Page 120 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

There was nothing left to say. We stood and hugged one more time. My body felt empty, hollow and exhausted. I’d lost the two most important people in my life today. There was no one else.

Viviana grabbed my hand before I left. “Go and get her,” she said. “Fight for her forgiveness. Otherwise you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

“I already have so many regrets. What’s one more?” I kissed her cheeks, then walked outside. The sun was high and hot, but I felt absolutely nothing.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

Emma

Iexpected the jet to head straight to Toronto.

Instead, we headed for Naples.

I didn’t understand. Papà was in danger the instant Don Virga learned I’d left Palermo. The sooner we reached the house, the better. I tried insisting, but no one listened.

My twin, on the other hand, wasn’t worried. She expected us to wait in Naples, like good little mafia wives and girlfriends, while Enzo and Vito went to deal with Virga and Uncle Reggie.

I had no intention of letting this happen.

No one knew the house, the routines better than me. I could go places and talk to people that Enzo—or even Gia—couldn’t. Uncle Reggie wouldn’t be expecting to see me, which gave us the element of surprise. And if he really was working with Virga, we needed all the help we could get.

“How could you lie to us? You lie to men, Emma, not to your sisters.”

Frankie’s disappointment earlier had lodged like a fist under my ribs. I didn’t like upsetting my sisters, but I still believe protecting them and their families had been the right thing to do.

And I was about to do it again.

I waited until Gia went to the lavatory before approaching Enzo and Vito. They were talking quietly in the back of the plane, while Massimo reclined in a seat, his eyes closed.

Enzo glanced up as I came down the aisle and his dark gaze pierced right through me. “Emma. Do you need something?”

“I want to help you.”

“We’re strategizing right now,” Vito said, implying that my help was both unwanted and unnecessary.

“I realize that and I can help with the plan.”

“Your sister doesn’t want you involved anymore,” Enzo said. “And because I love her and need to keep her around, you should retake your seat up front and forget helping.”

I wasn’t going to back down. Maybe the girl who’d flown to Palermo six weeks ago would be intimidated by these men. But I’d discovered a lot about myself since marrying Giacomo. I was much stronger and more resilient than I’d ever given myself credit for.

I slid into an empty seat. “Virga has men hanging out on the estate. As soon as the three of you show up, my father will be killed.”

“We’re aware,” Vito said. “Which is why we were planning to ambush them.”

“Just you three?”

Enzo frowned. “You say this as if we are not enough.”

Massimo snorted, his eyelids still closed. “I’ve seen Enzo kill eight men with only a pencil. He—”

“Stai zitto!” Enzo snapped at his youngest brother, then refocused on me. “If you tell us the layout, that would help. Maybe you could draw up a floor plan.”

“Yes, I can do that. But none of you can get close to Reggie without causing risk to my father. I won’t allow it.”

Enzo and Vito exchanged a look, and I could see Vito’s lips twitching like he wanted to laugh.

“Emma,” Enzo said gently. “You need to trust us. This is what we do.”

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