Page 109 of Fierce Hearts

"What are you talking about?"

"Such a tragedy," Ernesto said, feigning sadness. "Complications after surgery, I'm told. These things happen. I mean, sure, the press was notified long before it happened, but that's nothing to worry about. It must hurt though, finding out your lie has become reality.”

No. That wasn't possible. Gray was fine when I left him.

With Leo.

My gaze returned to Leo, but he remained emotionless, his face blank as he surveyed the room.

"Julia," Ernesto called to his wife. "Tell Sofia what you discovered."

Julia stepped forward, clutching a manila folder to her chest. Her eyes were steady as they met mine, but her face was pale.

"I've gathered evidence," she said, her voice unwavering despite her appearance. "About Marco's death."

Ernesto nodded. "Sofia had Marco killed so she could return and take leadership of the family. Julia has uncovered the truth."

I stared hard at Julia, my heart plummeting. Had she actually changed sides? Was my belief in Leo misplaced? Or was she still going through with the plan? Why the hell was Leo even here?

Julia moved to the table. "I do have all the evidence," she confirmed. "And I've asked for more family members to witness this moment. So they know the truth, who they can trust in this family."

She nodded to one of the men, who set up a tablet for a video call. Several faces appeared on the screen—extended family, all watching with solemn expressions.

Julia opened her folder and scattered papers across the table. "The evidence is all here."

Ernesto looked smug as he glanced over the documents, but then his expression shifted, confusion replacing confidence.

Julia pressed a button on her phone, and a recording played through the room's speakers.

"The Donatis are snooping," Ernesto's voice filled the room, tinged with frustration and fear. "They know about Marco, I'm sure of it. How did you fuck up? How could they possibly know the truth? You need to fix this, bury it, I can't go losing everything I've gained, what I earned. Got it? Deal with this mess, or you can join him.”

Julia turned the recording off as she set her phone down, sucking in a shaky breath. Her voice wavered slightly as she addressed the room. "It was almost undetectable, but with the right people pulling the right strings, the truth came out. Marco's death wasn't ordered by Sofia. It was orchestrated by his own father. By my husband."

She turned to Ernesto, her grief transforming into rage. "You had our son killed for power and money. And not just Marco—Gavino, Litizia, little Edmondo, Orlando, Gio. All to eliminate anyone who might challenge you. All so you could take the place you wanted. I don't have the proof yet, but I don't doubt for a second that you're involved in Antonio's death as well." She gestured to the papers. "And you've been stealing from the family for years, started getting payments the day your brother, Gavino, and the others died. You planned it all, but Antonio knew Gavino's death was wrong. He made Sofia the underboss instead of you, too bad you didn't know that until after he died. I bet you would've killed her off too if Marco hadn't stepped in. It took you a while to kill your own son off, you tried so hard to control him, to make him do what you suggested, by being his 'advisor'. Then, you had the nerve to shift so much money when you knew the Donatis were onto you, stealing from the family, planning your escape when things got difficult."

Ernesto's face had contorted with fury, going red as he shook.

"How dare you," Julia spat, her voice breaking. "Murdering your own flesh and blood—the boy I birthed—for power!" She lunged forward, grabbing the knife from the table and swinging it toward Ernesto's face.

He caught her wrist, twisting it painfully as chaos erupted around us. Caterina pulled a gun from her purse, but one of Ernesto's men knocked her arm upward. The gun discharged into the ceiling, and suddenly the room was a battlefield.

Men loyal to Caterina and Julia clashed with Ernesto's guards. The Ference men stood back, watching the Savoca family tear itself apart.

Leo was beside me in an instant, pulling me behind him. "It's going to be okay," he said firmly. "Trust me."

Across the room, Ernesto had Julia pinned against the wall, the knife now in his hand and pressed to her throat.

"You useless whore!" he snarled. "Our son didn't deserve the power he had! It was rightfully mine!”

One of our loyal Savoca men tried to pull Ernesto away, but another guard of his yanked him back.

The door burst open, and more men flooded in—Donati soldiers, weapons drawn. And at the front?—

Gray.

My heart stopped, then raced double-time. He was pale, moving stiffly, but very much alive. Our eyes locked for a split second before he raised his gun and fired.

The shot echoed through the suddenly silent room, everyone ducking down and taking cover. Ernesto crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

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