Page 21 of Sweet Lies

I’d gone so far to keep Mike out of this world that I’d asked my family never to let him know our dealings, never expecting he was already in this world and was plotting to blow up my universe.

All the little things that never added up come together all at once. I should have known. I’ve lived in the world of the mob since my birth. I should have seen it. My father had always said never to let the heart lead, and the one time I’d allowed my heart to take control had cost him his life, and who knows what else.

All the things I told him in confidence slide through my mind like a floodgate being opened. God, he must think I’m a fool. He must have been laughing behind my back the whole time.

I want him to pay. With blood. Not just for making a fool of me, but for my father. I was the reason he was dead. I’m the mole without intending to be. Adrian wouldn’t have waited to tell the other families that the Rossi family’s head was now dead. He would never have done this without the support of at least one or two other families. If that’s the case, he could be in charge. And he’ll never let us live.

The others now have more time to seize power. They’d already set their plan in motion. We didn’t have much time. All because of me and my stupid heart.

“What do we do?” My voice comes out as cold as ice as I bunch the pictures of my former fiancé in my hand.

The others look at me with sympathy. All except Elijah. His eyes are hard as he tells me, “It’s done, Claire. I got the call shortly after we got home from James. That’s why he wasn’t there today.”

Elijah begins to pace. The others look down at their feet. This isn’t good. I feel more tears threatening to flow from my eyes. I hold them back.

“Shortly after our father’s death, Adrian made a play. He went to Nikola Costa, intending to turn him against us. Tony Costa has also been killed. They both saw the opportunity to seize power. Once they made their deal, it took nothing to convince Daniel Ferrari to turn like the rat that he is. They quickly seized territories. It was impressive how easy it was for them. Disgusting even.”

Elijah pulls the gun from his side, aiming at Matteo and giving the trigger a slight squeeze, killing him instantly with a bullet through the brain. “Almost like they had even more help than from my baby sister.”

My wince doesn’t stop him from continuing, nor does the blood seeping into the walls and floor. “But exciting news at the meeting: Adrian had the generosity to allow us to keep some ofourterritories. Out of the kindness of his heart. Of course, we’ll have to pay him for his kindness. He also gets the joy of knowing he brought us to our knees in a matter of days. Generations of blood have led up to us dishonoring the family.”

I interrupt him, needing to know. “What are you going to do?” I know that whatever decision he makes is for all of us.

“The only thing I can do. Adrian will never keep his promise. If anything, he’ll bide his time till he takes us all out one by one.”

“Elijah, what are you going to do?” My voice comes out strong for the first time since I sat down in the study.

“I—” Elijah stops speaking and his eyes go wide. The men who are left stand up quickly, all reaching for their guns. I quickly stand and move past Elijah to my father’s desk, reaching underneath for the hidden compartment, drop releasing a weapon. I pricked my ears to hear what was happening.

I heard the code being typed into the study. Oh God, had I been so stupid to give Mike…Alex…the code? We all raise our weapons, ready to shoot first and ask questions later. Could I shoot him? Yes…I can do this. I have to.

The door opens quickly with a bang as Pete, one of my father’s men, shuts the door behind him, blood running from the two bullet holes in his chest. He falls to his side, holding a hand against one wound. There was too much blood and nothing any of us could do for him now.

Still, Elijah and I fall beside him. I hold my hand over the wound. Blood is flowing through my clasped fingers.

“Who did this?” Urgency oozes from Elijah’s voice as the others remove more weapons from hidden places throughout the room. Most I didn’t know existed.

Blood pools at the edge of Pete’s mouth as he tries to speak.

“You…have to…leave.” Each word drains him. “Adrian men…kill you…” With one last gasp of air, he’s gone. I look at Elijah and know this is the end. We’re dead. We can’t fight our way out of this. We don’t have enough guns, and even if we did, we only have six people in this room. From the sounds around us, it’s a massacre.

* * *

REBECCA

Jerking awake, I grab my phone to see how long I was asleep. Only twenty minutes. I sigh with relief. It felt like a whole day had passed. They should be finished with their meeting by now.

Getting off the bed, I take a calming breath and think of all the reasons my brother might want to see me. From bad to worse, my brain prepares itself.

I hear the familiarsharp popping of gunshots and screams as I’m leaving my room. Turning around, I race down the hall. If I can make it to the other room, I can get to the hidden staircase and outside.

Suddenly, my arm is ripped backward, and I shriek at the unexpected pain. It feels as if my arm has been ripped from the socket. Twisting around, I find myself face to face with Sebastian Regio.

His dark vulture-like eyes stare me down. Dark purple circles are under his eyes, as if he has not slept in a week, adding to the crazed look of his eyes. His black hair is a mess, as if he’d just gotten out of bed after a bender. The smell of vodka is overwhelming, and I feel as if I’m getting drunk just being near him. The few times I’d seen him before, he’d been put together in a suit, but now he’s in simple dark clothes.

The first time I spoke to him was only a few weeks ago when his family came to our house to discuss a deal. Sebastian had attempted to be charming and flirt with me, but his true nature wasn’t easily hidden behind words. The dinner ended with guns pulled and Elijah livid. I thought that was the last we would have to deal with them for a while—till they killed my father, anyway. I knew then we would all be intertwined.

“Come on,” he hisses, dragging me down the hall.

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