Page 59 of Crimson Vows

“What’s your point?” Marco asks.

“Go to her and tell her everything. Explain what happened, that we never actually intended to make a move against Vincent. Tell her all of us were angry and hurt when we figured out what Vincent had done to Gia by letting her believe she was the one who had killed her father. Help her see that we made a mistake, but we are all loyal to her brother.”

“Why? What would be the point of doing that?” Marco asks with a confused expression. “What could she possibly do to fix this?”

Determination shines in my eyes. “You’ve said it before. She’s just like her father. I get that she’s dangerous, but she’s also levelheaded enough to listen to you. If you can convince her this is all a big misunderstanding, maybe she’ll be willing to talk to Vincent on your behalf. Help him see that killing his consigliere after so recently having a captain turn on this wouldn’t be good for anyone.”

After a moment of heavy silence, Marco nods slowly. “I don’t know,” he says hoarsely. “Fuck, I guess at this point I can at least try.”

“I want to go with you,” Dante says, guilt etched into every line of his face. “I’ll tell her you were completely against the idea and told me never to say a word about it again.”

“Absolutely not,” Marco snaps. “I don’t want you anywhere near this.”

“I have to do something,” Dante pleads. “This is all my fault.”

I place a hand on Dante’s arm, gaining his attention. “Marco’s right. It’s better if you stay out of it. Amelia is Marco’s cousin. He at least has a slim chance of convincing her.”

Dante nods, but his expression reveals he’s conflicted.

“For now, nobody talks to anyone,” Marco says.

We all agree before we part ways, but the expression on each of our faces says we all know it’s uncertain if any of us will see tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-Two

GIA

Exiting from the warehouse, I move slowly, waiting for Dante and Nico to leave the parking lot before I approach Marco. He stands near his black sedan, his eyes fixed on me and his face curious. He doesn’t move as I approach him.

“I really am sorry I put that stupid idea into Dante’s head. That was the night you told me Vincent had lied about me being the one to actually end my father’s life, and I was so fucking angry,” I tell him, stopping a mere breath away from him.

“I know,” he says, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean to yell at you in there. I know it wasn’t your intention for things to happen this way.”

“Do you think Amelia will actually help us?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

Marco hesitates, wrestling with the words. “I-I told you. I don’t know what she’s going to say.”

“Stop it. I can tell there’s something you don’t want to say,” I press, needing to hear the truth, however bitter.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answers.

“Don’t you dare do that,” I warn.

“Do what?”

“Hide shit from me,” I snap. “You swore to me you would never lie to me, and I can tell you’re not saying something. Now, what is it?”

He presses his lips together, staring back at me. “I don’t want you to hate me.”

My stomach sinks in response to his words. I can’t imagine what he could have done that would make him think I could hate him, but the truth is, I don’t know for certain what he’s capable of. Our bond was forged in a vacuum where assumptions were made about each other. At the end of the day, I could be completely wrong about the man standing in front of me. “It will hurt more if you keep things from me.”

He bows his head and exhales a breath slowly. “Okay. I need you to understand that my job as consigliere is to advise Vincent based on the information in front of me.”

“Marco, what did you do?”

He swallows hard and looks away from me as he continues to speak. “When we found out your father was conspiring against Vincent, he asked me for my advice.”

I hold my breath as Marco’s words hang heavy between us. Marco’s eyes search mine, seeking understanding, seeking forgiveness. “And?” I press, even though I’m confident the words he is about to say will sting.

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