by Reilly, Cora
“She’ll be safe soon,” I said firmly.
“I hate to be exposed like this, without pulled guns no less,” Danilo said after a few minutes of silence.
I, too, had trouble making myself this vulnerable in enemy territory, but I didn’t think Remo would shoot at us. That wasn’t his endgame, not today.
A car approached then stopped about one hundred yards away. Movement up on one of the surrounding buildings caught my attention. A sniper pointed a gun at us.
Danilo’s hand darted toward his holster.
“No,” I clipped.
Danilo reluctantly pulled his hand back and lowered his gaze from the roof, then his eyes went wide.
I followed his gaze toward the car and my muscles tensed when Remo Falcone got out with Serafina. She was dressed in her ripped and bloody wedding dress. A moment later, Fabiano got out as well, a gun aimed at us.
Rocco made desperate sounds against his tape but I ignored him.
“Good god,” Pietro croaked.
“You were very ill-advised attacking our territory, Dante,” Remo drawled, pulling Serafina against his body.
Pietro rocked forward but I grasped his arm.
“Fuck. I’m going to skin the bastard. I’m going to fucking kill him for touching her,” Danilo growled.
“Don’t move,” I ordered. Remo probably waited for a show. That would give him additional satisfaction.
Serafina didn’t look our way. She stared at the ground, her shoulders hunched. She looked broken, and worse ashamed, when she had absolutely no reason to be. We were at fault, not her. When she finally raised her eyes and looked at Pietro, he sucked in a sharp breath. The anguish on his face and the look of hopelessness on hers, it broke through the cracks in my armor, but I battled my emotions.
Remo grinned. “Next time you consider fucking with us, look at your niece, Dante, and remember how you failed her.”
I had. I had failed them all. I’d done what I thought was best and I still couldn’t see what else I could have done after Remo had kidnapped Serafina. Before then, long before then I should have removed Rocco from his position.
Remo got intimately close to Serafina and even from afar I could see her shudder. I gritted my teeth, my grip on Pietro tightening so he didn’t storm forward. Danilo, too, was obviously fighting with himself.
When Remo finally moved back from Serafina, he nodded toward Rocco who lay behind us on the ground. “Hand over Scuderi.”
I turned and grabbed the rope wrapped around Rocco then dragged him toward Remo and Fabiano. The latter, I fixed with a hard look, wondering how he could have become the man he was today. He’d known Serafina when she was a little girl. They’d played together. He’d always been a good boy. I shoved Rocco toward them. He was responsible for what Fabiano had become, and for Serafina’s fate as well. I hoped they’d torture him the way they were famous for. “Release my niece, now.”
Remo held my eyes for a moment, challenge in them. He was Benedetto’s son through and through. The same eyes and insanity. His father had fallen deeply, and Remo, too, would fall and his kingdom would fall with him.
Remo pulled Serafina close once more and she cringed. I gritted my teeth so tightly, the sound vibrated in my head. Finally, Remo pushed Serafina away and she stumbled toward me, her eyes disoriented.
She was in shock. I quickly wrapped my arm around her and Pietro appeared on her other side, supporting her as well as we led her away. Danilo came toward us, reaching for Serafina and she cringed away from him.
Danilo stepped back, and I sent him a warning look because I could tell he wanted to storm toward Remo and pummel him to death. Our time would come. But now today, not with Serafina close by. Her safety was our top priority today.
Serafina trembled violently in our hold. I scanned her as we headed toward the car. She didn’t have any obvious injuries, except for the bite marks at her neck. Fury and guilt battled a relentless battle in my chest seeing the marks of my niece’s suffering. I’d have to ask for a female doc to check on possible rape injuries.
We got into the car. Pietro in the back with Serafina, and Danilo with me in the front. I hit the gas and pulled away, wanting to get out of Camorra territory as quickly as possible.
“You are safe now, Fina. Nothing will ever happen to you again. I’m sorry, dove. I’m so sorry,” Pietro rasped and then the sound of his rough crying could be heard.
My fingers around the steering wheel tightened. Danilo glanced out the window and closed his eyes. I kept throwing glances at my niece and Pietro through the rearview-mirror. Pietro was a strong Underboss, a man who’d been raised in a similar manner as I had been. I’d never seen him cry and I was sure I never would again after today. Getting Serafina back was meant to heal this family, but I had a feeling healing wouldn’t come easily, maybe not at all. Remo had left his mark, and not just on Serafina’s body.
I hadn’t heard from Dante in hours. My nerves were frayed. What if he didn’t return to me?
Remo Falcone couldn’t be trusted. He was one of the worst monsters in our world. Dante was sure Remo wanted to continue his devious game of breaking us, but maybe he changed his mind and just ended everything today with a bullet to Dante’s head. It was Remo’s chance to kill three high-ranking Outfit members at once, and it would throw the Outfit into utter darkness. He and Luca would attack and try to tear our territory apart. My eyes darted to Leonas who climbed the tree in the garden of the safehouse. Sofia and Anna sat on a blanket on the grass, talking. If the Outfit fell, what would happen to them? I’d protect them with everything I had, but where could I run to? Everyone knew my face and we were surrounded by enemies. If I had to choose between Camorra and Famiglia, I’d try to seek shelter with Luca. I didn’t like him, trusted him even less, but he was more than only monster if Aria could be trusted. My children, especially my daughter and Sofia would be safer in his territory. Leonas… I closed my eyes. I needed to stop considering the worst outcome.
Steps crunched beside me on the porch and my eyes flew open. Enzo held up a cup of coffee.
I gave a small smile. “Thank you.”
He set the cup down on the small table beside me then sank down on another chair on the porch. He’d been separated from his family for long periods of time as he guarded my family in Minneapolis but he never complained. “Have you heard from Dante?” I asked, even if I knew he hadn’t.
He shook his head. “They’ll be fine.”
I nodded. Anna began braiding Sofia’s long hair and sang “Somewhere Qver the Rainbow.” My heart thudded hard in my chest. Today wouldn’t mark the end of this conflict. It was only the starting point. Dante would seek revenge no matter what I said. The Outfit yearned for blood. This war would pick up. It would kill many, scar even more, emotionally and physically.
Yesterday, Anna had turned eleven, an age where the future gleamed hopefully before you, but all I could think about was how to protect my girl from the horrors of this world. Who could say if Remo wouldn’t try his luck again and this time kidnap my girl?
A small sound escaped my lips.
Enzo glanced my way, his dark brows drawing together. He’d turned fifty this year and his age showed in his face, weathered from the sun. Gray sprinkled his hair and brows. Taft was even older. They were good bodyguards. Dutiful and vigilant. I trusted them but we needed fresh blood and more protection.
“I want a bodyguard for each of my children,” I said. Once Leonas was older Dante would insist he could protect himself but for now he, like Anna, needed a bodyguard who protected only him. Taft had brought Leonas to school and protected him there while Enzo had guarded our home with a few men who were responsible for the general perimeter.
“You mean a bodyguard who’s assigned specifically to one of them and only pays attention to its ward.”
“Yes.” Anna sang another song, a sadder melody I didn’t recognize. “Especially for Anna. After Serafina’s kidnapping, I want her safe. She’s growing so fast,
and we can’t lock her in forever. She needs someone who’s going to be at her side at all times.”
Enzo nodded. “A few of my men would be good options.”
I knew the men who guarded our house and they were good, but I wanted more for Anna. I wanted someone who was more ruthless. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to pick the most brutal option if it meant protecting my daughter.
“You want someone else?” Enzo asked.
“Who are the most dangerous men in the Outfit?”
Enzo thought about it. “I can only take soldiers into consideration obviously.”
“Of course.”
“If we judged only by fight skills and level of brutality, certainly Arturo and Santino. They are Dante’s Enforcers for a reason.”
“Okay.”
Enzo shook his head. “I have to be honest, Valentina. Arturo is too… unhinged to be a bodyguard.”
“What about your son?”
“Santino isn’t like me. He’s dutiful but he chose the job of Enforcer for a reason. He likes the thrill and the brutality of it.”
“Would he be a good protector for Anna? Would he keep her safe?”
“I’m sure it would be an honor for him,” he said after a moment of consideration. “I can talk to him.”
“Please do, and once I’m back in Chicago I’d like to have a word with him as well. I’m sure Dante will do the same. Protecting our daughter isn’t something that can be taken lightly.
“Of course not,” Enzo agreed.
I hoped Dante would agree with my choice but he always said he valued my opinion and thought I’d be a good Consigliere, so I might as well make decisions of importance.
My phone rang. I lunged for it on the table and brought it to my ear with shaking fingers. “Dante?” I gasped.
“Val, we’re in the mansion. We’re all fine.”
I released a shuddering breath. Sofia and Anna rushed my way and even Leonas climbed down the tree. “What about Fina?” I whispered.
“She’s okay, physically as far as I can see, but—” He sighed. “Can you come over with the children?”
“Of course. We’ll get ready now.”
“I need to see you,” he said in a low voice, drenched with worry and exhaustion.
“I love you,” I got out. Enzo looked away, trying to pretend he couldn’t hear me. I usually avoided these kinds of emotional exclamations when others were around but right this moment I didn’t care if the whole world listened in.
I heard voices in the background. Dante cleared his throat.
“We’ll be over soon,” I promised then hung up.
Anna and Sofia spoke at the same time. “Was that Dad?”
“Where’s Fina?”
I gave them a shaky smile. “They’re at your house, Sofia. Everyone’s fine.”
Sofia and Anna jumped up and down, cheering, and even Leonas fell in.
I relaxed for the first time that day. Whatever lay ahead of us, we’d get through it.
The moment we stepped into the mansion, Sofia rushed into the living room, where voices were coming from. Leonas, Anna and I followed at a slower pace. Inside we found Sofia hugging Pietro tightly, sitting on his lap. He and Dante sat on the sofa, talking. Samuel, Danilo and Ines weren’t present. Anna and Leonas rushed forward as well and pressed to Dante’s side. He wrapped his arms around them, yet his smile remained strained. I walked closer. “Where’s the rest?”
“Serafina is showering,” Dante said with a strange undertone. My stomach hollowed when Pietro blanched and the meaning behind the words registered on me. “Samuel is upstairs with her. Ines in the kitchen, cleaning, and Danilo is in one of the guest rooms.”
“Maybe I should check on Ines,” I said quietly. Dante nodded. His eyes held mine for a moment, and I wanted nothing more than to throw myself into his arms like Leonas and Anna had done. Instead I turned and went in search for Ines.
I found her scrubbing a cutting board furiously. It was stained from use and impossible to return to its previous state but Ines cleaned it vigorously, tears streaming down her face, her blonde hair half fallen out of her ponytail. I walked toward her and took the scrub brush from her. Her hands were red. She looked into my eyes, and I had to blink to hold back my own tears.
I hugged her and she buried her face in my neck, sobbing. After a few minutes of crying, she swallowed audibly. “Fina’s got his marks on her throat… she wore her wedding dress and it was ripped and bloody, and she just looked so… broken. He broke her, Val. He… he raped her.”
I bit my lip. “Have you sent for a doctor?”
“Fina doesn’t want to be checked.”
I nodded. Wasn’t that how many rape victims reacted? Their shame was too strong. “Fina is strong like you Ines. She’ll get past this.”
“I hope so. God, I hope so.”
Pietro and I left the office to give Serafina a moment to talk to Danilo. Samuel leaned against the wall across from the door but he straightened with a frown when I closed the door.
“You let her alone with Danilo?”
Pietro rubbed his forehead. “She insisted.”
“Danilo and Serafina need to talk,” I said.
Samuel stared. “She can’t marry him. She’s not the girl she used to be.”
I didn’t say anything but I feared he was right. Danilo still wanted Serafina and by our rules he had a right to her, but a wedding seemed unlikely given Serafina’s emotional state.
“She’ll recover,” Pietro said. “They can still marry next year when she’s healed.”
I wasn’t sure if Serafina would get over what happened anytime soon. We didn’t even know exactly what she had to endure. Maybe we never would.
Ines hurried our way. “Is Fina with you?”
“In my office talking to Danilo,” Pietro said. Ines stopped beside him, looking anxious to go inside to check on her daughter.
A few minutes later, Danilo emerged, a dark look on his face and Serafina’s engagement ring in his flat palm, like a memorial of what used to be. He looked up. “Serafina, won’t marry me.” His eyes met mine. “I need to talk to my father.” He stalked away, already pulling out his phone.
“I need a word with her,” I said.
“Let me talk to her first. I need to make sure she’s okay after her talk to Danilo.”
I nodded and Ines slipped inside the office.
“The Mancinis won’t like this,” Pietro said quietly. “Our families were meant to become one to strengthen the Outfit. Indianapolis is the most important city in the Outfit.”
“Let’s not worry about it now.”
Ines finally stepped back out, her lips sorrowfully tightened.
“Please be careful, Dante,” she said softly. “She’s gone through enough.”
“I know. But if we want to have a chance to get revenge on Remo for what he did to her, I need to gather information.”
Ines nodded then stepped back and finally let me enter the room.
Serafina stood near the window, looking young and lost. I closed the door quietly. She looked up. My eyes darted to her throat and she pressed her hand over the spot, blushing in shame.
“Don’t.” My voice came out sharper than intended. I moved closer to my niece, watching her closely to see if she was comfortable having me near her. She’d shied away from Danilo and I wasn’t sure how strong her trauma was. “Don’t be ashamed for something forced upon you,” I added in a softer voice, even if it cost me a lot to make it that way because seeing Serafina like this stirred up fury inside of me. “I don’t want to open up painful wounds, Serafina, but as the Boss of the Outfit, I need to know everything you know about the Camorra so I can bring them down and kill Remo Falcone.”
Serafina avoided my eyes. “I don’t think I know anything that will help you.”
“Every small detail helps. Habits. The dynamic between the brothers. Remo’s weaknesses. The layout of the mansion.”
“Remo doesn’t trust anyone but his bro
thers and Fabiano. He would die for them,” she whispered.
I’d suspected this. Remo wasn’t as invincible as he thought. If he cared about his brothers in whatever twisted way he was capable of, that meant he was open for attack.
Serafina continued, still not looking my way. “Apart from the family, only Fabiano and Leona are allowed inside the mansion, and occasionally cleaners. Remo keeps a knife and a gun close at all times. He’s a light sleeper…”
She cringed at what she’d revealed. I’d suspected Remo had taken her into his bed. Captors often played with their victims by alternating between treating them like dirt and then showing them hints of kindness to gain their trust. Stockholm Syndrome based on this tactic. The victims ultimately blamed themselves for their rape and even tried to tell themselves they wanted it or gave their captor signals that indicated consent, when neither was the case.
Serafina began to shake, her face torn with guilt and shame.
I moved closer and gently touched her shoulder. “Serafina.”
She surprised me when she leaned against me. I cupped her head, trying to console her.
“What am I going to do? How will I belong again? Everyone will look at me with disgust.”
Blaming the victim was always easy. “If anyone does, you’ll let me know, and I’ll deal with them.”
Serafina nodded against me.
“And you never stopped belonging. You are part of the Outfit, part of this family, nothing changed.”
And yet everything had. We all had. Our family had. Serafina had. None of us had remained untouched by the horrors brought upon us by Remo Falcone.
Danilo asked for a meeting. Naturally, I’d expected it.
We all settled in Pietro’s office. By now, Pietro had at least removed some of the rubble Danilo had left during his rage after the sheets but the place was still a mess. Pietro sank down behind his desk and Samuel stood close to the window, his hands shoved into the pockets of his slacks.
Danilo and I sat down in armchairs across from each other. It was past ten in the evening, but neither of us was eager for sleep.