Page 101 of Fierce Hearts

I sighed, closing my eyes as I slouched into my seat. Why was life so difficult?

Because you're strong enough to live it.

I smiled softly at the words my mother had once said to me, when I'd broken down to her after murdering Bryce. She'd always been my rock, and sometimes, I wondered why I'd refused to go with her to Italy, to want to remain in my home city. Would I have been free? Or would it have been a facade? I would have known I had a target on me, so the freedom would feel like I still had chains on my ankles.

Before I knew it, we were pulling up before the meeting place. The restaurant was upscale but not flashy—exactly the kind of place that wouldn't draw attention. Daniel escorted me to the door, where a bubbly woman greeted me and took over. Daniel had insisted on sitting right by the front door, just to be safe, and she'd allowed it before she led me through the main dining area to a private staircase that led to the VIP section upstairs.

Caterina waited alone at a table by the window, her face lined with worry. She rose when she saw me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"How is he?" she asked, gesturing for me to sit.

"Out of surgery. The doctors say he'll recover, but it was too close of a call for me." I kept my composure despite the ache in my chest at how close I'd come to losing him.

Caterina lifted her glass of wine to her lips. "I've been hearing whispers in the family, they know of the attack, but not that he survived."

"It was no random attack." I took a sip of my water. There was some garlic bread on offer, but food was not on my mind right now.

"Of course not." Caterina's eyes hardened.

"Do you know who? If it was Ernesto or Juan?"

"Does it matter?" She shook her head. "They're both guilty in my eyes."

A server appeared with a tray of food, setting down plates before us. Caterina waited until he left before continuing.

"I spoke with Cara."

My breath caught. "How did she take it?"

"How would any woman take learning her husband was murdered by his own father?" Caterina's fingers tightened around her glass. "She was devastated. But she's also furious."

"Poor Cara, and little Rosette. I wish I could undo it, that I could?—"

"You can't change what happened, but you can decide what comes of it," she cut me off sharply. "Cara said she supports you in taking over the family. Her family controls most of our gun trade, and they're standing with you. All of them."

I nodded, picking up my fork, not wanting to insult Caterina's hospitality on ordering me food. It was a simple grilled chicken and vegetable dish, one I imagined she'd chosen for helping the growth of my baby.

Having the support of Cara's contacts was beneficial as well. They played a major role in the Savoca business.

Caterina took a bite of her own meal, a pasta dish, before she pulled out her phone. "Julia and Bianca are waiting for our call." She dialed while taking another mouthful.

Aunt Julia’s voice greeted us after two rings.

"Julia, perfect, let me dial in Bianca as well." Caterina tapped away on her phone, and then Bianca's voice came through.

"Caterina?"

"Perfect, I've got you both here. Sofia is with me," Caterina said as she set the phone down, the microphone on speaker.

"I'm so sorry, Julia," I said as I leaned forward.

"Sofia," Julia's voice sounded oddly hollow yet mixed with emotion, if that was even possible. "Thank you. As am I. I'm sorry about Grayson. I know that it had to be a part of all of this."

"Thank you. Where are you now?" I asked, watching as Caterina enjoyed more of her meal, although her gaze was on the phone.

"I'm staying at Caterina's. If I leave now, Ernesto might question why. He believes I'm staying with Caterina because I'm lonely in our big house without him or my children there." Julia managed a scoff, but then her voice fell. "All these years... my own son..."

"He has to pay," Bianca spoke up. "Marco was good. He never deserved this. Ernesto is a monster," she spat. I noted how she didn't even want to refer to him as her father now. Understandably.

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