Chapter 3

"That is none of your business," I said coldly.

Luca sneered, "Funny how you forgot everything else, but somehow remembered that."

Victor's face darkened. He pressed his lips together, said nothing, and left with Demira.

Luca let out a cold snort, then his expression turned serious. "One of our capos just sent word. Those Vitali bastards are making a delivery at the Brookshire docks at 3:00 a.m. They stole a shipment of our arms before, and they killed the old Don. It's time we settle that debt."

At the thought of my father's death, everything else fell away. My eyes went cold. "I'm going myself tonight."

"I'm going too."

Victor had returned. He stood in the doorway, his voice heavy.

Demira grabbed his hand at once and pressed it to her lower belly. Her eyes reddened as she spoke in a rush. "Don't go. Victor, you're still hurt. What if something happens to you? What am I supposed to do? What about the baby?"

Victor rested his hand on the slight curve of her stomach. Conflict flashed through his eyes. "Be good. I will come back safe."

"I can't sleep without you. Please don't go."

I had no interest in watching them cling to each other any longer. I turned to Luca. "Set the men in motion. We leave at midnight and take our positions there."

"Donna, I..." Victor looked at me, something complicated in his eyes, as if he wanted to say more.

"You're not going." I coldly dropped the words, turned, walked into my room, and slammed the door behind me.

…

I had assumed Victor would stay out of the operation.

I was wrong. When we set out before dawn, he was already standing at the front gate of the estate.

He wore a black leather combat jacket, with two pistols strapped at his waist. His posture was straight and sharp.

"The old Don showed me mercy. I will not sit out his revenge." He said it as if he meant every word.

I gave a slight nod and said nothing else. I got into the car.

We reached the docks at exactly midnight. I split our people into five teams and positioned them behind different stacks of shipping containers.

After I crouched in my own hiding spot, I turned my head and found Victor beside me. He was supposed to be with Team Two. Instead, he had planted himself at my side.

His gaze remained cold as he spoke under his breath. "The old Don entrusted you to me. I have a duty to protect you."

"I don't need it. Go back to your team."

Victor did not answer. He did not move.

I tightened my grip on my pistol and stopped wasting words on him.

The wind off the docks cut harder in the middle of the night. The snow had not stopped. The cold sank straight into my bones.

I had not dressed heavily because I needed to move fast. It did not take long for the metal of the gun to numb my fingers and set my whole body shaking.

I did not let my guard down. I stayed still and endured it.

Then a jacket, still carrying another person's warmth, settled over my shoulders.

I turned and met Victor's dark eyes. His face had gone pale. Frost clung to his brows.

Taking care of me had once come naturally to him. Maybe he did not understand it himself. He had handed me his coat without hesitation, and now his fingers curled back awkwardly.

Expressionless, I took it off and handed it back to him.

Victor frowned, but said nothing.

Hours passed. By the time everyone was close to freezing, the Vitali family's boat finally reached the dock.

As I watched it draw closer, my pulse jumped. I was about to signal the attack when a blinding beam of light suddenly cut across the dark from nearby.

Demira stumbled toward us with a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other, shouting as she came, "Victor! Where are you? I came to help you!"

The Vitali men reacted at once. "Pull back! It's an ambush!"

"Idiot," I muttered.

In that instant, I could have killed Demira myself.

I did not know who fired first.

Demira's face turned paper-white. She dropped into a crouch and burst into panicked sobs. "Victor! I'm scared! Where are you?"

Victor panicked. Ignoring the risk of exposure, he rushed straight to her and dragged her into his arms.

With that single move, he exposed my position as well.

The Vitali men immediately regrouped and redirected all their fire at me.