Page 99 of Gin & Trouble

Dante focused straight ahead. “Is there anything else you’re keeping from me? Tell me the truth, or I swear to God, I’ll leave you on Alicudi to rot.”

That’s it. I’ve lost him.

I’d seen him angry, as in ready to strangle me angry, but I’d never seen him so…on edge. He felt like a hand grenade with a missing pin.

“No, I swear. That’s everything.” I rested my hand on his arm, but he didn’t as much as blink. “I’d planned to go to Enzo, tell him the truth, and let him make the decision of how to proceed, but I won’t. I have the only copy of test results. I’ll burn them. I promise. I don’t want to hurt you or your family.”

Still staring at the water. “Since when does an Abruzzo care about hurting a Marchionni?”

“Since I fell in love with you.” My voice cracked along with the last solid piece of my heart.

He drew a deep breath. “I need some space.”

“Should I go below?” I didn’t want to leave him, but I understood. I’d likely need time to process the news, too.

“Yes. No. I don’t care.” He eased off the throttle to slow the boat.

“I’ll go work on hacking into those email accounts.”

He didn’t as much as nod.

My heart broke for him, but at the same time, he wasn’t the only one who needed a breather. I’d done everything my sisters had asked of me. Given up a year of my life, torpedoed my career, hurt the first man I’d fallen in love with. And yet, I’d ended up back where I’d started.

In Sicily, afraid, alone, and locked inside a beautiful cage.

30

Dante

Alone in the cockpit,I cut the engine and stared out over the brilliant blues and greens. I loved New Orleans, but Sicily was home. The people, the smells, the water, all of it reminded me of my childhood.

But how much of my childhood was a lie?

I rested my forehead on the wheel and tried to ignore the sick feeling in my gut. The queasy admission that I’d always known there was something different with Enzo. The way my mother doted on him. The way my father pushed him away.

I thought back to my conversation with Marco before I’d left Louisiana. He’d known. He’d known Enzo wasn’t a Marchionni. He’d known about the DNA test and Frankie. And he’d probably known Sophia wasn’t responsible for Joe’s death.

And he didn’t say a fucking word.

My mom? She’d obviously cheated on my dad, but how many times? How many men? Were any of us who we thought we were? Was I a Marchionni? Did biology matter?

It sure as hell matters to Frankie and her sisters. But Enzo? Will this change his life? Really?

Enzo had wanted the recognition and power his entire life, but he’d given up the chance to become the Marchionnicapobefore he and Shanna were married. I doubted he’d want to challenge Tommaso for the seat on theFratellanza. Not when it would mean dragging Shanna and their unborn child into the Cosa Nostra.

I turned in my seat and watched Frankie click away on the laptop.

She didn’t shoot Enzo. Hell, if Giancarlo was right, Sophia wasn’t responsible for Joe’s death. But the lies and half-truths. How can I trust her?

She’d put her life on the line for her sisters. Hell, she’d stolen a man’s blood in the hopes a DNA test would convince him to help her.

But she doesn’t know Enzo. He’ll never go for it.

I walked to her side. “You need sunscreen.”

“I don’t burn.” She glanced in my direction before turning her attention back to the laptop. “Besides, it’s winter.”

“The sun still reflects off the water. Trust me, you need sunscreen.”

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