Page 37 of Brando

My frustration peaks, primarily at her sadness that she is forced to do something that she doesn’t want to do. Something that could very well destroy her in the process. I push her gently back against the wall, the heat of our confrontation all consuming in the small space. “You’re putting yourself in danger,” I growl, my breath mingling with hers as I lean into her.

Before I can process what’s happening, our argument morphs into something else entirely. Desire consumes us both, and we’re reaching for one another in a way that feels long overdue. I capture her lips with mine, a fierce kiss that speaks ofanger, longing, and desperation. She responds immediately, her body softening against mine, and for a brief moment, the chaos outside this room becomes a non-issue.

As we pull apart, both panting, Mia’s eyes shimmer with urgency. “Brando, you have to trust me. This is my only chance to get them back. Please, just let me do this.”

I lick my lips, savoring the taste of her, the intoxicating mix of sweetness and the wildness that is uniquely Mia. But as her words sink in, anger wrestles with the bitter realization that I have no control over her choices, no power to protect her from the darkness swirling around them. I’m not in a position to offer her anything that could change her mind about what she’s doing. She’s chosen her sisters over me. And I don’t blame her. Her sisters were there long before I was. There’s blood between them that tethers them through infinite miles and multiple lifetimes. They are intertwined in a way that perhaps she and I will never be intertwined. It makes me happy that she has someone, but it makes me sad that that someone is not me.

“Damn it, Mia,” I breathe, my heart aching with frustration. “I can’t just stand by and watch you throw yourself into the lion’s den.” With a heavy heart, I step back, my fists clenched at my sides. “I can’t be part of this.”

“I’m not asking you to be,” she whimpers, her searching eyes still seeking forgiveness.

I reach out a hand and lift it through her hair, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes are covered in a dewy mist as she looks up at me.

“Just know that Frank Falcone is now persona non grata in this city. I will run him – and everyone who conspires against the Gatti name - out, if it’s the last thing I do.”

“And I would expect no less,” she replies, with a steely determination. “Don’t think I won’t hesitate to drive a knife through his heart the minute I know where my sisters are.”

The fact that she’s rallying against the scumbag has hope blossoming in my heart. Maybe there’s a chance for us, after all. But I can’t stand the fact that she’s leaving here with him tonight.

“Come with me, Mia. You’ll be safe and protected with me. We can find your sisters together.”

There’s a sense of urgency in my voice, even as I know that she won’t back down.

“I’m so close, Brando. So close. I just need a couple more days.”

The weight of her words sits heavily on me as I push past her and out of the bathroom, defeat settling over me. I can hear the muffled voices from the restaurant, the laughter and clinking of glasses, but all I can think about is Mia—her determination, her desperation, and the kiss that has ignited and solidified something deep within me. Something that tells me that this isn’t the end, this is just the beginning.

20

BRANDO

Sitting on the back porch of my home, I watch the sky transform into a deep blue hue. A half-empty bottle of bourbon sits next to me, its golden liquid gleaming in the dim light. Mia’s absence feels like a hole in my world that I cannot fill. Allegra steps out onto the porch, framed by the doorway. She pauses for a moment before making her way towards me.

“Brando,” she says softly, her voice filling the night air. I force a smile that doesn't quite reach my eyes as she settles into the chair beside me, her gaze full of compassion.

“Scar told me about Mia.”

With a heavy sigh, I release some tension from my body. “I don't want you worrying about me, Allegra.”

“Because I'm a new mother?”

“You need to focus on Scarlett,” I respond.

“That doesn't mean I neglect my brothers, Brando. We're family.”

Allegra's expression softens as she leans forward and rests her elbows on her knees. “You have to stop blaming yourself for things beyond your control. Mia made her own choices.”

“But it's still the wrong choice,” I protest. “It's like...I can't function without her here. It's like watching a train wreck about to happen but being unable to stop the train. I feel like I failed her.”

“It was her decision,” Allegra reminds me gently.

“You make it sound so simple. Mason Ironside came to me for help, and I couldn't protect her. She was my responsibility.”

“You're not responsible for her every move,” Allegra counters. “Mia is on her own journey, even if it's a dark one right now. You can only be there for her when she needs you.”

Running my hand through my hair, I look out at the trees swaying in the night breeze. “I want to do something, anything, but I don't even know where to start. It's like I'm watching from the sidelines while she fights a battle I can't see.”

Allegra places a comforting hand on my arm. “You're not on the sidelines. You're fighting with her in your own way. You're her anchor, Brando, and she will find her way back to you.”

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