Val searched my eyes. Even without saying a word, I knew what she was hoping to find, but not this time. Mercy wasn’t going to wait for Orazio once I got him. “You’re going to hunt him now, won’t you?”

“I have to.”

She shook her head. “You don’t. You are the Capo. You can determine what direction the Outfit takes in the future. Why plunge everyone into a bloody war that won’t lead us anywhere? Why can’t we just ignore each other? There doesn’t have to be peace between the Outfit and the Famiglia as long as we just don’t kill each other.”

“Because Luca made this personal. He killed one of my men, he kidnapped Rocco’s daughter, and now he took in my brother-in-law. I won’t ignore this, Val. My men expect me to show strength, and accepting when others disrespect me and the Outfit isn’t showing strength. They’ll be met with the full force of my brutality and vengeance.”

Val stepped back and slowly made her way into our bedroom where she sank down on the bed. “What did my father say?” Her voice was forced calm, and I hated that she brought up a barrier between us. I followed her. Her gaze was directed at her hands which fumbled with her sweater. She didn’t want me to read her.

“He’s going to tell your mother now. He understands the consequences of Orazio’s actions.”

Val huffed. “Consequences of his actions. Could you sound any more blasé?” Her eyes flashed up to mine, full of anger and anguish. “This is my brother, Dante. It’s not an enemy, not a traitor, not a name on a list that you can cross out as if it never meant anything. And no matter what Papa says, this hits him hard. And Mamma…” Val turned away from me once more, gripping the edge of the bed tightly, her shoulder shaking.

I forced down my own anger and frustration. Val had a lot to stomach, not to mention two small demanding children to take care of. She was exhausted and emotionally vulnerable. “I’m aware of that. What do you expect me to do, Val? I’m Capo. My men expect me to lead them through this crisis. A crisis, which I might add, might have been made worse by Orazio’s actions.”

She pushed up to her feet once more. “He did it for the woman he loves and his unborn child. What would you do to protect our children?”

I jerked her against my chest. “I’d do anything to protect you, Anna and Leonas. Absolutely anything, which is why I need to make sure the Outfit stays strong. Luca won’t hesitate to tear down everything I built. The Outfit is Leonas’ legacy. It’s our family’s legacy. I won’t go lenient on people who risk the safety of our family.”

“Maybe we’d be safer without a war…”

“Val,” I growled. “Luca began this war and I’ll end it eventually, on my terms and when the Outfit comes out on top. Don’t blame me for what your brother did. He knew the consequences of his actions and he accepted them. How do you know he didn’t pass on information about you, about Anna and Leonas to Luca? We don’t even know the extent of his betrayal yet.”

Val considered my words but I could see that she didn’t want to believe it. “Do you really think Orazio would have told Luca anything about Anna and Leonas?”

I cupped the back of her head until she looked at me again. “I don’t know and that’s the problem. Now that Orazio is in New York, you can be certain he gives Luca anything he knows. He needs to stay useful to warrant protection.”

Val sank against me and let out a shuddering sob. I wrapped my arms around her as she cried. I understood her sorrow and it pained me to see her like that, but I didn’t feel anything but anger for Orazio’s actions. He wouldn’t be met with mercy if I ever got my hands on him. He was no longer family. He was the enemy, even if Val couldn’t see it that way.

My stomach tightened painfully when Enzo pulled up in front of my parents’ house. Anna bounced excitedly in her seat and even Leonas, who had been bawling the entire ride, looked delighted when he recognized the house. I’d only briefly talked to Mamma on the phone last night. Her voice had sounded hoarse from crying but she’d tried to sound composed.

I took Leonas out of his seat and Enzo helped Anna out of the car. The door of the house opened and Mamma stepped out, dressed in black as if she was already mourning Orazio’s death. Maybe this was her way of dealing with the situation, pretending he was dead so she wouldn’t have to worry about his fate anymore. If the Outfit ever caught him, death definitely wasn’t the worst option. Bile traveled up my throat considering Dante might torture my own brother.

I couldn’t linger on the thought, not if I wanted to keep my sanity.

Anna ripped away from Enzo and stormed toward her grandma. I kissed my mother’s cheek and gave her a shaky smile. Her eyes were puffy and red, but her expression was proud and determined as she turned to Enzo. “Why don’t you go ahead to the kitchen. The staff’s having lunch.”

Enzo nodded then glanced at me for confirmation. I gave a small nod then followed my mother and Anna, who told her everything about her new finger colors. Leonas was particularly fussy today and the moment I sat on the couch, he slid off my lap and discovered the living room. My mother had a vast collection of expensive vases and porcelain figurines and usually she followed Leonas wherever he went to stop him from smashing one of them. Today she didn’t even glance his way, which showed how shaken she was.

Anna sat happily on her grandma’s lap.

“How are you?” I asked softly. We couldn’t really talk with Anna in the room. She understood more than enough already and this situation was definitely too much for a child her age. I kept an eye on Leonas but so far he hadn’t grabbed anything.

Mamma shrugged, another thing she never did unless seriously out of it. Shrugging wasn’t something a lady should do. “I try to focus on the positive. On you and my beautiful grandchildren.”

“And Papa?”

“He’s trying to be strong for me, but for a man to lose his heir, his only son… especially like this.” Her voice died away. “What about Dante?”

I considered my reply. “He’s trying to protect the Outfit.”

“As he should. Your father and Rocco are helping him, that’s a good thing.”

I wasn’t sure really. Rocco, in particular had been trying to stir up the conflict between the Outfit and the Famiglia since Liliana ran off with Romero. He wouldn’t be the voice of reason, and my father was too shaken to make wise decisions. Dante wanted revenge. He wanted Orazio’s death, even if he didn’t say it outright, at least not to me. While I understood him, my heart was torn apart by conflicting emotions. I couldn’t bear the idea that Orazio might be caught and tortured to death for what he’d done. On the other hand, I was furious on Dante’s behalf. Orazio should have chosen another way, not the Famiglia. He knew how much Luca and Dante hated each other. It was like a slap in Dante’s face that his brother-in-law was now part of the Famiglia.

How much more would this war take from our family?

Almost six years later

The wild laughter and screams of Leonas, Rocco Jr., and Riccardo carried into my office. Giovanni chuckled.