Page 82 of Till Death Do Us Part

Isabella grabbed her son before he could tap one of the agents on the leg. Carlo hauled him up and set him over his shoulder, holding their daughter in place by her head.

“That’s our plane,” Jack said, adjusting his carry on over his shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”

We all followed him out, but we were stopped by an agent. We couldn’t board. The plane was being grounded indefinitely.

“What?” Jack roared. “You can’t ground us. Do you know who this plane belongs to?”

“I do,” the agent said. “And it doesn’t matter if it belongs to a king, it’s not going anywhere.”

Jack called Alfonso. He’d left with Babbo two days before. A heated discussion ensued. Jack was almost wild with anger.

“Go talk to him.” Isabella nudged me. “Maybe you can calm him down.”

I didn’t think so, because I had no idea what was going on, but I decided to give it a try when he ended the call. He was glaring at the agents guarding the steps to the plane and the ones who were boarding.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“What do you think?” he snapped.

“I was just asking.” I held my hands up.

“Try asking a question that’s not a waste of oxygen next time.”

The only thing wasted was my breath and time on this asshole. Talia felt differently.

“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” She rushed over, her carry-on roller flying behind her. “You’re not going to talk to my sister like that.”

“Shit,” Joseph said, grabbing her by the shoulder before she got in Jack’s face.

“What’s going on, Jack?” Isabella asked, but I could tell she was surprised by how he’d spoken to me. Her tone had turned hard.

“Drugs. Apparently, the captain was transporting them. Or so they say.” He waved a hand toward the plane, even though I knew he meant the agents. “This has John Maggio written all fucking over it. Do you see what he’s doing, Roma? How he’s coming between us?”

He went to take a step toward me, but Joseph stepped in front of him. Jack was almost unhinged. It was like he was having an adult-sized temper tantrum.

“I know you’re pissed about the plane, but take it someplace else.” Joseph stood like a wall in front of him.

Jack ran a hand through his hair, cut around us, then stormed back into the building. His friends followed.

“What are we going to do now?” Lo asked.

“Did you call and cancel our commercial tickets, Y?” Alina asked.

I shook my head. “Jack sprang the private plane on us at the last minute. I forgot.”

“Sweet!” Lo hauled ass toward the building. “Everything’s going to be Gucci!”

“We’ll have to rush to make it,” Isabella said. “Let’s go.”

Five hours later, Lo, Talia, Joseph, Lexi, Eve, and I boarded a plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Everyone else took the next flight out.

It was a new airline, and it had fancy first-class seats.

“Seats” were understating it by miles, though. More like private cubbies complete with recliners, lamps, and privacy curtains. I couldn’t wait to plug my ears with music and go to sleep. Waking up in Italy always felt like a gift to me. It felt like coming home.

With Felice there, I might never leave.

I got comfortable, getting all my stuff in order. I couldn’t fall asleep before takeoff like Lo could, but I was preparing to knock out soon.

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