“No.” She shakes her head, refusing to enter the room. “I won’t leave you.”
“I love you so much.” My words come out thick. “I’ve loved you from the moment I set eyes on you in first grade, and I never stopped. I neverwillstop. I promise you that.”
She lets out a choked sob.
“Stay here with Aurora,” I beg her. “Aurora needs you. Please.”
Those last words convince her. She nods slowly. “Please come back to me, Logan.”
I kiss the curls that frame Aurora’s sweet, sleeping face, then press my lips to Lia’s one last time.
“I love you, ghost girl.”
As I cross the warehouse, I glance back one last time. Dolores is standing on the other side of the room, her face drawn and worried. Everest looks at me, his expression telling me that the situation is at last starting to sink in. Aurora is sleeping in Lia’s arms, whose cheeks are glistening with tears. There are no sharp edges to her anymore. Only love. Pure love.
I turn around, my heart breaking, and enter the room I once shackled my little captive in. Damien is busy talking to Carmelo, who looks as cruel and stupid as ever.
“Ehi, Logan,” he greets me, his beady eyes taking me in suspiciously. “Finally brought back theputtana?”
“Uh huh.”
I turn toward Damien, whose initial undisguised happiness at seeing me for the first time in two years quickly clouds over. He knows me well after all. Just as much of a mindreader as ever. I wonder what it would take for him to lift the gun he’s got in his right hand to my head.
Guess I’m about to find out.
He doesn’t let his voice betray his thoughts though, instead saying, “Carmelo accepted all our conditions. He’s here alone, and just wants the girl back. I told him he could trust that you’d bring her.”
I nod. “She’s in the other room.”
Carmelo’s eyes glint furiously, but he must imagine the smirk on his lips successfully conceals his anger. “Sheismy wife, and Ishouldhave you torn apart by my dogs. But maybe I won’t. Maybe I have my own conditions.”
This guy really is the village idiot. He clearly doesn’t suspect he’s in danger. He expects that as boss, he’s untouchable. But he’s too smug, too stupid to realize the family’s not loyal to him. He’s not respected like his father. And Coltello’s turned a whole lot of associates against him.
Coltello’s stupid in his own way, though, showing up with just a gun to protect himself. I guess he figured I was rational. Who in their right mind would kill the guy who’s offering you protection and a familyandhanding over the only proof that your girl’s been raped?
The thing is, I’m not right in the head. I don’t care what he was offering me. He saw that tape—he’s dead.
“What are your conditions?” drawls Damien.
“Well, you know, you’re myfratello,” Carmelo tells me, and this time, his smiledoesreach his eyes. “I won’t let someputtanaget in the way of our brotherhood. Join me, and you’ll get a pass. We’ll forget about it. Okay, man?”
Maybe he’s not as stupid as he looks. At least, he does realize that his men aren’t loyal. He knows that if he doesn’t get some good soldiers on his side, he’s not going to be holding on to power for much longer.
“The problem,” I say, my hand twitching around the weapon at my side, “is that I’ve found out some things, during my two years away.”
“Oh yeah?” He crosses his arms, regarding me shrewdly. “What kind of things?”
“Things like…” I grit my teeth, forcing the words out. “She was forced into marriage with you after you raped her. And you filmed it. Didn’t you?”
I spare a glance at Damien, who doesn’t look surprised. But he does take a step back, disappearing from Carmelo’s line of sight, cocking his gun up and pointing it at the bastard. It hurts, how much he has my back. He wouldn’t hesitate to take him out, no matter the consequences. Just because it’s what I want.
So why the hell didn’t he tell me?
“We-e-ell…” Carmelo chuckles, not taking me seriously. “Those are some big words. It’s not like she fought—that much. Maybe I did give her some shit to loosen her up. So what? Who cares about someputtana? Do you?” He eyes me quizzically, as if daring me to admit that I do.
But I’m not like him. I’m not like any of them, because I’m proud to love her, and if that makes me weak, well, then, so be it.
“Idocare. I care a whole lot.”