Page 62 of Forever Mine

“Yeah,” Monica rasps as she attempts to straighten in my embrace. She turns to whisper to me, “It’s Liv and Liam.”

“How do you know it’s both of them?” I whisper back as a tall man in a deputy sheriff uniform walks in with a thin brunette.

“Because. I just know.”

Well, okay then.

Liam walks over to me and extends his hand to shake. “Gabriel. It’s good to finally meet you.”

“You as well. Any updates?”

“That’s what I’m here to explain,” Liam says as Liv gives Monica a hug before patting me on the shoulder. Liam turns to Monica. “Glad you’re okay, crazy girl.”

“Thanks,” Monica says quietly. I hate seeing her so defeated and a shell of her former self. My little spitfire is nowhere in this room.

“Monica, I’m going to be blunt. Why did you move from Texas?” Liam asks.

Monica stiffens against me.

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything,” she stammers.

“Marcus is from Texas. His name is Nicolas Bianchi,” Liam states.

“What?” Monica breathes. She trembles against me, and I notice she has paled significantly since Liam started talking.

“Do you know the Bianchi family?” Liam asks. Monica doesn’t immediately answer, and Liam presses again. “I need to know if there’s a connection here, Mon. You’re both from Texas. Both Italian. I know what the Bianchi family is involved in, and I need to know if your family is involved in it as well.”

“Liam, maybe now isn’t the best time to talk about this,” Liv says as she watches Monica’s face.

“I have to go. I need to get out of here,” Monica whispers as she struggles to kick off the blankets.

“What? No! You’re not going anywhere,querida,” I protest as my arms clamp down on her waist. She cries out as she thrashes.

“You don’t understand! They won’t stop. They’ll find me. I can’t be here …” she trails off.

I look at Liam, and he has confusion written across his face.

“Mon, you need to tell me. We can keep you safe,” he implores. “Why is the Bianchi family coming after you?”

“I don’t know exactly why. I just know they won’t stop.”

A foreboding sensation settles in my stomach as I wrack my brain, trying to remember what I know about the Bianchi family. And the Italian mafia in Texas. There are a few families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Bianchi, Russo, Romano, and Angelino. Although I have a vague memory of something going down years ago with The Russo and Angelino families. I squeeze my eyes shut as I realize what the connection is.

“Your last name isn’t Valducci.” It’s not a question. It’s a statement.

“No,” Monica whispers as she turns and buries her face in my neck.

“It’s Russo.” Again, I’m not asking. I already know. Monica nods against my shoulder as her arms slide around to clutch my back.

“Holy shit,” Liam whispers.

“Oh, baby.Querida. It’s okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” I whisper against her ear.

“What am I missing?” Liv asks quietly. Liam looks at me, waiting for me to explain.

“Monica can fill in the blanks, but I remember my mother telling me about a big mafia war that happened like fifteen years ago. A mafia don promised his daughter to another family. The son of the don, who was twenty-something years older than the girl. Then suddenly, the dad killed the guy, and the daughter just disappeared. The other family was pissed and started a war. It was bloodshed for a few years. You’re the daughter who disappeared, aren’t you?”

Monica nods against me, her body trembling. Liv gasps. Liam and I stare at each other in disbelief.

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