Page 31 of Savage Hearts

“Beckett, have a seat, and let me introduce you to everyone.” Massimo waved us toward the only empty seat in the room. Handing me Emilia, Beckett tugged me down into his lap. “Father, care to enlighten us about what you know?” Massimo raised an eyebrow, waiting for the meaning behind my father’s words.

I’m completely shocked at the number of people filling the space. Vincenzo, Antonio, Michael, Donny, Drew, Alex, and Alec are all scattered about—some standing, some sitting. Beside Massimo stood Miguel Angel, head of the Sureños, and all three of the Silva brothers. But the most shocking people in the room were the two men standing beside my father—Lorenzo Bianchi and his father, Filippo Bianchi.

“I think it’s best we address that tidbit later, in private.” My father held Massimo’s gaze. “When Madison can be present as it involves her.”

Massimo stiffened but nodded in silent agreement. “I’ll trust you for now.” He turned to Beckett. “Beckett, this is Miguel Angel. He’s the head of the Sureños and an associate of ours. He’s helped us several times, and we have a working agreement. His men are going to aid us in ridding the streets of Manuel Costa. In addition to him, The Silva brothers from Chile are here to lend a hand.” He turns to Filippo, “And these gentlemen are Filippo & Lorenzo Bianchi.”

I felt Beckett stiffen beneath my legs.

“Mr. Bianchi.”

Lorenzo folded his arms across his chest and sneered at Beckett. “Mr. Hart.” His thick Italian accent was laced with disgust. “While we are here to help our long-time friends, we are notyourfriend. You planned to pit us against each other for a greedy man.”

“You’re right.” Beckett shifted so he could see Lorenzo better. “But love won out, and I knew I’d never do anything to hurt her again.” He tightens his arms around me, causing Emilia to whimper at the disruption. “But your opinion doesn’t matter. Celestina’s, however, does. I could give two fucks about whether anyone in this room approves of me being here. It won’t change the fact that she is mine, and I will do everything to protect her.”

Filippo places his hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder. “He is right, Lorenzo. We are not here to make friends… we are here to eradicate a monster trying to siege what does not belong to him.”

“Fine.” He huffed. “But fair warning… you turn on us, and I’ll gut you like a pig.”

“Hey, now,” Vincenzo interrupted. “If anyone is doing any slicing, it will be me.”

Antonio groaned as he pressed his hand to his head. “Jesus, Vin.”

“Enough.” Massimo turns toward me. “Celestina, take Emilia downstairs to the basement. The girls are down there waiting for you. Including Sofia.”

For a moment, I forgot they were dismissing me at the mention of my long-time friend Sofia Bianchi, but I brushed my shock and turned toward my brother.

“Excuse me?” Furrowing my brows, I froze in Beckett’s lap. “I am not leaving. This involves me as much as it does any of you.”

Massimo started to speak, but Beckett cut him off.

“Baby.” He shifted my body so he could look at me. “Let us do this… let me do this. Your safety is the most important thing right now… yours and Becks. I promise to tell you everything later, but for now, let me do this. Letusprotect the women we love.”

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and counted to ten.

“Fine, but only because she needs to eat, and I haven’t seen Sofia in ages.” I blamed my willingness to surrender to his demands on our daughter. “But if you keep anything from me, this,”—I waggle my finger between us—“is over.”

Pressing my lips to his, I pushed off his lap and stood. Beckett leaned over and pressed a kiss on Emilia’s head.

“I love you both.”

“Oh God… can you just go?” Vincenzo blurted out. “You’re making me want my own wife right now, and I can’t fucking leave this room.”

Busting out laughing, I moved away from Beckett and toward the stairs.

“Suck it up, Vincenzo… or have you gone soft on me?”

The sound of something hitting the door as I pull it shut caused the room to erupt into laughter as I hurried down the stairs. When I reach the bottom of the steps, four sets of eyes turned toward me.

“Got kicked out, did you?” Catarina cradled Leo in her arms, his lanky legs dangling out from beneath the gray blanket covering him. “We wondered how long it would take. Come on, sit down and tell us how you’re feeling.”

It was as if she knew I needed to talk about what’d happened in the last twenty-four hours. The room was fitted for everything you could imagine. Along with Antonio, Michael, and Rachel’s son, there was now stuff for Vincenzo’s toddlers, Catarina’s son, and Emilia to keep them entertained. Sliding Emilia into the bassinet positioned near the couches, I ambled into the kitchenette and grabbed a bottle of water. She was going to need to eat, and I was feeling dehydrated. Of course, that was likely from the nerves burning through my veins.

“Did you see who all came?” Riley pressed her palm against my back. “I couldn’t believe the Silvas came here like they did. I mean… they had to fly from Chile. That’s insane.”

“I know.” I swigged the water and recapped it. “But they feel a loyalty to us after the help we gave them.”

“Forget that… have you seen Alex lately?”

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