By Sin I Rise: Part Two (Sins of the Fathers 2)

Growl narrowed his eyes. “If you aren’t sure about Marcella or where your loyalties lie, you better not come back. Luca gifted you with your life once. He won’t be as gracious again.”

“What’s it to you?”

“I know where my loyalties lie. Luca took me in when I had nowhere else to go. I’m not someone who tramples on a gift like that.”

“Just tell Marcella I’ll be back once I’ve taken care of business and tell Matteo thanks for his bike.”

I turned and got back inside the car. I didn’t need a guilt trip from Growl. I had half a mind to drive to the Vitiello mansion and ask for Marcella, clear things up with her, but finding Gray before he got himself killed was my top priority. Once he’d told me who’d leaked the information about me killing his father, I could decide how to handle it. I wasn’t even sure how long that would take, but Marcella and I had gone through worse than a few days of separation.

Soon we’d be reunited, and fuck, I couldn’t wait to taste her again.

Being at home still felt strange after weeks of captivity. I had spent pretty much every second of the day with Maddox and being separated from him felt odd. I missed his presence, even his dirty mouth, and in more than one sense, but he obviously had made his choice to move on and enjoy the freedom only the biker lifestyle could offer him.

My lips twisted with bitterness as I glanced out of the window, down at the street in front of our house. I kept doing it, even if Matteo had told me an hour ago that Maddox wouldn’t return. The kidnapping had messed with my mind, even if I didn’t want to admit it to anyone. Maybe it was good that Maddox had made the decision I had been too weak for, too infatuated for, and cut ties between us. Was it really possible to rebuild a relationship on the basis of a normal setting, without fear and lack of freedom? We’d never find out.

I didn’t hate Maddox for leaving. I too had held doubts if it hadn’t been better to let Dad kill Maddox because then things would have been easier. A life with Maddox would have been a challenge not just for me but for my family and the Famiglia, one I wasn’t sure everyone would have mastered.

Amo let out a low sound of displeasure. “Stop staring out of the window like a dog waiting for its owner. He won’t come back. He’s a disloyal biker, and you’re better off without him.”

I gave my brother my best death glare, furious about his comparison. “A dog would wag its tail and welcome its owner after his return, but you can bet your ass on me kicking Maddox in the balls when he struts back into my life.”

Amo shook his head. “I know you would, but you should let Dad handle the idiot and have him killed. That’s the clean cut you need, Marci. That he’s still out there is holding you back and you really shouldn’t let that happen. You need your energy and brain to show Dad’s soldiers who’s boss.”

I finally turned my back to the window. Only Amo’s window had a view of the streets while my window pointed out toward the gardens, probably one more of Dad’s safety measures.

“Nothing is holding me back. I can separate my heart from my brain. My work in the Famiglia doesn’t have anything to do with Maddox and me.”

“There’s no Maddox and you. He dumped you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “He can’t dump me. We weren’t in a relationship to speak of.”

Amo waved me off. “Don’t go on. I don’t want to know details about your prisoner with benefits status.”

I hurled the next thing I could grab at Amo, a heavy algebra book from the floor. He barely managed to dodge it, then he raised his arms. “All right. Let’s not mention the biker again.”

“Thanks.” I walked over to his sofa and sank down. Amo returned his focus to his computer screen where he was reading up on the topography of Pennsylvania. I wasn’t sure if it was for homework or for their biker hunt.

“Our soldiers will accept you eventually,” Amo said but there was a hidden but in his tone. Our soldiers. To him, everything about this came naturally. He was welcomed with open arms, and nobody ever questioned that he would become Capo once Dad retired.

I also knew what Amo wasn’t saying.

“Because they respect and fear Dad.”

He didn’t deny it.

“I’ll earn their respect.”

“You’ll have to work harder for it than I ever will.”

I knew that. Women were looked down upon. We were supposed to be pretty and know when to keep our mouths shut. I’d be spared sexist comments because of Dad, but the men wouldn’t take me seriously for myself.