Page 127 of Dreadful
“You know what we are doing! Or you would if you had talked to her since you dropped her off bloody on our back stoop!”
“Nonno!”
“We are running, Severino Luciano. We are leaving all of this city and the…” He waves his spoons around before giving up on the English word he’s searching for. “We are leaving all thismerdabehind and starting over in a place where our hearts have not broken.”
“Starting over?” Sever’s face whips toward mine. “That’s what I came to talk to you about. Both of you. I’ve spoken to some extended family in Italy. There’s no bad blood between us since Claudio acted outside the Family’s best interests. If we go there, we’ll be safe from any blowback on US soil, and I’ll give my oath that I’ll never make a play for power. They saw this as revenge and won’t punish me for trying to overthrow a Boss.”
“Italia…” Gio breathes the word like it’s life itself. “Ah! Severino…” Mynonnobreaks into Italian that’s so fast, even I can’t keep up with it. But the happy tears in his eyes make me wince as I try to point out the obvious to Sever.
“But if you leave with us, you’ll never be a Boss.”
He scoffs. “And?”
“You said yesterday that when you’re in charge—”
Sever steps forward and tosses his cane onto my bed. He cups my cheeks with both hands and murmurs low as he meets my eyes.
“I saidifIwaseverin charge. NotwhenIam.” His voice sends a thrill up my spine, and I shiver.
“I, uh…” Gio shuffles back toward my door. “I will be packing. You two will figure it out, but do not take too long. Talia, say yes, or I will hit your head with my rolling pin and stuff you in my suitcase if I have to!”
Sever smiles at me and answers over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Gio, I have my ways of convincing her.”
“Bah! Too much information!” Gio grumbles in Italian and slams the door behind him, leaving me and Sever alone in my messy room.
My belly flips, and his eyes darken. His thumb brushes my scar as he speaks.
“When I thought my mother had killed—” He swallows and shakes his head. “The moment I thought I lost you, I realized being the Boss was never what I wanted. I wanted to right the wrongs my family committed. Going through your list was everything I needed to sate that. I wanted to give you the justice you deserve, and now? Now all I want to do is spend the rest of my days with you. Come with me to Italy,dolcezza.Youare what I want.”
“But you…you dropped me off here and left me to wonder what the hell happened to you. I texted and called, but nothing. What have you been doing while you were gone?”
He winces. “I’m sorry about that, but I’ve been dealing with the Family and ensuring this doesn’t blow back on either of us. After I took you home last night, Raze, Roman, Tiero, and I staged the scene to look like a domestic dispute between my mother and Claudio. The staff has been paid off—handsomely, I’ll add—and Raze will sell the story to anyone and everyone that asks, including the feds, cops, and any rival families.”
“Raze? You’re leaving all of that to Raze?”
“I’m leavingeverythingto Raze. Orazio was going to be my second-in-command, but now he’s going to be the boss.”
My jaw drops. “Raze will be the Boss.”
Sev smiles broadly. “He deserves it. He’s family and has all the connections already. Claudio didn’t trust anyone enough to have a second-in-command of his own, and you and I have decimated the ranks. No one will argue with Orazio in charge, either, since he’s Claudio’s nephew. And if they do, Roman and Tiero are a force to be reckoned with all on their own. The Lucianos will be at their rightful place again, and I don’t have to see it to be happy with that outcome.”
“Wow.” I chuckle. “It almost sounds easy.”
Sever laughs outright. “Killing more than half a dozen people, enduring poison, and a gunfight soundseasy?”
“Well, when you put it that way.”
Sever slides the leggings off of my shoulders, revealing my black button-down tank top, and he rubs his hands down my bare arms. The room is chilly without my makeshift scarf, and I step into his warmth before I even realize it.
“What does Raze think about all this?”
“He was pissed at first. I don’t think he ever cared to be in charge, either. But he’s already coming around. He cares about the people in the North End, and he’s ready to lead. So far, he’s been on every phone call and making every decision with me. I’m commissioning a private jet to take us to Europe as soon as possible, and he’ll see us off at the airport. After that, he’ll be in charge. And we’ll live in peace.”
Peace.
His promises and his large, strong hands erupt goose bumps of pleasure over my skin. I step into him and press my palms against his hard chest. My fingers grip his black Henley, and he tugs my hips flush against his body.
“Madonna mia, that sounds nice…andeasy,” I warn.
