Page 41 of Not Mine to Keep

“You can accompany my team on the mission to intercept the Barone family, and we’ll give you first rights to kill Rocco. But Claudio ... We’ll handle him. This is non-negotiable.”

Technically, Claudio Barone had been our target four years ago. Sent after him by the US government. And we’d failed when Rocco got his hands on Constantine instead. I hated leaving a mission incomplete, even if we no longer answered to the government, but I supposed a win was a win. If The League killed him, it’d still be mission success.

“Deal,” I rasped. “I assume you’re already aware of the fact I’m in Rome and what Armani DiMaggio wants me to do in order to have a shot at marrying his daughter?”

“Sì.And my husband, Sean, and my most trusted friend in The League, Sebastian Renaud, will have your back tomorrow to assist. I’d come myself, but I’m six months pregnant.”

“I didn’t know. Congratulations.”

“Grazie.”She didn’t waste time getting back to business. The woman was harder than I was. Damn. “You obviously can’t get an inviteto Esposito’s party tomorrow as a Costa, so Sebastian is working on ways to get everyone in. New identities for you and your siblings. My husband has your number. He’ll be in touch later.”

“Thank you. I’m forever indebted to you.”

“Consider your debt paid when Claudio Barone is dead.” The woman of few words hung up without any pleasantries, which was fine by me. As long as we had the support of The League, that was all that mattered.

I set aside my phone when I heard a knock coming from the living room of the suite. By the time I reached the door, my sister had already yelled out, “It’s us.”

I swung it open and immediately bowed my head at the sight of Constantine in the hall, too.

“It wasn’t me. Blame Dad. He told him.” Izzy was quick to defend herself.

Constantine quietly barreled around me. A man on a mission.

“You could’ve given me a warning,” I mumbled while stepping back to allow more space for Enzo and Hudson, carrying the bags, to come in.

“He was adamant about us keeping our mouths shut,” Enzo said as I closed the door.

“Like Dad was supposed to do.” I faced the room and folded my arms, waiting for Constantine to start his lecture.

“You invited Izzy but not me. I can’t believe you tried to keep this a secret,” Constantine began, earning him the side-eye from Izzy.

“What does that mean?” Izzy aligned herself beside me at his borderline insult. “Just because I’ve never killed anyone doesn’t mean—”

“And you never will,” Constantine barked out, stabbing a finger her way.

I was on the same page there as he. The last thing I wanted was my little sister to know what it felt like to take a life. My brothers and I were numb to death now, and it was a fucked-up feeling that no amount oftherapy could help me push through. Not that I could tell my therapist about the lives I’d taken outside the army.

“You’re too overprotective for your own good.” Izzy went over to the bar, snatched a bottle of wine, and began to uncork it.

“No, I’m the exact right amount of overprotective,” Constantine fired back as Hudson quietly moved the bags over by the couch.

Enzo dropped down on the lounge chair and gripped the back of his neck, his eyes red with exhaustion. “Dad wanted us all here for you.”

And now I was feeling guilty that Enzo had come. He should’ve been back home with his pregnant wife and daughter.

Constantine tossed his suit jacket on the couch and began working his sleeves to the elbows, taking out more of his anger on his custom-fitted shirt. “It should be me. You should’ve told me. I should be the one—”

“Marrying Calliope?”Calliope.Yup, out came that name. Smooth, like fucking butter.

“You shouldn’t be the one sacrificing yourself to get to Rocco.” Constantine slammed a palm over his heart. “It should be me.”

“Are you sure we can even trust Gabriel?” Enzo spoke up before I could shut down the ridiculousness of my older brother’s words. “He’smafioso.”

Like I needed the reminder. “And if it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead. Constantine, too,” I snapped out, forgetting this information hadn’t been common knowledge. I hadn’t wanted my brothers knowing I was indebted to a criminal and why. I didn’t need Constantine shouldering more guilt. He already did his best to carry the weight of our problems like he was our father.

Hudson was the only one I’d shared bits and pieces to about Gabriel, and he’d given me his word he wouldn’t repeat what I’d said. So based on Constantine’s and Enzo’s shocked looks, I had a feeling Hudson hadn’t opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, what?” It was Izzy to pipe up first, a glass of red in hand.

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