Bound by the Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles 7)

I didn’t need their help.

Now I needed to talk to Val. About trust. About betrayal.Val was still up when I returned home. My anger had built during the drive to the mansion but when I entered the bedroom and spotted my heavily pregnant wife perching on the edge of the bed, kneading her hands anxiously, it was difficult to hold on to my fury. She pushed slowly to her feet, her eyes swimming with worry. Her red silk nightgown stretched over her belly. “What did you do to Aria?”

For some reason, her worry over Aria kindled my anger anew. I undid my cuffs and headed toward the walk-in closet and not Val.

“You went to a meeting with the wife of the Famiglia Capo without telling me, without protection, Val,” I said. I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it over a chair as Val appeared in the doorway.

“Aria isn’t a danger to me. I’ve known her all my life. We are cousins.”

I shook my head, my fingers steady as I removed my tie and unbuttoned my shirt, despite the emotions shaking me up.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “We are at war.” It wasn’t just anger over her betrayal I felt. I was also worried. She risked too much. This could have been a trap.

Cradling her belly, Val leaned against the doorframe. “You are at war, Dante. The Outfit is. But Aria and I, we aren’t.”

I gritted my teeth at her refusal to accept the sad truth. This war was all-encompassing. “It could have been a trick. Luca could have set her up to it. You risked too much.”

Val raised her brows. “You really think Aria would have led me into a trap so Luca could capture me? And then what?”

“It’s a good thing that we’ll never find out.” Left in my briefs, I moved to walk out but Val stepped in the way.

“Where’s Aria?” Val asked again, touching my bare chest. “What did you do to her?”

Grabbing her shoulders, I gently pushed her out of my way and headed for the bathroom. Of course, Val followed me. “Dante, don’t ignore me now. Tell me what you did to Aria. I deserve to know.”

I slammed my palm down on the sink. “Didn’t I deserve to know that Aria Vitiello was in my territory? That she intended to meet my wife? What did she want here? Why did she want to meet you?”

Val paled at my open wrath. “She wanted to talk about Fabiano. She’s worried about him because of this war, because of Rocco.”

I shook my head. “Fabiano is part of the Outfit. He isn’t her concern.”

“If Leonas was part of another famiglia, would he no longer be your concern?”

“Leonas is born into the Outfit and he’ll rule over the Outfit. There won’t ever be anything else for him.”

Val looked down at her belly with a small frown. “But what if he doesn’t want to be.”

“Valentina, this discussion is moot. Leonas will be raised to be Capo. He’ll know nothing else. He’ll want nothing else. This discussion is over.”

Val turned around but her soft intake of breath told me she was going to cry. I clutched the edge of the sink, counting to three and trying to calm myself. I straightened and followed Val. She looked out of the window, her shoulders trembling. She was close to her due date and emotionally vulnerable.

I sighed. I didn’t want to fight with her, not in the state she was in. I walked closer and touched Val’s bare shoulders then pressed a gentle kiss to her neck. “Dante,” she whispered. Our eyes met in the reflection of the window and as usual, I had a hard time staying mad at her when she looked at me.

“I sent her back to New York.”

Val’s lips parted with surprise. “Really?” She turned in my hold, causing her belly to bump into my abs.

I brushed the tears away from her pale cheeks. “Really.”

Her brows puckered. “Why? Having her in your hands would have given you an advantage over Luca.”

Luca would have lost his mind. He would have orchestrated an attack on Chicago. It was an idea I’d entertained often, but my decision was made and I was still certain it had been the right one.

“Aria is pregnant.”

Val looked thoughtful for a moment then she wrapped her arms around me. “I thought I saw her touch her belly twice but I didn’t really think much of it. I’m so happy for them.” She fell silent, seeing my expression. I didn’t give a fuck if Luca became a father. It only meant Leonas would have future Vitiellos to deal with. They wouldn’t remain innocent children forever.

Val smiled then kissed me. “That was the right thing to do.”

Val thought I’d acted out of the goodness of my heart. She didn’t know what I’d sent Aria back to. I wouldn’t be able to hide it from her forever.