Page 121 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

No, that wouldn’t fly with me. Not anymore.

I had trusted that Virga would honor his promise about my father after the wedding.

I had trusted Giacomo to find a way out of marriage.

And then I trusted him again when he said I belonged to him.

No, I was done trusting people. Trusting people had only backfired on me in the last month and a half.

“With all due respect,” I said, looking them square in the eyes, “he is my father and I will be the one to protect him.”

Instantly, the respectful brother-in-law disappeared, leaving only the powerful mafia don in its place. Enzo leaned in, his voice low. “And with all due respect to you, I won’t risk your safety by letting you get involved.”

“Let her help, amore.”

We all turned toward the front, where Gia was retying her hair in a knot atop her head. She looked exhausted as she walked toward us.

“Gianna,” Enzo said. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

She slid around me and dropped into Enzo’s lap. Her eyes met mine in silent agreement.I’m on your side,they told me.Always.I gave her the smallest smile.Thanks, Gigi.

Snuggling into his side, she said, “You don’t know Emma, baby. Not only is she smart, she’s the only one who has been in the house recently. Let her help you devise a plan.”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” I explained. “And I think I have a way to get to Reggie in a way he won’t see coming.”

Enzo kissed the top of Gia’s head, then looked at me. “Oh?”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yes, and it also involves me.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Giacomo

Blood stained my hands and clothing, but I hardly noticed.

Last night we captured two of Virga’s men and began leaning on them for information about their boss. It was risky, torturing the men of il capo dei capi, but I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to know where the old bastard was hiding.

And if Virga exacted retribution, so be it.

I had nothing left to lose.

Just as I was about to deliver another kidney punch, Zani held up his mobile and called, “Our friend in Siderno. He wants to talk to you.”

Hardly a friend. I considered telling Ravazzani to fuck off. It was his fault we were in this mess to begin with. If he hadn’t taken away the Sicilian drug trade, my father and brother never would’ve gone after Giulio Ravazzani. My father and brother would be alive, and I never would’ve been forced to marry.

“He says it’s about your wife,” Zani added.

That got my attention. Emma left yesterday morning, and I assumed she was with D’Agostino in Naples, planning on how to deal with her father and traitorous uncle.

Wiping my hands on my jeans, I walked over and took the phone from Zani. We went into the side room and shut the door. “Pronto.”

“You stupid motherfucker,” the voice growled. “You married her without telling me, without her family knowing. Do you have a death wish, Buscetta?”

“If you know of the marriage, then you also know why. Now, I’m in the middle of something so get to the point.”

“I’m offering you a choice.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

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