When Villains Rise (Anti-Heroes in Love 2)

And I remembered that I had nothing to be bitter about anymore.

“Giselle,” I said. “It’s Elena.”

It was easy to read her shock through the phone.

“Oh, hi. Is everything okay?” There was alarm in her tone, which warmed me slightly. It felt good to know whatever our issues, she didn’t want me unhappy or unhealthy.

“Everything is wonderful, actually,” I confessed as I sat on the couch staring at our chosen family. Frankie had his arm slung around Dante’s shoulders while Addie pretended to fight him, throwing mock punches that made everyone else laugh. “I don’t know if you followed the case, but Dante was acquitted today.”

“Oh! That’s so wonderful. The charges were dropped?”

“We proved the murder charge was bogus so the prosecutions case crumbled.” I would never forget the look on Dennis O’Malley’s face and the resulting triumph I’d felt like David taking down Goliath. “Anyway, we are having a party tonight to celebrate. Mama, Sebastian, and Beau are coming. I wondered…I wondered if you and Daniel were free to join us.”

“Yes,” she said instantly, almost without thinking. “I mean, we have Gennie, but I can see if our babysitter could watch her for a while.”

“If you can’t, that’s fine too,” I said. “I just wanted to call and, well, extend the invitation. It’s a night to celebrate.”

“I’m happy you called and I’m happy he’s free. I’ll call the babysitter and talk to Sinclair then text you to know what our plan is, okay?” Her voice was sweet, but then, it always was because Giselle wore her tender heart on her sleeve whereas I’d hidden my own behind layers of ice like something that had become extinct in the Ice Age.

“Sounds good.”

And it did.

If she and Sinclair could come, I would be polite, but most likely a little distant. I didn’t know if forgiveness was something that could manifest as soon as you wanted it to happen. It would take time and even then, I might not ever feel the way for Giselle I did with Cosima, Mama, and even Sebastian.

But again, that was okay.

Life was messy and imperfect and I was just a part of that.

A little resentment and bitterness didn’t make me a bitch, it just made me human.

I shut off the phone and wandered into the kitchen where Dante immediately made room for me at his side.

“Stai bene?” he asked, checking in as he ran his nose down my hair.

“Yes,” I said, wrapping an arm around his waist. “I invited Giselle tonight.”

He stilled for a moment before curling me tighter into his body. “Che coraggio.”

What courage.

Frankie’s phone ringing cut through the music and laughter of the kitchen, but I ignored it to roll to my toes to kiss the hinge of Dante’s jaw.

“Boss.”

The atmosphere in the kitchen fell flat like old pop.

Dante’s head snapped up, eyes alert and predatory on his right-hand man.

“The di Carlos are at the house in Queens,” Frankie relayed. “Bruno is on the phone, hiding in the crawl space. They’re taking the entire load.”

“Cazzo di Merda,” Dante cursed savagely, putting his champagne flute down so hard on the counter that the stem broke and Prosecco went everywhere. He ignored it, looking down at me with eyes like chips of black ice. “We have to go, lottatrice.”

“Go,” I agreed, kissing him quickly before moving away to collect the glasses from the rest of the men who were already starting to move out. “Just keep me posted.”

A hand snapped in my shirt and pulled me back. Dante spun me to face him and kissed me one more time, hard enough to bruise.

“I’ll be back soon,” he promised.

I smiled softly at him, because it was his own anxiety about being away that prompted him to say that. I’d already known he would come back to me.

“In bocca al lupo.”

Good luck.

The party was in full swing, the apartment stuffed with friends, family, and mafia associates who greeted me like their queen when they arrived. Even Giselle and Daniel had shown up, they I hadn’t done more than say hello and kiss them both on each cheek. That seemed to surprise them, startling a pure smile out of the usually reserved Daniel and a surprising hug from my sister that I weathered with a mixture of pain and pleasure.s

Dante had texted to say not to cancel the party but they wouldn’t be back for a while. The lawyer in me wondered if he was using the party as an alibi, but I tried not to worry.

“They’ll be fine,” Yara promised when I looked at the clock for the four hundredth time. “They’re big boys.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be worried about them.”

Her hard face softened slightly. “You know, I wasn’t sure about you at first, Elena, but I’m happy to say I’ve grown to admire you very much.”