Adamo let out a choked laugh. “Why do you speak about him as if you don’t hate him? He kidnapped you. He ruined your life.”
I looked away. I wouldn’t tell him about Nevio and Greta and certainly not about my twisted feelings for his brother either.
Adamo leaned forward, wincing, and brought our faces closer together, a risk because we were undoubtedly being watched, and my family was still eager to spill Falcone blood. His or Remo’s, it didn’t matter, as long as it was a Falcone. I met Adamo’s gaze, and realization settled on his face.
“Fuck,” he whispered hoarsely. He leaned even closer, despite the rope binding his unharmed arm to the chair. “You’re giving me the same look Remo has whenever someone mentions you.”
My chest constricted. “I need to go now.” I stood and took a step back. Adamo Falcone. Falcone, the name my children were supposed to carry.
“Goodbye,” I whispered, but deep down I wondered if this was really the last time I would see him.
I turned quickly and left the room. Samuel waited right in front of the door. He regarded me, incomprehension in his features. “Why do you take care of a fucking Falcone bastard?”
“He never hurt me. He’s a boy.”
Samuel shook his head. “He is a Made Man, Fina. You should let us handle him and Remo. We are capable of doing what needs to be done.”
We walked into the main hall where Dad, Danilo, and Dante were talking in hushed tones. They turned to us the moment we entered.
I faced Samuel. “And what is that?”
“Bring Remo to his knees. Make him beg for mercy. Beg for death. I will cut his dick off myself. Danilo will take care of his balls, and then we will keep them in a nice bag with ice so he can see them while we tear him apart. Then we’ll shove them down his throat.”
Danilo smiled grimly, and even Dad looked like he could imagine nothing better than committing the most brutal murder he could think of.
I swallowed. “He is the father of my children.”
Samuel grabbed my shoulders hard, desperately. “He broke you, Fina,” he said softly. None of them had ever asked if I considered myself broken. They had declared me as such, and all four of them made me feel like I was.
“He is a monster,” Samuel added.
“He is not the only one,” I whispered, my eyes wandering over the gathered men.
Samuel dropped his hands, face twisting as if I’d stabbed him. “I’m doing this for you. To avenge you.”
“Did any of you ever ask what I wanted? If I wanted more blood spilled? If I wanted to be avenged?” I shouted.
Dante came forward, expression tight. “Don’t you want to see Remo Falcone on his knees? Don’t you want to see him broken?”
I did, but not in the same way they wanted. “I want nothing more,” I said quietly, because they could never, would never understand.
Samuel wrapped an arm around me and kissed my temple. “Fina, let’s go home.”
“Yes, let’s go home,” I said quietly. I peered up at Samuel, realizing that for the first time in my life, we didn’t mean the same place.
REMO
Nino, Savio, and I linked arms, pressing over the tattoo of the other. “You will be a better Capo than me, Nino. You won’t kill people who might be useful to us. Your logic will make the Camorra even stronger.”
Nino didn’t say anything, only stared at me.
Savio shook his head. “Remo, let’s attack them. I’d rather die fighting than have you in their fucking hands.”
I smiled darkly. “You will have to die another day. I will pay for my sins.”
Nino made a low sound. “She didn’t return, Remo. She stayed in Minneapolis. They won’t let you anywhere near her. You will die for nothing.”
“No, I will die so she gets what she wants.”
Nino pulled away. “Damn it. Be reasonable for once.”
“I made my decision and you will accept it.”
Cars pulled up, and I moved away from my brothers who took shelter inside the car. Nino and Savio raised their guns through the open windows. I wasn’t armed as I walked toward the parked cars, my arms raised over my head. I didn’t think Dante would attack Nino or Savio. Once he’d dismembered me in the cruelest way possible, he’d send my brothers the recording and probably to Luca as well. He’d try to break my family like I had broken his, killing us all just wouldn’t do. Not yet.
Dante got out, followed by Samuel, Pietro, and Danilo, and more men I didn’t know and didn’t give a fuck about. Samuel walked around to the back of the car and pulled Adamo out.
Adamo could hardly stand as Samuel dragged him behind himself toward me. Rage boiled under my skin. Samuel shoved Adamo to the ground in front of my feet, and Adamo looked up at me with his blood covered face, cradling his broken and burned arm against his chest.