continue to fight when Jamila is no longer…” My breath hitches, and I swallow thickly to unclog it. “I couldn’t give you answers before, but I can moving forward. I’ve recently learned we have new enemies who have snuck in under our radar, wanting to take us out, so we have to be smart. They have my sister, and they’re holding her, using her to keep me from killing them. What I want from you until further notice is to carry on ridding our streets of anyone who doesn’t stand with us—but be discreet. There can be no witnesses or bodies left lying around for anyone to find. Do you hear me?”
Once the soldiers roar their approval, I turn to go. I’ve said all I have to say, and now that they know what needs to be done, I can return to my home to drink myself into a stupor while dwelling on the past. There’s no point trying to fight it.
I’m so fucking sick of fighting.
I walk out of the back door where my car awaits, leaving Cristian to deal with the soldiers.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Raphael
Her lips were always soft and needy, always desiring more from me.
My memories never do her justice, and my biggest fear is that I’ll never remember her the way I want to preserve her. We would’ve had children by now if we had kept to our original plan. Mila would have been my wife, with mini versions of the two of us running around at our feet. If she had accepted my offer at the peace ball, thing’s could’ve worked out differently.
In hindsight, I should have ended my threats against her and worked toward peace a long time ago, but I couldn’t get past the hatred she had for me, or the fact that she believed the lies she was fed while never once letting me explain the truth. We were both so arrogant, believing we had the all the power in the world, that we didn’t bother looking for an outside attack.
The car comes to a stop outside the mayor’s mansion, where the path leading up to the door is already lined with guests, dressed in their finest dresses and suits.
The celebrations have already begun, but I’m in no rush to join in. I know what the people are expecting, and I have no idea what direction I plan to go. DiMarco has my sister, but there are avenues I can select to get her back. I just have to choose the right one.
With Cristian’s wound still healing, I slow my pace so we can walk in together.
Guests move out of our way as we step into the ballroom where Frankie and Carlo are already seated at our usual table, and I find my gaze travelling toward where Mila sat only months ago, and every year before. Cristian bristles beside me, looking in the same direction to Father DiMarco and his followers, who are tonight seated around her table, talking and laughing with Salvatore. I wonder if the mayor knows who he’s really dealing with? I wouldn’t put it past him to be in the know. His loyalty to the Camarco’s has been evident over the last year, and I won’t ever forget it.
DiMarco, seeing that I’ve arrived, excuses himself from the table and strolls through the guests, stopping in front of me.
Eyeing Cristian, his gaze then falls to his stomach. “I see you’re still alive.”
Before he can react, I grab hold of his arm and hold him back. “Be sure to call for peace among your men tonight. If not, I promise you, your sister will pay.”
Snorting, I release Cristian’s arm and step forward.
“Answer me this, Father. Did you see me avenge my brother’s murder?”
“You had Jamila and her sidekick blown up. What was that if not revenge, albeit on the wrong party?”
A cold smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. “That was planned before my brother’s death. So tell me, have you seen me avenge him?”
For the first time since meeting him, his arrogance slips.
“What makes you think I won’t tear this city apart to get my sister back and take the risk she’ll end up dead in the process?”
I don’t miss the tic of agitation in his left eye.
“Call peace among your men, or death won’t be the only hell I’ll put young Sienna through. Imagine how many men would pay to use her for their sinful pleasures. You tell me, Raphael. How many Marocchi women have been humiliated in the