Page 46 of Pride

I step into the car, and the doors slide shut behind me and begins its ascent. I’m not sure whether the drop in my stomach is from being propelled high into the sky, or the fear that when I get up there, Antony will slam the door in my face.

But when I get there, the door does open. Only it’s not Antony who opens it. It’s an older man from the D’Agostino crew who I vaguely recognize: Salvatore Giordano.

“To what do I owe the honor, Miss Mucci?” he asks with a quirk of his brow.

“I’m sorry to intrude,” I stammer. “But I need to see Antony right away.”

“Antony’s not here.”

“Do you know where he’s gone? Is he out looking for Matteo? Because I think he’s in danger!”

He looks me up and down. “What do you know about it?”

“I know Matteo was at the safe house guarding my family when there was an attempt on my father’s life.” Salvatore’s eyes narrow, and I can tell he knows about me accusing Antony. “I don’t know where Matteo is, if that’s what you’re asking,” I rush to explain. “But I know who ordered the hit on my father, and I know it wasn’t your family. It was Giovanni Vincenzi!”

“Antony knows. He went to meet with Giovanni.”

“What? Alone? Where?”

“At one of Vincenzi’s warehouses. Don’t worry. We’ve got people in the area, ready to act if necessary.”

“No!” I cry. “He’s in danger, Salvatore! We have to go help him!”

Salvatore chuckles. “No offense. But I don’t think you’re gonna add a lot of firepower to the situation.”

“Don’t patronize me. You know damn well I’ve been basically acting as the D’Agostino capo since my father got shot. This situation involves me. I’m going.”

“No you’re not. Antony would kill me if he knew I brought you into something like that.”

“But it’s crazy for him to meet with Giovanni Vincenzi alone! You have to take me to the warehouse,” I plead with him. “We shouldbothbe there!”

“I am not taking you, are you crazy? For one, this business is no place for a woman. For two, Antony would have my head if I put you in danger.”

“No he wouldn’t.” My chin juts. “Antony would trust me. He would know I’m a good ally, and he’d treat me like an equal. Not like a helpless little girl, which I am not, by the way.”

I’m not sure if that’s really true, but I say it with as much conviction as I can muster. To his credit, Sal actually seems to consider my words, before shaking his head and crossing his arms. “No.”

“But I’m the one person who could help! Sal. Giovanni wanted me to marry him. I think he did this because I refused him and he wanted to consolidate power. We both know the way alliances are made inla famiglia. Marriage. Or violence. Giovanni couldn’t convince me to marry him. So he went the second route.”

“So what, are you saying I take you to the warehouse and we find Giovanni and you agree to marry him, and everything is hearts and flowers and happy ever after?” Salvatore scoffs.

“Sal, we don’t know. Maybe yes. Maybe something else. I don’t know. But what I do know is you have to take me to that goddamn warehouse.” I pat my bag. “Look, I’m a decent shot. More than a decent shot. And I’m armed. Antony needs us. You can’t think he doesn’t.”

“No.”

“Sal, listen to me.” I step forward, until I’m clearly in the personal space of one of the most dangerous men in Cleveland. My eyes start to smart at the thought of what I’m about to say. “I cannot lose him. It’s my fault that Antony is there in the first place. He thinks I blame him for what happened to my father. I was convinced it was your family and not the Vincenzis who were behind this. I said terrible things to him. I threw Antony’s engagement ring in his face, do you understand me? His mother’s ring, which he gave to me, and I threw it in his face! I have to make this right. If something happens to him, and he goes to —.” I choke back a sob, wipe furiously at my eyes as the tears start to come. “If he goes to hisgravethinking that I hate him, I will never forgive myself, do you understand me? I will never be able to live with myself.” I grip his lapels. “Better that I die there with him than that I survive that. So take me there, right now, or I swear to God, I can’t be responsible for what I do next.”

I let go of his lapels and take two steps back. He is wavering. I can see it in his eyes. I can’t let him refuse. I can’t lose Antony.

“Sal. I am going to that warehouse.” My tears are falling freely now, but my voice is strong. I slip one hand into my purse and fix him with a hard, sharp gaze that lets him know what I’m about to say is no lie. “I do not know where that warehouse is. You do. So you are either going with me. Or I am going to have to find out from you where it is, and go myself. Do not make me ask you again.”

Sal’s eyes drift from mine, down to my purse. He knows what I’m carrying inside it. And he must know that the gun inside is aimed at him.

He lets out a wry chuckle.

“Well. I guess I know now what Antony sees in you,” he says. “You got grit, kid. Grit I can appreciate. All right, you got me. I’ll take you. But when we get there, you do what I say, you hear me? That is non-negotiable, too.”

“Deal,” I say, taking my hand out of my bag.

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