Page 19 of Cherished Union

“You don’t want the men to think you killed that bastard, that’s fine,” I say, unable to look at my sister right now. “You won’t be killing him, I will be.”

“Hay,” Jade gasps. “You’ll be starting a war.”

“No, you are,” I snap back at her. “When the fuck did you stop putting family above all else?”

I know for a fact that if I go to Da and tell him I’m taking Aldo out, he’ll be by my side without hesitation.

Her eyes widen. We’ve never been against each other, but this shit right here is unacceptable.

“I’m fucking disappointed in you, Jade,” Hayes tells her. “This isn’t you, not at fucking all. You’ve been beaten by a man, Jade. Could you imagine what it would be like had we told you that we wouldn’t seek revenge for you?”

She glances away, her jaw clenching. “You don’t understand that to Aldo, this is seeking revenge. He’s all about power and money. We take that from him, we bring him to his knees. Then when he’s at his lowest, we take him out. This isn’t about sides, Hayden. This is about making sure Adelina is safe and that the man who hurt her gets what’s coming to him. A man like Aldo loves only one thing." She turns back to look at me, her eyes soft and pleading. “His power.”

Dario steps forward. “As much as I fucking hate this shit, she’s right. Our father cares about the power he has, the alliances he has. We need to make sure we turn all those alliances against him and to Rocco. We need to ensure that all the power goes to Rocco so that when that bastard takes his last breath, he’ll know why he lost everything.”

I don’t like this. Not at fucking all.

“That cunt comes near her again, I don’t give a fuck about the war, I’m taking him out,” I announce, and immediately everyone nods in agreement. “I will be the one to take him out, just as you took out that motherfucking cop who put his hands on Jade,” I say pointedly to Rocco.

He grinds his jaw but nods.

Good.

“Question,” Jade says before I can walk away and check on Adelina. “What’s going to happen to Viviana when Ade goes to live with you? We can’t send her back to that house.”

“No, we’re not. She’ll come with Adelina and I.” I’m not allowing a thirteen-year-old girl to go back to that fucking house and become that cunt’s punching bag.

The relief in my sister's eyes is blinding. I know she’s not in the right frame of mind to take on a teenager, especially when her nightmares take over and she is transported back to that prison where she was raped. Viviana needs to be around Ade, and I don’t give a fuck how it happens. It will be happening.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“Call me when she wakes up,” I ask, and Rocco doesn’t hesitate to nod. “I’ve got someone to see.”

Jade’s lips twitch. “Try not to kill him.”

“Don’t worry, Sissy, he’ll be alive and kicking when I leave the house.”

I check in on Adelina before I leave and see she’s still unconscious, Viviana’s hand still in hers, holding her, but she is fast asleep.

“You should know,” Jade says as we leave, her and Rocco right behind Hayes and me, “that Natalia knew what that bastard was doing. She didn’t try and stop it. In fact, she’s been making excuses for him.”

Oh, now that’s some great information. I’ll enjoy using it. “Don’t worry, Sissy, they’ll both get what’s coming to them.”

“Please tell me we’re going to the Gallo house?” Hayes asks the moment we slide into my car.

I slant him a look. Seriously?

He grins. “Good, because that bastard needs a beating. Who the fuck does that to their daughter? Fucking bastard. As for that mother—" He shakes his head, his lips curling in disgust. “I say we let Jade at her.”

“They’re mine,” I growl. The thought of anyone other than me harming those two cunts makes me want to kill whoever stands in my way.

“Alright, bro, you know I’ve got your back.”

I do know that, and I know that no matter what, my family does also. If it comes to it, we’ll take out the entire Gallo mafia, leaving the Gallo kids unharmed.

It takes me at least thirty minutes to get through the Chicago traffic and arrive at the Gallo mansion. I glance at Hayes when I spy my father’s car parked out front.

He holds up his hands. “Not me, bro,” he replies with a grin.

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