Gemma shook her head. “Long enough for Uncle Dom to go down in the line of fire, allowing Gio to become Don. That changed everything.”
“How so?”
“The four of us—Enzo, Gio, Matteo, and I—were raised together by an army of housekeepers, nannies, and tutors. Growing up, there was nothing they could do to protect me from my father, and I wasn’t stupid enough to beg Uncle Dominic for mercy. The walls had ears in that house, and someone hoping to carry favor with my father would have told him of my plea. It wasn’t worth the risk. I was living in Hell as it was and didn’t need to dive deeper into the flames.
“When Gio took over, his word became law. So, when he told my father that under no circumstances was he to orchestrate a marriage for me that I didn’t want, that was it. I wasn’t free, but I was safe. Or at least, I thought . . .”
“What happened?” I asked as her eyes grew distant.
“A reminder that there aren’t enough guns in this world to provide security. And we had more than most. Hell, we were in business of running them.” Swallowing, she continued, “One night, Gio’s wife vanished without a trace.”
I circled back to the beginning. “Someone murdered her?”
“Would’ve probably been better for her if they had.”
“Excuse me?”
Gemma twisted her lips. “Rory ran. If I’d known she wanted out as desperately as I did, I might’ve asked her to let me come along. It’s been years, and Gio’s still searching for her, but the last time I talked to my brother, he said there was a lead, and Gio was chasing it.” She visibly shuddered. “Sasha, if he findsher . . .” Squeezing her eyes shut, she whispered, “I hope he never does.”
She deflated before my eyes, sagging against my chest.
“They didn’t have kids yet, but Matteo and his wife, Allegra, did—two little girls. She’s the one who was murdered. But whoever put out the hit wasn’t gunning for her. It was a case of wrong place, wrong time. She was in Gio’s car, and they were trying to kill him. And unfortunately for Allegra and those sweet babies who will have to grow up without their mother like the rest of us did, armored cars are useless if you aren’t buckled in.
“That’s when I knew I had to get out of there. Standing at that funeral, I remember thinking if I couldn’t find a way to separate myself from my family, I would be next. Neither of my cousins might have had a love match, but the grief still hit hard enough that it cracked open a window, and I managed to find a way to squeeze through.”
I tipped her chin up. “Do they know where you are, Gemma? Or are they searching for you like your cousin’s missing wife?”
She huffed out a tiny laugh. “I didn’t literally escape through a window. They know I’m gone. They let me leave. Only Enzo knows exactly where I am. My cousins have too much to worry about to care much about me.”
Cocking my head to the side, I asked, “So, if they’re not chasing you, what’s with the gun and stacks of cash?”
“My chance at a new life didn’t come with a new identity. My family has enemies, and I carry the Bellini name wherever I go. I need to be prepared in case anyone looking to hurt my family discovers I’m here.”
Finally, something I could help with. “Take my name.”
Gemma rolled those pretty hazel eyes before fixing me with a stern glare. “Sasha.”
“I’m serious.”
Tilting her face toward the ceiling, she let out a slow breath. “Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you be? Just add it to the laundry list of crazy our relationship consists of.”
“Let me give you the protection of my last name,” I repeated my offer.
“It’s not that simple,” she argued. “There would still be paper trails. You don’t have the kind of connections that would wipe records clean.”
“If you’ve got the connections, I have the money to make it happen. I will spend every last dime I have if it means keeping you safe. You said you’re ready to let me take care of you. Let me do this.”
She shoved at my chest, crawling off my lap. “Can’t wait to write all about this romantic marriage proposal in my diary later tonight.” Sarcasm dripped from every word.
I snagged her wrist before she could make it too far. “You’re right. This isn’t how it should be.”
“It’s fine.” She tugged out of my loose hold, crossing the room. “I should know better by now. Normal has never been on the table—not since the minute I took my first breath. Why should this be any different?”
“Give me a minute.” I held up a finger as I stood, stepping past her and down the stairs.
“Where are you going?” Gemma called after me.
“Be right back!”
