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"I know!" Rafe snaps, spinning on his brothers. "Jesus Christ. You think the fact that the motherfucker wants to kidnap my son hasn't been playing on a loop in my head since she told me? He's my son. The sole fucking reason I took a step back was to protect him and Amalia. And it was for nothing." He slams his hand down on the table, making Aurelia jump. "Nothing! Because he's still a fucking target." His voice cracks. "To men like Brio, he'll always be a fucking target." He bows his head, breathing hard.
And I realize in this moment, that this is what Rafe is truly angry about. Not the fact that I lied to him or hid Aurelia's existence. But the fact that he feels helpless. He's the most powerful man in this city, and he didn't see this coming. None of us did.
He's angry because he's scared. And one thing Rafe doesn't know how to be is afraid. Aside from his brothers, he's never had anything to lose before. Now, he has a wife and a kid, with another on the way. Brio didn't just threaten his empire. He threatened his family—the only thing in this life that Rafe actually cares about.
He's on the verge of losing it.
If anyone can understand that, I do. Because Brio didn't just threaten his family, he threatened mine. He hurt my wife. For months, she's lived in fear, her mind tormented by the choice he gave her.
It'll be a cold day in hell before I let that insult stand.
"Rafe," I say softly, waiting until he looks at me before I speak again. "Si vis pacem, para bellum." If you want peace, prepare for war.
He holds my gaze for a long, silent moment, and then the man this city once called the devil peeks from his eyes. "War? No, Mattia. This is going to be a fucking massacre."
I smile, more than happy to give him the bloodbath he wants.
Chapter Twelve
Aurelia
Ipace the length of Mattia's suite at Rafe's, my heart pounding. Fear sits in my stomach like a lead weight, threatening to drag me under. Everyone is downstairs, plotting and planning how to rescue my mother and kill Brio, but Mattia pulled me away so we could talk. They make it sound so easy, but I can't help but worry about the danger waiting.
I know what kind of man Brio is. He's a dangerous animal, capable of so much destruction.
"Come here, little mouse," Mattia murmurs, his commanding voice sending shivers down my spine. He steps up behind me as I stare out the window at the lush backyard. Unlike the cold, imposing mansion, the property outside is beautiful, serene even.
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me up against the hard wall of his chest. His chin settles against my shoulder.
I lean into him, sighing softly.
"I have something for you," he says, holding his hand out in front of me.
I glance down, tears welling in my eyes when he uncurls his fingers to reveal my ring resting on his palm.
"Mattia, I…" I spin to face him, my voice trembling with emotion.
He studies my face with a tenderness that only makes the guilt twist tighter around my heart.
"Shh," he whispers, pressing his finger to my lips, silencing my chaotic thoughts. "I know, little mouse. I know."
"You don't," I cry softly, pressing my face into his shirt. "You really don't."
He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly, as if he can protect me from my own mind.
"I wanted Rafe to punish you, Mattia," I confess, feeling so small and pathetic even saying it out loud. "I…I wanted you to hurt like I did." The words pour from me, burning like acid. I came here because I wanted to beat him to the punch and own the narrative. "If you were going to tell Rafe that I was a monster after his baby and take everything from me, I wanted to take something from you, too."
"Topolina," Mattia murmurs, his voice heavy with empathy and understanding.
"I wanted you to feel even a tenth of the pain I felt listening to you on that phone today. It didn't matter if Rafe believed me or not. I was so angry and so hurt. I just wanted you to hurt, too. You broke my heart, so I wanted to break yours." I shudder, ashamed of my own vindictiveness. How messed up is that? "Except Rafe did punish you, and I hated every minute of it, Mattia. I wanted it to be me who Rafe hit, me on my knees, not you."
"You thought I betrayed you, Aurelia." He brushes his thumb across my bottom lip. "I don't blame you for being angry. I fucking hate myself for hurting you."
"No!" I cry, the need to absolve him of that burning through me. "I don't want that, Mattia. You didn't do anything wrong. I just…" My voice falters as I shake my head. "I should have trusted you."
"Little mouse," he chuckles softly, pressing his forehead to mine—a rare moment of vulnerability from the usually unflappable consigliere. "Anyone would have doubted after hearing what you heard. You did nothing wrong."
"I feel like I did," I mumble, unable to meet his gaze. "I feel like a jerk."
