“Don’t mean I ain’t going to do it later,” Gino said and there was no missing the promise in his tone. “You won’t know where or when, but for embarrassing my woman, I will be putting you on your ass.”
Nico looked like was going to argue for a small moment before he nodded. “Fair enough, Gino. Sorry, Rosa.”
Rosa sent him a small smile. “No worries, Nico. I’ll try not to be the mistress of double entendre from now on.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t bring us down here just to shoot the breeze,” Gino said as he guided her toward a chair at the breakfast bar in the corner. “Tell us what this trouble is.”
The other men in the room came to sit across from her, and she found herself face-to-face with Gavriil. From the way his gaze was locked on her, she figured this had something to do with her, and she wasn’t going to like it.
“Your father contacted me for payment.”
Rosa frowned. “For what?”
Gavriil leaned forward. “For you.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Gino snapped. “Rosa’s not for fucking sale.”
“I know that, brother,” Gavriil said rather dryly, “but her father seems to think that because you’ve claimed her as your own, that some sort of compensation is owed to him.”
Rosa knew exactly what he would want. “He’s demanding access to your distribution channels, isn’t he? The more legitimate and legal, the better.”
Gino growled beside her even as Gavriil shot her a grin. “That’s exactly what he’s asking for. He believes that given the fact that we as afamiliahave cost him what he had already arranged to pay in order to access a route into Chicago, we owe him. I am intrigued to know who that would have been, but we’ll find that out, eventually. Oh, and he’s promised retribution if we refuse.”
Rosa’s stomach dropped. “He’ll bring war.”
“He’ll try,” Gavriil agreed, “but things have changed quite dramatically for your dear old dad over the last couple of years. He’s lost more than a few territory battles down his way, and the numbers he used to have behind him have more than halved. There are rumors that he has a traitor in his inner circle. He’s killed every man he’s suspected.”
Gino turned in her direction. “He won’t get near you,cara.I won’t allow it.”
“Wewon’t allow it,” Nico added as he set a cup of coffee in front of her. “We are all family. The Carlisifamiliaare renowned for their loyalty to family. He comes at us at his own peril.”
While the other two men had been speaking, Rosa hadn’t taken her gaze from Gavriil. Rosa had become very good at reading expressions. She knew that Gavriil was holding something back.
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
Gavriil stared at her before nodding slowly. “There is. But I am not sure if telling you would be the smartest thing in the world to do. Recent history tells me that people who react with emotion, and without thought, get themselves and others”—Rosa caught Gino’s quick glance at Gino, and dread settled low in her stomach—“hurt. I don’t want to see anyone else I love hurt.”
“Don’t.” Gino snarled. “If there is something more to this, then just fucking say it, Gavriil. Don’t try to use her feelings for me against her. Rosa’s the strongest person I have ever met. Man or woman. Just tell us what else that prick said so we can deal with all of it.”
Gavriil took a slow breath, then nodded. “Well said. Forgive me, Rosa, sometimes the need to protect those who are dearest to me outweighs logic.”
She could understand that better than most.
“Your father’s message included a not-so-veiled threat against your grandmother.”
Rosa gasped. “What did he say?”
“That if we didn’t allow them access through the city, or return you to your father’s care, then he would send you Sofia’s head. We have two hours to agree.”
Rosa sat in shock. Not only would he do it, he’d probably find enjoyment out of it, too. Not the least of which would be derived from the pain he knew it would cause her. He’d also know that Rosa would do anything to protect her.
“Don’t even think it, Rosa,” Gino snapped as he wrapped a hard hand around the nape of her neck and pulled her closer to him. “I will tie you to my goddamn bed and throw away the key. You will not play the fucking martyr and walk off into the sunset and sacrifice yourself. That is not. Happening.”
Gino gave her a little shake on that last word.
“Gino—”
“Hell no, not happening,” Gino practically snarled.
“Gino, I—”
“Rosa.” This time it was Tony who wouldn’t let her finish. “If Leona was here, she would say the exact same thing.” Tony grimaced. “Well, at least I hope she would.”
“She probably would, but—”
“Rosa—”
“Stop!” Rosa practically shouted, shocking herself and everyone else in the room, too, if their sudden silence was anything to go by. “Would you please let me finish? I don’t think that’s too much to ask now, is it?” Rosa took a calming breath and was a little surprised that no one interrupted her. “Although, yes, my initial reaction was to jump up and run off to save myabuela,I know that all that is going to get me is pain.” She turned to look at Gino. “I trust you to get her back for me. You tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll do it.”
