The silence in the room is deafening. I take his tattooed hand, mine still shaking like a leaf. He pulls me to my feet, grabbing my hips to steady me.
“Endgame time,” he whispers in my ear.
I slide my hand from under his and take off the engagement ring that’s been weighing me down for weeks to hurl it onto the floor.
“Our endgame.”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach as the pad of his thumb circles my wrist. We walk over to his friends, and he pulls me possessively to his side. Maddie wipes away her tears as Grayson cuddles her into him. Keller’s holding Sienna to his left, both friends not taking their eyes off Luca.
“Well that was quite the performance, brother,” Keller chuckles and Sienna elbows him in the ribs. I can’t help but laugh.
“He means, welcome to the family.” Sienna beams.
Maddie rushes over, wrapping me up in a bear hug as best she can with her belly bump. “Everything will be okay, Rosa. We will do everything we can for you two.”
“Thank you.” The comfort she shares brings fresh tears to my eyes.
“When this all dies down, we will do that movie night, I promise.”
I sniffle. “I’d love that.”
Grayson clears his throat. “Luca, what is the plan now?”
I stiffen, completely forgetting about Maria and the danger we’ve just put everyone in. Luca squeezes my hand, offering a calm support as I lean against him. It’s as if the man can read my every thought.
“Keller, I need you to take the girls and kids to the safehouse. Do not leave there until I tell you. I need to tell you all the truth about what is going on.
“I was marrying Maria to protect you. Romano threatened Darcy, well, all of you, actually. He wants my ports to distribute them out in the states. Marrying Maria solidified the alliance, tying me to them. The explosion at the docks, that was because she was upset about Rosa. So now, you’re all in danger. I’m so sorry.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, burying my face into his chest. Sienna gasps, and Keller pulls her into him.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” he seethes, his fists clench.
“No.” Luca cuts him off. “I will fix this. You are going to look after our family. Protect them. I’m not risking you, and it’s not up for discussion. Frankie and I have a plan. Well, had. We take out Romano tomorrow.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Grayson runs a hand over his face, pressing a kiss to Maddie’s head. Her eyes brim with tears as she folds her arms over her protruding belly. My heart breaks for her. This whole mess means she’s going to be in a safehouse while her husband is out fighting, because of me. When she could give birth at any moment.
“I’m sorry.” I mouth to her.
She shakes her head. “Don’t be silly.”
Luca sighs. “I thought I could protect you if I married Maria. We planned to take Romano down after the wedding and take his guns with us.”
“Frankie?” Grayson’s face turns red as anger shadows his features. “You trusted Frankie?” he spits.
Luca steps forward and I release my hold. He squares up to Grayson until they are only inches separating their noses.
“Yes. I trusted Frankie. I did what I thought was best. I sacrificed my happiness to try and protect all of you. Now can you get out of your head, forget about Frankie, and help me end this?” Luca sets his arms on Grayson’s shoulders. The blonde giant relaxes as he squeezes his eyes shut.
“Fuck.” He looks over to his wife and she smiles at him, not hiding the pain on her face.
What have I done?
Panic threatens to close my throat off. I have to get to my sister. I remember the words Dante threatened me with. That he would kill Luca and Eva.
I suck in a breath. “If I go back to Dante and explain. I could lie? Say that you just knew how to help me from before? If I still marry him, Maria might not be as mad?”
Luca’s head snaps around with fury as he takes my face in both of his hands. “Not happening, Rosa. I won’t let you near that man again. I need you to fight, goddammit. Please Rosa, I need you to fight for us. That strength I know is in there, I’ve seen it. We are so close to our forever, tesoro.” He kisses the top of my head.
“I need to get my sister,” I whisper.
He pulls back. “She’s in Italy?”
“Oh, err–she’s home. She’s staying with a friend,” I stammer. My nails dig into my palm. I almost told him. Dante would kill us all if he found out.
“We’ll get her.” He pulls me tight against his muscular frame. “Grayson, with me. We’re taking Rosa to Eva. We will get her and drop them off at the safehouse. Then, we get Frankie, and we come up with a plan. We end this.”
Grayson nods, his face is stern as he turns to Maddie. “I’ll be back soon, Sunshine. I promise you. I love you and you—” He bends and places a kiss on her stomach. Her cheeks go bright red. She bites down on her lip, mascara running down her cheeks.
“Luca?” I look up at him, watching his friends, expressionless. “I’m scared. I don’t want you to leave me at the safehouse. I want to come with you.”
He smiles down at me. “It shouldn’t be for long. I’ll check in on you every day. Once this is over, we’re free, Rosa. Just remember that.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses my ring finger.
His eyes sparkle. “And then I will deliver you to our new world, tesoro. I just have to burn it down first.”
“I need my phone so I can get a hold of Eva.” Once we get out of here and everyone is at the safehouse, I will tell him everything. I have the address on that phone, I just need to find it.
