Page 113 of Hush 3: Hidden Family

I release a sinister laugh. As if my brother would betray me. Our family isn’t built from such cowardice.

“You mistake me for a bloody sod like you. I would never betray my brother,” Uri snarls.

As Uri replies, Leonardo pulls another gun and aims it at me. Uri goes to take his life, but I hold my hand up as I continue to move forward. I knock the gun away from Leonardo’s unsteady hand and grab him by his throat, lifting him from his feet.

“You want to know which one of us is Michael Donati, yes?”

I squeeze his throat so tightly I think I might pop his head from his shoulders. “I am him. I am the new don of the Trovati family.

“I am the husband of the woman you have been trying to find and murder for over sixteen years. Not what you were expecting?” I snarl and tilt my head to the side.

“Tu sei il diavolo,” he chokes out as he looks me in the eyes.

“No, not the devil. I am something far worse.”

“The Trovati family will fall under you,” he tries to say as I continue to squeeze while I move closer to the edge of the platform, holding him over the edge.

“Then the Donati family will rise in its place. I’m okay with that, as are your brother and mine. I hope you kept that suit and shoes I left for you.”

With that, I place my gun under his chin and pull the trigger before dropping him to the ground below. Uri comes to pat me on the back. I turn from looking down over the platform to look at him.

“I’m proud of you. I thought you would make it much worse,” he says.

“I’m not done. He didn’t do any of this on his own.Andiamo. Abbiamo alcuni vecchi Don da visitare.”

I walk away as Uri’s laughter fills the air. He already knows this isn’t over for me. I will not rest until every one of them has met silence.

CHAPTER 53

Done

Symphony

As I turn the Trovati family ring on my thumb, I stand looking in the mirror at the black dress I have on. The stretchy fabric molds over my body with ruching down the center. It stops a few inches below my knees.

“You’re killing that dress and those heels,” Val says as she and Tasha appear behind me.

I look down at the red-bottom heels Val gave me. She said they were a gift for today. The day my husband and I take over my family.

“Thank you,” I say. Then I turn to Tasha. “I’m so sorry you had to cut your honeymoon short for this.”

“It’s business. He should be here. Besides, they ruined my wedding. I’m going to enjoy this,” Tasha says, rubbing her hands together.

“I will enjoy it too. Those men had a hand in my mother’s death, be it directly or not.”

“I’m counting it as directly. They sent the assassin to silence that Morgan Christoph guy, so they have your mother’s blood on their hands,” Tasha says.

“That’s why they needed to cover their tracks,” Val adds.

“I will never be able to repay you for finding out what really happened to my mom. I appreciate all the both of you have done for me.”

“You are welcome, honey. You’re my family,” Val says.

“Our family. We take care of ours,” Tasha says as she runs her hand up and down my arm.

“Are you ready?” Val asks.

“No. I need help with one more thing.”