CHAPTER THREE

ROSETTA

LUCIANO WAS UNEASYon the flight home. Letting Ryah fly home with Rocco was really taking its toll on him. He drank half a bottle of Jim Beam before we landed.

The car ride to the safe house was more of the same. Silence. I couldn’t take it anymore.

Pillars of trees stood serenely on the side of the secluded road. I turned in the back of the SUV and glared at him. “Luciano, you’re going to drive yourself insane over your decision to give Ryah a little space.” I tossed my hair over my shoulder.

He cut his eyes at me. “Space, Rosetta? She’s a teenage girl. Ryah doesn’t need this much space. I need to protect her. Especially, during this time. We’re at war,” he growled.

“Next year she goes off to college. She won’t be within reach.”

“She’ll be well trained to handle herself by then.” He ran his hand over his tousled hair.

“She should’ve received all of her training by now. I was trained by the age of sixteen. Stop sheltering her, Luciano.”

He gruffly rubbed his face. “She should be here in an hour. I’ll make sure you're safe, then I’m going to wait for her to arrive.”

My stomach twisted. He was going to spend time with his little family.

The car rolled to a stop, and I jumped out. My stilettos stabbed the pavement as I walked toward the house. Donovan needed to get the door opened now.

“Rosetta,” Luciano called out.

I stood in the vestibule. Arms crossing my chest, I waited for the guards to run a sweep.

“What?”

“I have to see about my daughter.”

“And Melanie.” My words came across spiteful.

“I’m your wife,” I huffed.

“You can see about their wellbeing on a FaceTime call. Not run over there during the mist of a war. We are supposed to remain a united front.” I stabbed my finger into my palm.

“Rosetta, don’t fight me on this. When it’s time for a family sit down, I’ll be by your side. You have my word.”

I slid a hand over my lustrous brown hair.

“Fine. As long as you don’t fuck me on this.”

The side of his fist hit the wall. “I won’t.”

I nodded as I sashayed toward the brown leather sofa.

My bodyguard stood near the fireplace; hands clasped in front of him.

“Donavan, bring me a bottle of red wine.”

“Right away, Mrs. Conti.”

Mrs. Conti. Oh, the power that name holds. I love power.

“Rosetta, I’ll call you later.”

I waved him off as I kicked off my shoes and made myself comfortable. We had several safe houses all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey.