The full impact of the blow Nico had delivered to Joey settled around me. Ricco had become an integral part of the business, and Joey relied heavily on him.
“Joey doesn’t have anyone else to help him with the family.” Nico echoed my thoughts. “He may have cut his losses where you were concerned then let his temper and the past influence his decision. Once he learns about Ricco and how the loss will affect his business, that'll change. You’ll be seen once more as a pawn for power. He’ll be desperate.”
“Okay.” My stomach was a jumble of nerves. I was glad I wasn’t recovering in the same room as Tony. He was still unconscious. The last thing he needed was to be disturbed, and I needed these private moments with Nico. “Let’s tell them now.” I was drowsy and needed to do it before I napped, preferably in Nico’s arms and on the jet home.
“We need to speak to Stefano and Marco first.” He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my lips, leaving me wanting more before releasing my hand and going into the other room. I rested my head against the back of the chair, a dull ache the only discomfort from the gunshot wound, thanks to whatever Trey had fed into my IV.
I snuggled under the warm blanket, fighting the urge to doze. The click of the door opening sent a tiny jolt of adrenaline through me, enough to pop my eyelids open, and I waited to say anything until Nico, Stefano, and Marco were inside and the door was closed.
“How are you feeling?” Marco took a chair on the other side of mine, opposite where Nico sat. The two brothers looked so different. Marco’s coloring was closer to mine with black hair but green eyes instead of my strange purplish ones. Nico, Trey, and Sofia all had dark-brown hair and whiskey-colored eyes. The similarities between the siblings were in their model-worthy features—Sofia’s classic bone structure and chiseled… everything… for the guys. Their mom had been a supermodel, and I could see it in them.
Marco grinned, and I snapped back to his question about how I was doing. “I’m good. Tired.” I shifted my shoulder, trying to get comfortable. “And sore.”
Stefano remained standing with his arms crossed over his chest. He did give me a small smile, which eased his predatory presence from freeze-in-our-tracks to merely powerful like the other men in the Five Families.
“We discovered some interesting news.” Nico picked up the tiny piece of paper that curled at the ends, wanting to return to its prior rolled status. “Mia’s father isn’t Joey Tucci.”
Marco took the paper from Nico, and Stefano moved closer so he could read the handwritten words over his shoulder. “Well, isn’t that interesting.” Marco chuckled.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better scenario,” Stefano said. “We need to put it to a vote between all the bosses, but I suggest we ally with the Verrettis and make them the spokesperson for the New York syndicate.”
“Dante’s hiding something.” Nico’s voice cracked like a whip, his mistrust in the idea of bringing them in loud and clear.
I wanted to protest. I got why Nico felt the way he did. We knew Guido had set the bomb, and Dante was being cagey about something. But I knew him. It wasn’t anything against the Five Families. His issues were with New York.
“That may be,” Marco responded, “and we’ll find out what it is. What’s important to this decision is how Dante and his brothers have been invested in Mia’s safety from the start. They’ve shared intel they had on the Tucci and Amato families and joined forces with us to destroy the sex-trafficking business Joey’s been relying on to grow his wealth.”
“We’ll discuss this at home,” Stefano commanded before his gaze fell to me, his voice softening. “Trey will take a swab for a sibling DNA test after you break the news to the Verretti brothers.”
I could only nod, my throat too tight for words to slip through. I’d never expected to be able to shed one horrible family and gain not one but two who wanted to protect and care for me. The way Nico and the Chicago Mafia had embraced me into the fold was nothing short of a miracle. Would the Verrettis do the same? A cauldron of nervous excitement churned in my gut when Nico went to the other room, only to return with everyone, not just Dante, Cal, and Adriano.
Sofia, Emiliana, and El pushed through the group of guys. Nico shoved Sofia over and resumed his place by my side, and she snorted. But Enzo just tugged her into him, laughing at how she rolled her eyes. Emiliana peeked at my bandage, and Trey moved forward and smacked her hand. Stefano growled and crowded in too. I couldn’t help but laugh. They cared. I hadn’t had that since Mom was alive.
“You okay with that little scratch you got?” Sofia winked and then giggled when Nico glared.
“How was it when Enz was shot, Sof?” Nico frowned.
She winced, the color draining from her face. Enzo wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her neck. “Sorry, Nic.”
Nico grunted then locked his gaze on Dante. That was my cue. Marco and Stefano moved enough away, so I had a clear view of them. I took a deep breath then ripped off the metaphorical Band-Aid.
I lifted the necklace to show them. “This was damaged during the mess with Ricco and Guido, which turned out to be a good thing, since Mom left me a note rolled up inside it.”
Something flashed in Dante’s silvery gaze. Did he know?
“Joey isn’t my father.” I handed the note to Nico, and he passed it to Dante. “My father was Arturo Verretti.”
Adriano laughed. “Thank fuck.”
Cal smacked his brother on the head before grinning at me. “We suspected but weren’t sure.”
Dante moved forward then pressed a kiss to my forehead. He winked as he said, “Welcome to the family, little sis.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
NICO
On crutches, Mia stood next to me inside the Chicago warehouse where we held important meetings. The only key people missing were all the other Mafia women, as the meeting was between bosses and underbosses. Max and Luc had been taxed with meeting the Sicilian royalty at the airport. Mia’s presence was an exception because of Joey Tucci and the Verrettis, who would arrive soon.