Shattered By Control

But that only hardens my resolve. To hell with Casso and the Famiglia. What I have with Mirella is real, and even if she doesn’t want to take our relationship beyond this physical paradise we’ve been living in for the last few days, that doesn’t matter. I owe her and she’s my responsibility, which means I have to do whatever I can to save her from Cillian.

I brush past Gavino and start toward the house. “Where are you going?” Casso calls out. “We’re not finished here.”

“I am,” I say, looking back over my shoulder. “You can sit around and discuss concessions and politics all fucking day. I’m getting Mirella back.” I head up through the door and shove my way into the living room.

Nico meets me near the couches. He appears in the far hallway, wiping his knuckles with a towel. He grins at me and walks over, cracking his neck, a nice sheen of sweat on his forehead. “That fucker really can take a beating,” he says. His fingers are covered with blood, but I don’t think it’s his own.

“What did Genaro have to say for himself?”

“Just that he’s sorry he’s weak and can’t control his actions. We had a nice conversation and now I think he’ll be a bit more obedient in the future.”

“That’s good to hear.”

The door shoves open and Gavino comes inside. He’s looking harried and angry as he approaches. I turn to him, ready for a fight. He’s going to try to stop me—Gavino can’t help himself. For all the smiles and jokes and devil-may-care bullshit, he values the Famiglia above all else like everyone in this damn family, and he can’t help but obey whatever Casso says.

I was like that when I first met Mirella. But after this, I know where my priorities are. I’d die for the Famiglia and I’d obey any command given to me by my Don, but I won’t sacrifice Mirella for any of that.

“Let’s go after her,” Gavino says gravely.

I stare at him in surprise. He doesn’t smile back—he knows what this means. “Are you sure?”

“Casso didn’t tell me not to.” He shrugs like that’s good enough, even if we both know it’s a bullshit loophole.

“We’ve got more killing to do?” Nico asks, sounding genuinely excited.

“Seems that way.” I squeeze my brother’s shoulder. “Are you sure you’re with me? After what happened the last time, you should probably be in bed right now.”

“Just don’t expect me to do too much and we’ll be fine.”

“All right then. I have a plan, but I’m not sure either of you are going to like it.” I nod at Nico. “Go get some gear. Guns and body armor. And wrangle up your best men, we’ll need them.”

“You plan on getting into a fight?” Nico asks.

“Damn right I do.”

Gavino sighs. “That’s what I mean by not asking too much from me.”

I drape an arm across my brother’s shoulders and we hobble together toward the door. “No worries, you can hide back in the cars while I do all the dirty work. Now, you saved Cillian’s number, right?”

“I hope so, otherwise I’m a complete idiot.”

“That’s not a vote of confidence.”

He elbows me in the ribs as I laugh. “Yes, I have his number, you psychotic prick.”

“Good. Let’s give our friend a call and arrange another meeting. We have some territory to concede.”

Chapter 31

Mirella

The safe house is bustling with activity. Several men strap on body armor and load up weapons while I sit at the kitchen table with Mom. She’s as tired and stressed as I am, and all I can do for her right now is hold her hand and tell her things will be okay.

But that’s not very reassuring, since it seems like these men are preparing for an all-out war.

“You ladies holding up okay?” Cillian lingers near the table, all smiles and excitement. I feel the anxiety rolling off him but he does a good job of hiding it. “I know there’s lots of action, but don’t fret, you’ll be back home soon. Well, one of you will, the other one’s going to the Brunos for a bit longer.”

“Is that why everyone’s getting ready?”

Cillian nods and looks at his men with an odd, paternalistic smile, like he truly cares about what happens to them. I can’t imagine this man cares about anything beyond his own safety and power, and I have to assume that he’s either faking it, or he sees his soldiers as a means to his personal ends. Which makes them both useful and important.

“Fynn called again and he’s ready to do business. I’m not convinced this is for real but he seemed sincere on the phone and I think our boy has a bit of a crush on you. I don’t know what you did to him, sister, but I am very impressed. You bagged a Bruno.”