Page 64 of Crimson Vows

“No! I told you I was about to call and tell you.”

“Do you understand what they would do to me and Dante if you and Marco left?” he asks, and I can hear the doubt in his question.

“That’s why we would never do that,” I assure him. “Why would I have told you about it if you coming with us was never part of our plan? Think about it! I stopped my father from killing you. Why would I do that only to abandon you?”

I can hear only his breathing on the line.

“I’d never forgive myself,” I admit, hoping he will sense the truth in my words. “I couldn’t live with myself if I left you to face the fallout. Marco couldn’t either; you know that.”

A pause crackles through the line. Then Nico says, “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it seem like I doubted either of you. This shit with Dante has me so fucked up. I want you to know, no matter what happens, I’ve got you. I won’t ever let Vincent lay a finger on you. I promise.”

“I wish I would have never said anything that night. I feel like I was the one who planted the idea in Dante’s head in the first place,” I confess. “I was just so pissed, but I should have known, especially after my father.”

“Gia,” he says. “This isn’t about taking blame. It’s about survival. We have to look out for each other. Besides, the debt I owe you—”

“Stop.” The single word is a command. “You don’t owe me anything. I saved you because it was the right thing to do.”

“And that’s why you will always have my loyalty.” His oath is pure and genuine, and it brings a little comfort in the chaos of the moment.

“Thank you,” I answer before my thoughts return to his call’s original reason. “Dante. Is there anywhere you can think he would have gone?”

“I don’t know; he doesn’t hang out with his crew as much these days, but I guess there’s a chance he could have gone to see one of them,” Nico replies.

“Okay, I’ll finish up here, then try to call him,” I offer.

“I’ve been trying since he left. He’s not answering.”

“Maybe because you two had a huge fight, and he sees it’s you calling,” I suggest. “If he sees it’s me, who knows.”

“Fine,” Nico replies. “Call me if you hear anything from him. Okay?”

“Absolutely, I promise,” I say before ending the call, and I’m left alone. Nico will find Dante. He has to.

Taking a deep breath, I calm my nerves and text Dante.

Me: Where are you? You have everyone worried sick. Quit being an asshole and call us back so we know you’re okay.

After hitting send, I return to the task of packing. I was trying to wrap my head around a relationship with Marco, and now, suddenly, I find myself in a situation where I am packing a bag in case we are forced to run together.

My entire identity is that of Anthony Casaletto’s daughter, born and raised in the Mafia. The world he had always been so desperate to carve a piece from turned on him, and now it appeared it would do the same to me. Where can I go? Is Marco right when he says hiding from them will be impossible? Is all of this pointless? Am I destined to end up like my father?

Chapter Twenty-Six

MARCO

Irun my hand over the leather steering wheel, playing out different scenarios. Vincent is coming. There is no changing the fact that I will have to face him sooner rather than later. I can’t help but feel like no matter what option I choose, the outcome won’t be one I can live with.

Gia. I need to hear her voice. I need something else to focus my thoughts on if I’m going to be trapped, sitting in this car waiting for Amelia, hiding from the inevitable. My thumb swipes the screen, and a moment later, Gia is in my ear.

“Marco? Are you okay?” she asks, every word heavy with worry.

I lean back against the headrest and close my eyes, imagining her. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Now that I hear your voice. “I wanted to call and check on you. What are you doing?”

“Thank God, I got a little worried when I saw it was you. I hate feeling so on edge.” She exhales into the phone.

“I know. It will be over soon,” I assure her, despite not knowing our ending.

“I stopped at the bank and emptied the safety deposit box, and I’m back home now. I’ve packed everything except my passport, which I’m grabbing out of my home safe right now,” she says, breathless with a rustle of movement on her end.

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