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But then I hear my voice, strong and clear, slicing the tension. “I choose Gio.”
The words hang in the air, surprising even me. But as soon as they’re out, I know they’re true. I look at Gio, my voice steady. “I don’t care about debts or arrangements. I’m with Gio.” I squeeze his hand, “I do. In this lifetime and every other.”
Silvio’s face darkens, his eyes narrowing with cold fury. “This isn’t a game, girl,” he spits, his voice venomous. “There areconsequences for defying me.”
“Then we’ll face them together,” Gio says, lifting my hand to his mouth for a kiss. His grip is warm and steady, and for the first time in days, I feel grounded and solid.
Atlas, who has been silent until now, steps forward, his posture casual, but a sharpness in his eyes doesn’t match the relaxed stance. “Let’s not do anything rash,” he says smoothly. “I’m sure we can come to some kind of arrangement. One that benefits everyone.”
Silvio’s eyes flick to Atlas, his anger tempered with curiosity. “And what could you possibly offer me that would make up for this insult?”
Atlas smiles—a slow, dangerous thing. “Exclusive rights to a shipping lane from Miami to Cuba,” he says, pausing for effect. “Complete with a certain uncharted island that might interest you.”
Silvio’s expression shifts, intrigue replacing fury. He strokes his chin thoughtfully. “An uncharted island, you say?”
Atlas nods. “It’s yours. Along with a clear path to move whatever you want without interference.”
Silvio considers the offer, his eyes narrowing as he weighs his options. Then, finally, he nods, though the tension doesn’t entirely leave his posture. “Fine,” he says, his voice measured. “But I’ll need proof. Details and logistics before the slate is clean.”
I blink, the words barely registering in the adrenaline haze still coursing through me. “I’m free?” I ask weakly, turning to Gio.
“If you want to be… Or you’re mine, and then I’m sorry, but you’ll never be free. Because you’ll never be free of me. Once again, the choice is yours.”
“Already chose, Gio. Weren’t you listening?”
He grins, and his smile is brighter than the slopes on a sunny day.
Before he can respond, something shifts in the air. A quiet conversation from outside the room catches Gio’s attention. Silvio’s voice floats through the hall, casual but cutting through the tension like a knife. “…and the docks need to be reinforced. The Gatakis never take their dock security seriously enough. That’s how their warehouse blew up all those years ago—the divers had a boat waiting, slipped the bombs in place, and swam off before anyone knew.”
The color drains from Gio’s face, his body going rigid beside me. I feel the tremor in his grip. “Gio?” I whisper, my chest tightening with sudden fear. “What’s wrong?”
But he’s already moving, his steps heavy, each filled with a growing rage that pulls me in its wake. He bursts onto the porch where Silvio stands, surrounded by his men. The cold fury in Gio’s voice freezes the air. “How do you know about that? About the divers and the bombs?”
Silvio glances at Gio, feigning confusion for a brief moment before his expression settles into something cruel and mocking. “Oh, that?” he says, his voice dripping with disdain. “The explosion that killed your brother? Yes, I know about it. In fact, I arranged it.”
Gio’s body trembles with rage, the revelation cutting him tohis core. I watch in horror as the realization hits him, as the years of grief and anger twist into something feral, something unstoppable. His brother’s murder—everything he thought he knew about that night—has just shattered, and Silvio stands there, wearing a smirk that taunts every ounce of pain Gio has carried.
“You…” Gio’s voice is low, a dangerous growl. “You killed Lucas?”
Silvio’s smirk widens, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. “Clever boy. Yes, I had your brother killed. And now you’ve taken something precious from me. I’d say we’re even, wouldn’t you?”
There’s no time to react—no time to stop what’s coming. In one swift movement, Gio lunges, his fist crashing into Silvio’s jaw with a sickening crack. The older man’s head snaps back, blood spilling from his mouth as he stumbles. Before his men can even reach for their guns, Gio strikes again, this time sending Silvio crashing to the ground.
“Gio!” I shout, but he doesn’t hear me. His world has narrowed to this moment, to the man lying at his feet—the man who took his brother, the man who has haunted his nightmares.
With another furious blow, Gio drives his fist into Silvio’s face, his knuckles splitting open on the man’s bloodied skin. Silvio’s men stand frozen, too shocked to move, while Atlas rushes forward, grabbing Gio’s arm. But it’s too late. Silvio’s head lolls to the side, his body limp, blood pooling beneath him. He’s not getting up again.
Gio stares down at the lifeless body, his chest heaving, his hands shaking. “I… He killed Lucas. It doesn’t make any sense. Hewas just a fucking kid.” Atlas is holding him back, but he’s still raging. His fists swing wildly as he pushes at his cousin. He doesn’t stop. I don’t know if he can stop.
I move Atlas aside. He may not know the monster. I do. Placing my hand gently on his arm, I grab his chin and force him to look at me. “Gio, it’s over,” I whisper, my heart pounding. “It’s over.” I repeat it as many times as it takes for the monster to recede.
Gio looks at me, his eyes wild and filled with anguish and relief. “He killed Lucas, Jeniah. He’s the reason my brother is dead.”
I nod, drawing him back from the edge, where he still teeters. “I know. But it’s done now. He won’t be taking anyone else.”
Silvio’s men are standing still, frozen in shock, as if waiting for someone to tell them what to do next. Atlas’s cold, sharp gaze settles on them. “Get out,” he says, his commanding voice unfreezes them. Are they really such mindless sheep? “Take him. We all know the man Al Silvio was. He was a brutal, cruel son of a bitch. You don’t accept a man’s payment on a debt and then demand his daughter. You don’t kill a man’s brother and then taunt him. He had this coming for a long time. His sons will want to have words with us. Tell him what his father said. He said a life for a life makes us even. If they disagree with that, then they can call us. We’ll go to war if that’s what they want.”
The biggest of the guards steps to Gio. “I’m Alphonse. I worked for him because he saw my sister at a wedding and threatened to harm her if I didn’t.” He waves to the group of men lifting the body. “Most of us have similar stories. He bound us to himwith threats and violence. He was never an easy man. Most of us wanted to do the same. We’ll take him home.”
