Page 46 of Heartless Union

“I’ve got this,” Father says. “I can save my own daughter.” He storms toward the house.

“If he wants to get himself killed, then be my guest,” I mutter. “But I’m not leaving Gabriella’s fate in his hands.”

I brush past my father and burst into the house. It’s empty everywhere except for the bedroom. Gabriella is there, lying on the bed.

“Gabriella,” I gasp out, running to her side. She sits up, looking dazed. “Are you ok? You’re safe now.” She begins to cry as I scoop her up into my arms. She’s covered in tiny cuts and bruises.

“Where are Dante and Carlo?” Father demands.

Gabriella just cries harder. I glare at my father as I walk past.

“What?” he asks. “We need to know.”

“Right now, we need to get Gabriella to safety,” I snap back. “Revenge can wait.”

He grabs my arm. “Revenge can never wait, son.”

“Over your own daughter’s safety?” I wrench away from him and get Gabriella back to the car. Massimo rushes over to Gabriella’s side.

“I’m here, Gabi. I’m here.” He joins her in the back seat.

Emilio hovers nearby. “Why was she left alone?”

“That’s what I’m wondering, too,” I say. “I don’t like it.”

I take Gabriella back to my house instead of hers. She shouldn’t be alone with our father right now.

“Gabriella.” Lara runs over to us as soon as we enter the house. “You’re alive.”

“Because of you,” she says, wrapping her arms around Lara. The two women hug for a moment before letting each other go. “Thank you.”

“What happened after I left?”

“Dante wanted to bring me with him, but Carlo said no. That they needed to cut their losses. They left me at the house.”

“They knew we were coming,” I say. “But enough talk about that. Let’s get you into bed.” I carry Gabriella upstairs.

“I’ll stay with her,” Lara says.

Before she walks into the room, I grab her hand. “Hey. We didn’t get the chance to talk after you came back.”

“We can talk in the morning. Right now, I think Gabi and I need each other. We went through something scary.”

I nod, letting her go. She gives me a small smile before going into the room and shutting the door behind her.

There’s so much I want to say to Lara, but I don’t even know where to start. All that matters is that her and Gabriella are safe for the time being. But who knows when Carlo and Dante might try to strike again. They had the gall to come after me in my own home. We’re not safe here. I need to hunt those two down and kill them.

My father and brothers are waiting downstairs.

“How is she?” Massimo asks.

“She needs rest. They both do.”

Father scoffs. “Rest. I was never afforded rest when I was taking over this business.”

“Gabriella isn’t like you,” I say stiffly.

“And good thing for that. She’s weak and pathetic. Just like her mother.”

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