“It’s okay.” Z kisses the shell of my ear.
“It is not okay; you’re my husband.” I turn my attention back to my dad. “Is that what you think? I want to know where you stand.”
Dad shakes his head. “My stance is that Z will do whatever he needs to so that you remain his, even if that means killing everyone in this room.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Don’t be naïve, Cosima. You hold a lot of power now, and you need to understand that. You’re the only one in control when it comes to Z. It has been that way since he was a small boy. Only you could ever settle him.”
Shit, I think he might be right. "Well, Z, no killing anyone in this family." I tap the tip of his nose. I catch a glimpse of my brother Ronan stifling a chuckle. “I mean not right now, anyway.”
"He's worried my actions will put a target on the rest of the family. If I go after Sal without doing it the right way, then there will be retaliation."
"I trust that you'll do it the way it needs to be done, knowing that it's important that everyone is safe," I tell him. "I also know you love this family too; I'm just a small level up." I motion with my hand going up a smidge.
Ronan reaches over, grabbing my hand and lifting it higher, as high as my arm can go. "I'd say there." I snort a laugh.
Yes, Z can be scary when pushed around on things that involve me, but it doesn't mean he doesn't care about everyone else because he does.
"We know that, Cosima," War says. "Both our father and I know what we'd do for our own wives; that's why we know what Z is capable of, but like Father said, Z has other skill sets, ones that need to be kept close, and if he went off half-cocked, he could out himself."
I raise a finger. "Dead men tell no tales. I know it's a dark thing to say, but it's the truth."
"My hope is to not have to eliminate a family if there is no need. There is no rush for answers," War adds. “We’ll take things one step at a time.”
I hear what War is saying, but I’m not so sure Z holds the same timeframe.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Z
Cosima disappears through War’s office doorway with Dario. He asked her to go have breakfast with him. Dario wants to smooth things over with her. He has always doubted her; hell, most of the family has.
As pissed as I am about the promise he made to the Amato family, I get it. I’d sell my soul to save Cosima. On that, Dario and I relate.
I did take note that there wasn’t a ton of pushback when all of the details about Cosima were fleshed out to her father. It’s almost as if he knew it was coming.
“Z?” War asks.
“I’m not going off half-cocked.” As long as my wife is tucked away safely, then I can bide a bit of time, not much. I don’t like not knowing what the Amatos are up to. That’s the only way to ensure Cosima remains out of harm's way.
She can’t stay locked up here forever. It would drive her crazy, and she’s pregnant. Sure, I could likely pay to have everything she needed brought right here, but that’s not the point. No one gets to make Cosima a prisoner.
I smirk hearing her voice in my head:No, only you could make me a prisoner. She’d roll her eyes but hide a smirk of her own.
“Should I believe you?” War pushes back, worried I might have my own agenda.
“Nope.” Ronan pops the P loudly, still fiddling with that damn phone, which now has my attention. “He’ll go off full-cocked.” He glances up at me. “Right?”
“Right,” I agree.
I don’t want to make a lot of waves if it’s not needed. Besides, Dario did have a really fucking good point when he said people wouldn’t be too happy if they knew all that I could do.
“How much history do you know about the Amato family as it connects to your father?” I ask, standing.
“They have been close but not too close. I don’t think he’s ever seen them as a threat.” War answers.
“Could he have blinders on because of them helping find Rochelle?”
