Page 51 of Betrayed By the Mafia

“Take her back to Alessandro’s house. Their doctor is waiting to look her over. Let me know if there are any problems.”

He hangs up, and we drive back home in silence.

Once Shirley is in her room, an elderly doctor comes in. I hesitate because I want to know if the baby is okay, but she doesn’t know I know. I decide to step out as he checks her over to give her privacy. It feels like a lifetime, and the Sorvinos and Volkovs gather outside the room, waiting for the news. Thankfully it’s a wide hallway.

When the door opens, we all stand straight. “And?” Alessandro asks.

“Everything is perfectly fine.” He smiles. “A true Sorvino.”

I hurry into the room, and I’m surprised no one follows me. Instead, I see Alessandro reach in, clutching the door handle, and shut the door, giving us a moment. I’m grateful for that.

I go to Shirley’s bed and sit on the edge. She turns her head to look at me. “Thanks for saving me.”

“I think you would have saved yourself just fine,” I joke. I clasp my hands in front of me, my elbows on my legs so I can lean forward. After a moment, I speak, “Why didn’t you tell me about our baby?”

Instantly, her whole demeanor changes, and I can practically feel the cold rolling off her like a snowstorm. “Because it doesn’t matter,” she says matter-of-factly, “Because I don’t want you near us.”

I frown. “Jokes aside, I just saved you, and that’s how you feel?”

“We’re even,” she says. “You broke me, and you saved me, and I now forgive you for what you did. But I don’t want anything to do with you going forward.”

My world crashes around me. Mikhail might as well have killed her because I have lost her. I get up and leave the room without a word. I don’t trust my voice not to crack.

I go downstairs, where I can hear several people talking. I walk into Alessandro’s study, where family members are scattered around in armchairs. As I walk in, Frankie is speaking, “We need to do something about Pietro. We should hunt him down and make him pay.”

“That could cause war,” Dominic says. “We should see if Ettore survives first.”

“I wouldn’t mind killing him in person,” Ivan says calmly, but Alessandro shakes his head. “No. We should speak to his older brother. He must make a decision.”

“Excuse me, sir,” Aleks says from the door. “Don Pacheco and guests are at the front door. They want to see you.”

Alessandro nods. “Bring him in.”

Dominic nods. “Man’s tough,” he mutters, going to stand guard by Alessandro. I move closer to Ivan, my hand on my gun.

Ettore is brought into the room, sitting in a wheelchair with an oxygen mask on. He removes the mask and shakily speaks, “I apologize to both the Sorvino and Volkov families for my son's stupidity.” He puts the mask over his mouth to breathe and motions behind him. His guards drag Pietro into the room. He removes the mask again. “He has betrayed his own family. I give him to you as payment for the inconvenience caused and ask that we remain on peaceful terms.”

You could hear a pin drop in the room, and I am amazed. No family gives up a son like that. It’s been rumored as the thing to do, but no family has ever done it. Ettore is extremely traditional in doing this.

Everyone looks at the door as Shirley slowly walks in. I look away from her. It hurts too much to look at her and be reminded of what I’ve lost.

Instead, I look at Ivan, who meets my eyes and then gestures toward Pietro with his hand. “Deal with him, now or later.”

I nod and walk up to Pietro, who starts whinging against the tape over his mouth, tears streaming from his face. I shake my head. “Pathetic.” I pull my gun and shoot him in the center of the forehead before I return to Ivan.

Alessandro gestures to Ettore. “Can we get you anything, Don Pacheco?”

He shakes his head and removes the mask again to speak, “I will consider proposals only from your families. We will meet tomorrow to settle who gets my territory. My eldest has already sworn to be loyal to whoever takes over.”

Alessandro nods. “Thank you, Don. We appreciate you taking the time out while you are still recovering from your betrayal. It isn’t easy when it’s family, especially your own child. You have our families' sympathies, and if you wish to bury the body, you are welcome to take it now.”

Ettore nods. “Thank you.” He motions to his guards, who pick up Pietro’s lifeless body, and I sigh softly. Ivan looks at me, and I nod. “I should check on operations.”

Ivan nods, and I walk out without a glance at anyone, my head up high and straight.

Chapter 27 - Shirley

I watch as Evgenii kills Pietro as though it means nothing.

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