even if I did, I knew they would try to change my mind.

I couldn’t let that happen.

They were my family. Brothers who had always been there for me. Now it was my turn. It was my time to protect them. Resolved in my decision, I got up from the couch with Donatella at my side and walked out of the living room. Together we headed upstairs and packed what we could. Minutes later Gideon told us that our transportation had arrived.

Taking Donatella’s hand in mine, we left the house that my best friend Penny picked out for me, to find three large black vehicles waiting. Several men dressed in all black and armed surrounded the vehicles, saying nothing as we approached. After helping Donatella into one of the vehicles, I turned to see my brothers standing on my front porch.


Tags: Rebecca Joyce Crime