Page 62 of Savage Betrayal

As we continue talking, I feel a renewed strength. Maria’s support is a lifeline, a reminder of the love and bond that transcends the chaos surrounding us. But Leo lingers in the back of my mind, and I know I can’t let my guard down. The resolve to take down the Moretti family strengthens within me, fueled by my love and responsibility for my family.

And I can’t let any wayward feelings for Leo get in my way.

27

LEO

Standing in the guest room shower, I let the water cascade over me, washing away the dirt and grime from coming to Tia’s rescue. And as I lean my palm against the cool rock wall of the shower, I consider my conversation with Tia. The one we had after I saved her life this afternoon.

She all but called me a cold-blooded killer.

And maybe that is what I’ve become.

It ended in a rather ugly argument. One I’m not proud of. After all my talk about appreciating a woman with opinions, when Tia spoke up today, I shut her down. Not my finest moment, I’ll admit. I got so defensive, so prideful, that I refused to hear her out.

But now, for the first time, I’m starting to question my path as a conqueror. My father raised me to be the brutal strategist I’ve become. I thrive in the spotlight, eager to prove myself not only worthy of the Moretti name but capable of bringing our family to greater heights.

And yet, in the few months I’ve known Tia—hell, just in the few days since our wedding—she has challenged all of my priorities.

She seems to find my unquestionable strength distasteful, my ambition selfish, and despite my initial disregard for her, I find that I want her approval. I want to be more like the man Tia thinks I’m capable of being. And more than that, I want to be the kind of man my child can be proud of.

I hadn’t realized it until today. Until I heard our baby’s heartbeat, and Tia called our child a “she.” But somehow, knowing that I could have a little girl makes me want to do better, to be better so the world I raise her in will be good enough for our little girl—or boy.

Sighing heavily, I turn off the flow of water and finger-comb my hair out of my face. Then I step out of the shower to quickly towel dry. This room is smaller than the one Tia and I occupy, but the furnishings are just as nice. And it works just fine.

I wanted to give Tia some time alone with her sister. Hopefully, that will help her calm down and see the big picture. Because I don’t think she’s facing the reality of how close she came to dying today. If she were, I doubt she’d be picking fights about who I may or may not have executed and why.

But that doesn’t make her point any less valid.

After pulling on a fresh pair of clothes, I head back out to the main house in search of my father.

“Come in,” he says as soon as I knock on his office door. “Ah, Leo. I just heard from Rasco that the Valencia collections took a few… unexpected turns today.”

I nod.

“I doubt we’ll have any more trouble with the Valencia family for a while. Did you catch the witness?”

Grinding my teeth, I resist the urge to keep the truth from my father. But it won’t do any good. “It was Tia,” I state flatly.

My father raises his eyebrows, his expression one of mild curiosity. “And?”

“She nearly killed herself trying to run away from me.”

“Is she going to be a problem?” he asks more pointedly, seeming entirely disinterested with her survival.

I shake my head, keeping my face stoic.

In truth, I hadn’t even broached the topic with Tia of keeping quiet about what she saw today. Because she’s the daughter of a don. Regardless of her ideals, I know she understands the importance of keeping things close to the vest. And seeing as our families are allies now, regardless of how she feels about me, she won’t betray her father. Therefore, she can’t betray me.

“Good,” my father says, turning his attention away from me. Then he seems to realize I haven’t left the room. “Is there something else?”

“I’ve been thinking. Are such violent tactics strictly necessary now that we’ve brought the Guerra family into the fold? It seems that, with law enforcement breathing down our necks and no more rivals threatening to stand in our way, perhaps we can begin to garner more respect from the people in our domain.”

My father studies me for a long minute, his gaze cool and speculative. “You’re too young to be getting a weak stomach, Leo,” he says dismissively. “It takes years to build a reputation that people fear. And that reputation is what will win you respect. You can’t afford to be soft right now.”

“I’m not being soft. We have the control we’ve sought. No one else is opposing us. Perhaps now, with a balance of fear and respect, we can start to run Piovosa, not just conquer it. We can use diplomacy and strengthen our alliances.”

My father leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him. “You’re talking about mind games and compromise. Save that for Mayor Romney. You’re going to need it to win him over. But as far as I’m concerned, we only have one ally. The Guerras. And they have only earned that privilege because you were reckless enough to knock up Don Guerra’s daughter. So, in my book, you’ve already given up our queen to take a mere pawn. Now is the time to reassert our power, not dabble in collaboration and hope for the best.”

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