Page 38 of Brando

I turn to her, meeting her gaze. I wish I had her unwavering optimism, but right now I can only feel a mix of hope and despair swirling inside me. “What if she doesn't come back? What if there's no second chance for us?”

Allegra shakes her head, determination in her expression. “You can't think like that. Losing her is not an option. You have to believe that she'll come back to you. And when she does, she'll need you to be the man she knows you are - someone who would do anything to protect her.”

As I look into her eyes, a spark of hope rekindles within me. Allegra has been a strong presence in my life, a voice of reason amidst the chaos in my mind. She's right; I cannot succumb to despair. Mia needs me to be strong and hold onto faith for both of us.

Allegra gives me an encouraging smile and squeezes my arm before we sit together in silence under the night sky. Withrenewed determination, I vow to fight for Mia - not recklessly, but by staying grounded and standing strong beside her. I will never give up on her, not now or ever.

The cool breeze carries a hint of the impending winter as I stare into the darkness, feeling the weight of Allegra’s words. It's then that Scar emerges onto the porch, his face etched with concern.

“You two still out here?” Scar queries, stepping into the soft glow of the porch light. His eyes flick from Allegra to me, reading the scene.

“We’re just talking,” Allegra replies, her voice steady and soothing. She looks at him like the world starts and ends with him, the weight of a thousand emotions in her eyes. They’ve come a long way from their humble beginnings when they were taking turns trying to kill each other.

Scar nods, looking at me with a brotherly sternness before he meets his wife’s eyes with a softness that is rarely seen in my older brother. She and Scarlett have become everything to him.

“It’s rare to see you home, brother,” he remarks.

I exhale sharply, frustration bubbling within me. “Guess I needed the company.”

“You know I don’t like you staying at the penthouse.”

“That’s just temporary.”

When Scarlett’s soft cries reach the porch, Allegra stands and excuses herself, leaving me sitting with Scar in our shared silence.

“Until Mia comes back?”

“I need to find her,” I finally admit out loud, giving voice to my deepest fear and resolve. “I need to ensure she’s safe.”

“How’s the tracking going?”

“Her phone’s offline again. Falcone’s definitely using a jammer so she can’t make or receive calls.”

He fixes me with curious eyes. “To what end? You were able to track her to the restaurant.”

“It was the only time we had a signal. It’s been radio silence ever since.”

“This can’t be just about Mia,” Scar says. “Not after all this time.”

“Well, he’s got her where he wants her.”

“You don’t break up with someone then just turn up ten years later. Doesn’t make sense, Brando; this seems personal.”

“It doesn’t get more personal than kidnapping her sisters then forcing her back into his arms.”

“I think it’s time to meet with the Maltese,” Scar says, even though I’m not altogether sure that they can be trusted. “It’s time, brother. I’ll set up a meet and text you the details.”

Mason has been missingin action. I’ve tried to keep him tethered to my side, but lately he’s been prone to disappearing on me, making it hard to communicate anything with him. In a way, he seems disconnected, like if he shuts out everything that’s happening, things will work themselves out somehow. He fails to understand that finding his nieces is not going to be simply a matter of waiting and hoping for the best. We need to go to war. It’s the only way to get them back.

I’ve enlisted the help of some of my men to keep tabs on him. He’s volatile at best at the moment, and I think I have to make an effort to ensure his safety so that when Mia and her sisters come back, they at least have one family member waiting in the wings for them.

I find Mason exactly where Lupe tells me I’ll find him – at a local bar after closing time, sprawled over the counter, a bottleof tequila in front of him. The absence of my new friend has not gone unnoticed, and the weight of Mason’s silence feels like a storm brewing on the horizon. He’s the only one that shares my obsession and determination with finding Mia and her sisters, the only one with whom I feel like I can commiserate without losing a piece of myself in the process.

“Mason.” My voice cuts through the haze of alcohol and despair. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Mason looks up, squinting his glazed, bloodshot eyes at me. “What does it look like? I’m having a drink.” He sounds like he’s well on his way to getting drunk.

I step forward, angry at him, angry at myself. I remove the bottle of liquor, even as his protestations fill the empty room. The barman raises his eyebrows and looks at me as he grabs the bottle, agreeing that Mason has had more than enough.

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