Antonio freezes, his face softening at the memory of my mother.
The other men have similar reactions.
Antonio drops back into the chair and drags a hand over his face. “I assume that’s why you were in Chicago?”
I nod.
His back straightens. “You brought Liliya? Knowing what this secret could cost you? We still don’t know if we can trust her.”
This is why I chose to follow Antonio and not his uncle when his father died.
He’s worried about Aurora’s safety.
Even after finding out I’ve been lying, he still has that loyalty toward my family.
“I trust her,” I say, my voice deep with certainty.
His jaw is tight, and he breathes through his nose while checking his watch. “You guys get home to your wives. Let me speak to Emilio alone.”
I rest my elbow on the armrest and lean into it as the other men filter out.
Each one of them says something before leaving the room.
“I’m glad she’s okay,” Damien says. “Tell Aurora we’d love to meet little Evalina.”
“She made the best pumpkin cookies,” Julian adds. “Tell her to make us a batch.”
“Dude, how the hell did you keep a secret like that?” Leo says. “You’re a lot better at keeping a straight face than me.” He laughs, clasping me on the shoulder as he leaves.
When they’re gone, Antonio stares at me like a disappointed father.
“Keeping something like this from me is bullshit,” he spits. “It could get you killed. Me killed.Allof us killed.” His voice isbitter yet controlled. “This also makes me stop and wonder if you’re hiding anything else from me.”
I throw out my arms. “That’s my only secret. You can be pissed, make me suffer consequences, whatever. But I don’t regret protecting my sister. My father made it clear to my mother—if she ever did anything to piss him off, he’d kill Aurora. Every day, she had to deal with that fear.” I slam my hand on the table as the pain of that memory seeps inside me. “Every. Fucking. Day!” I relax in my chair, telling my heartbeat to chill out. “I should’ve told you after my father died, but I’m still always worried one of our enemies will use her to hurt us.”
Antonio scrubs his hands together. “And now she’s involved with the Riccis?”
“They love her and aren’t a threat to us.”
“Constantino Ricci is a cold-blooded bastard. He’s the Cristian Marchetti of the Chicago underworld, not some elderly grandfather who wants to rock Aurora’s baby to sleep at night.”
“They aren’t a threat to us,” I state again, making myself as clear as possible. “I’m not saying we should fucking brunch with them, but if shit ever hits the fan? I guarantee they’d make a damn good ally.”
He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fair point, and speaking of allies, what’s going on with Aleksy? I’m ready to get rid of that pain in the ass.”
“Liliya is aware we know he asked her to kill me.”
He rears back, surprised. “How’d that play out?”
“I gave her the option of a knife or a gun to kill me with.”
He smirks in amusement. “We’re all so fucked up.” His smile broadens. “I did something like that with Gigi. At the cabin, when I kidnapped her and she was making a fuss.” He flicks his hand through the air like taking her was nothing but a misunderstanding.
“We have Liliya’s loyalty,” I say, going to bat for my wife.
He cocks his head to the side. “How sure are you?”
I hesitate—a big fucking mistake.
