Chapter 20

Camila

The insulated walls deafened the whirl of the helicopter and blasts of gunshots. From inside the safe room, it was impossible to know what was happening outside. No way to know who was safe and who wasn’t. It seemed unreal that once again I was hiding for my life.

Wedding day.

Wedding night.

We went from our ceremony to a safe room.

Not the wedding a little girl daydreams about.

The small room where we hid contained two twin beds, a desk, and chair. There was a small refrigerator stocked with water. And currently, it also contained four people. As Mia and I sat on one of the twin-sized beds with our backs against the wall, I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged my legs. Her hand lingered protectively over her midsection, a momma bear guarding the tiny life within. Looking around at the four walls, it was easy to determine that this room was a lot different than the sauna where I hid the last time a home was attacked.

The biggest difference was that I wasn’t alone. Sitting across from Mia and me was Viviana. Father Gallo was seated on a straight-backed chair near the small desk.

Mia reached out, covering my hand with hers. “The men will be safe. Silas replaced all the windows with bulletproof glass.”

Bulletproof glass.

Safe room.

“It hasn’t even been a year since our house was attacked.” I turned and looked at my new sister-in-law, seeing pity in her hazel stare. “Your house was attacked that same night.”

Mia nodded. “We weren’t home. This is the first time we’ve needed this room.”

I took in the basic furnishings. “I don’t want to live like this.”

She grinned. “Dante’s apartment is bigger.”

“I mean in fear, fear that my husband will be hurt or worse. Fear that our privacy will be invaded. Fear of calls in the middle of the night.”

Mia smiled a sad smile. “You just married the wrong man.”

“I married the right man.” Looking down, I saw the ruby ring and splayed my fingers. “This ring is beautiful.”

Mia took my hand in hers. “It fits you. I thought it would.” She tilted her head. “You don’t have to wear it forever. I’m sure Dante will buy you a big diamond once things settle down.”

Twisting the band, I watched the way the red stone shone under the ceiling lights. “I don’t want to get rid of it.”

“Oh, that’s not what I meant.”

“Do you know where he got it?” I asked.

“Funny, it’s like Em’s story of the ring he brought you.”

The mention of my brother’s act of kindness and acceptance brought a grin to my lips.

Mia went on, “That ring belonged to our grandmother, Nonna Luna. She was our mother’s mother.”

I exhaled, appreciating Mia’s story and wanting to learn more about Dante’s family.

“Nonna Luna and Nonno Alessio were closer to Dante and me than to Dario. Dario had the attention of our father’s parents. Even when my two brothers were young, Dario was the chosen one. The prince of the Lucianos.” She turned my way. “Things haven’t changed. There’s no way that Andrés or Jorge would have changed their mind with Catalina as they did with you. No one would do that to the future capo.”

“He’s now capo.”

“No longer a prince,” Mia said. “He’s the king. Our mother’s parents gave Dante the attention he didn’t receive from the Lucianos. I was born later and by that time, our father was capo. His father was gone. Our mother was dealing with the horrors of the man she married. Nonna and Nonno would take me for extended periods of time in the summer and on vacation with them.”

I liked the way the story made Mia smile. “Did they do that for Dante?”

“I don’t really know. He’s older than I am. By the time they were taking me, he was a preteen. No vacations with grandparents. Father had the two boys to prepare for manhood.”

I scrunched my nose. “I think that’s kind of how it was for Em too. His childhood was cut shorter than Cat’s and mine.”

“Dante knew from an early age that his job was to protect Dario at all costs. Our father thought if he made them tough, they would either survive or kill one another.”

“What?” My eyes widened.

“The good news is that Dario and Dante didn’t take the second option. Instead, they joined forces against our father.” Mia scoffed. “I wish I could have witnessed the moment the great Vincent Luciano realized he’d raised two killers, and the man they hated most was their own father.”

“That’s a shame,” Viviana said.

Up until that moment, I hadn’t thought about being overheard.

Viviana went on, “Jorge raised Jano and Rei to be resilient without making them hate one another or him.”

“How did they do that?” Mia asked.

Viviana smiled. “Josefina.” She nodded toward Mia’s stomach. “It is what you’ll do too. Josefina loves unconditionally. That love is so overpowering that hate can’t survive. She loves her husband and her children.”

Mia’s nostrils flared as she nodded. “My mother and father had a difficult marriage.”

“Children, even babies, sense the emotions of others.” Viviana smiled. “You love Jano. You care about the women at the school. Mia, you have a good heart. Your bebé will learn his or her role in the world and also know love.”

A tear glistened on my sister-in-law’s cheek until she casually wiped it away.

“It’s true,” I added. “You helped me marry Dante. You didn’t have to do all you did.”

“Well, the next wedding we host, I’d like to avoid the helicopter and gunfire.”

Father Gallo looked at his watch. “I hope we can get the online license worked out soon.”

“Oh,” I said, “does that mean we’re not married?”

“You’re married in the eyes of our Lord, Mrs. Luciano.”

“Mrs. Luciano,” I repeated softly.

“That’s you,” Mia said.

The eyes of the Lord might satisfy my mother, but it wouldn’t my father.

We all turned to the opening of the door.