Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
We waited the remaining time in silence until Dante nodded. I reached for the test with trembling fingers and opened the cap.
I stared down at the test and began crying.
Pregnant.
Dante watched me silently. I showed the test to him, but he knew. More silence followed.
“Luca doesn’t know,” Dante said.
I nodded in confirmation. I gripped the edge of the car. I was pregnant with Luca’s child. A baby. I stared down at myself, and terror unlike anything I’d ever known took hold of me. I had come to Chicago, to enemy territory, with Luca’s baby in me. I was so stupid, so very stupid.
“Aria.” Dante’s voice was softer than it had been all evening and I looked back up at him, and for several moments neither of us moved. I wasn’t sure what to do.
“I know you must think of the Outfit,” I whispered, but he silenced me with his raised palm.
“I will let you go. Luca is my enemy. I don’t think that will change anytime soon, but you are an innocent woman, and you carry his child. I hope he’d do the same if Valentina ever fell into his hands, which she won’t.” Fierceness flashed in his eyes. Protective like Luca. Valentina was Dante’s weakness like I was Luca’s.
I wasn’t sure what Luca would have done if he were in Dante’s position. I wanted to believe that he would have made the same choice.
“But Aria make no mistake: if I ever run across Luca, I will kill him, and it won’t be quick.”
I shuddered because I believed him.
“You won’t tell Luca about this,” he said, an order.
“I won’t, believe me.” If Luca found out about this, he’d lose his mind.
He gave a terse nod.
I took a small step toward him. “Thank you, Dante. Thank you so much.”
Another sharp nod. “Do you have a plane ticket?”
“Yeah, my plane leaves in three hours.”
“I’ll take you to the airport.”
We got back into the car and again my hand found my stomach, still not able to believe that there was a small human growing inside of me. The result of Luca’s and my love.
Dante was tense beside me as he drove me toward the airport. He stopped in front of the departure terminal then turned to me, and a predatory expression took over his face. “Don’t ever return to Chicago, Aria. This once I’m doing this, but next time I will do what’s necessary to ensure the Outfit wins this war.”
“Can’t there be peace again? For your children and ours. For Fabi and all the others who will suffer in this war.”
Dante smiled coldly. “If Luca hands over Romero and Liliana, and if Luca apologizes, then perhaps there can be peace.”
Luca would do neither and we both knew it. Two men who hated each other, and more men eager to tear into each other pulled us all into darkness, children and women alike, and my child would be born into this dark world.
Born in Blood. Sworn in Blood. I enter alive and leave dead.
“Leave,” Dante said, and I did. I never looked back as I headed into the airport. I would never see Chicago again, never see Fabi again. I pressed my palm against my stomach, seeking consolation. I had to trust that Fabi was strong enough to survive in the Outfit. I could not risk anything again, not with a baby growing inside of me, not if I wanted to protect Luca and our family.
As I boarded the plane I wondered again if Luca would have done the same. Would he have let Val walk away?
LUCA
My control was hanging on a thread as I listened to my men. Matteo, too, looked like he had every intention of relieving our uncles of the burden of life.
Uncle Gottardo and Uncle Ermano seemed to be in a silent argument but I bet they were making plans to overthrow me behind closed doors. Ermano was a coward, and Gottardo was only marginally better, but eventually they would act. Perhaps Gottardo would send his remaining legitimate son to kill me.
“War was inevitable,” I growled. “You know that as well as I do. Don’t pretend you haven’t all been waiting for a chance to spill Outfit blood again.” My Underbosses nodded and so did most of my Captains. Not Gottardo and Ermano though.
My eyes went up to the high ceiling of the power station. I’d chosen it for every meeting of my Captains and Underbosses in the last three years to remind them of my bloody statement. I had a feeling their memory needed refreshing.
Gottardo rammed his fist down on the table, bringing my gaze back down to him, and shoved Ermano’s pacifying hand away. “Enough,” he muttered. “You risked too much bringing the youngest Scuderi girl here and making him Captain.” Gottardo nodded toward Romero with a condescending snort.