Page 46 of His to Hold

“Where is everyone?”

“Alessandro took his wife and Olivia home for a while. The others…” She shrugs. “Who knows?”

Contemplating whether it would be best to turn around and leave, I hover by the door. Ava regards me shrewdly.

“So the rumors are true? My son has taken you back?”

“He has.”

“Hmm.” She gestures toward the seat opposite her. “Come and tell me how that happened.”

My pulse skitters as I cross the room. The Volante men might be scary but to protect her family, there is nothing Ava wouldn’t do. She’s one of the sweetest, kindest women I’ve ever met, but if she thinks her children are at risk of being hurt, she becomes a lioness.

I sink onto the seat opposite her and fold my hands on my lap to stop them from trembling. Ava raises an eyebrow and waits for me to speak. I’m not sure what to tell her.

“I didn’t mean for Antonio to get hurt that night. He knows that now.”

“What does he know?”

“That Joey Gallo blackmailed me to let him into the house.”

Ava purses her lips. I really hope she doesn’t ask me what Joey used to force my hand. “How did Antonio find out about this?”

“I told him.”

“Why now?”

“There wasn’t a chance to tell him before.”

The older woman arches an eyebrow. It’s a bullshit answer, and she knows it. I’ve had a year to speak to Antonio and plead my case.

“I was ashamed of what happened and the longer I was away from Antonio, the more scared I was to speak to him.”

Ava nods. “But you changed your mind?”

“Not exactly. I ran into trouble, and Antonio helped me.”

“Did this trouble involve Rico Mancini?”

My eyes widen. “How did you know?”

Ava lets out a long exhale. “My son may choose to keep me in the dark, but I hear things. I know he’s been with you in Westport for the last couple of days and not on some business trip. I also know Rico Mancini is missing. He’s dead, I assume?”

I glance around the room warily. This isn’t a topic we should be discussing.

“It’s fine,” Ava assures me. “Matteo ensured there are no eyes and ears on us when we first arrived at the hospital. The place is secure.”

I can’t imagine how someone ensures privacy in a public building but I suppose the Stanhope Wing does cater to the super-rich who prefer to know they won’t have people eavesdropping on them.

“I killed him. He tried to…”

Before I can say another word, Ava leans over and pats my hand. “Then he got what he deserved.”

My eyes tear up. It’s not because of the lingering memory of Rico’s disgusting threats or guilt that I took his life. What brings me to the point of tears is that Ava just showed me I’m still part of the family, that whatever I’ve done, they won’t stand for anyone trying to hurt me.

Before emotion gets the best of me, I decide to change the subject. “So, you and Boris Reznov?”

For a moment, I think Ava’s going to tell me to mind my own business. I guess I can’t expect her to divulge details of her personal life to me after we’ve not seen each other for a year. Then she nods. “We’ve been seeing each other for some time.”

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