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Lucca cut off Ilias from speaking. “Don’t, Ilias!” Lucca roared, losing all his composure. “The moment you shot Ugo, you were a dead man walking. I am trying to fucking understand how she comes in the middle of it all!”
“It was self-defense. He came into my home,” Ilias spat back.
“Because he had orders to find a stray who just happened to be in your bed,” Lucca's tone was filled with disgust. “And now, not only will you have New York looking for your head for the death of one of their own, but me.” Lucca took a threatening step toward Ilias, who sat calmly in his chair.
How could he not see the danger he was in because of me?
“I killed Ugo,” I rasped.
Ilias tensed but tried to hide his reaction, and the room silenced with Lucca’s sinister smile.
“As much as I wouldn’t blink for your life, that’s sweet of you, really,” Lucca mocked. “But don’t utter words that will earn another target on your head, child.”
“Ugo had Ilias on his knees after I distracted him by not following the only order he gave me.” I looked straight into Lucca’s eyes as I continued, “To stay hidden.”
“Don’t lie, Davina,” Ilias said through his teeth.
“I couldn’t imagine someone else taking a bullet that was meant for me. So, I raised the gun Ilias had given me. Ugo mocked me, said I couldn’t. I pulled the trigger.” Viktor shuffled in the corner and all eyes were on me. “I missed, and he charged my way.” Raising my fingertips, I touched my temple for him to see the evidence of Ugo’s blow. “And while he stood over me with his gun against my head, Ilias called out for him. Ugo looked away, and the heavy gun in my hand lifted once again, and I pulled the trigger. That time, I didn’t miss, he was too close. He looked at me with surprise and venom in his eyes. I snapped." While our eyes stayed on one another, my voice lowered. "I just let the smell of gunpowder fill my lungs as I emptied the magazine, and all I could hear was the clicking of the empty chamber in a haze.”
“Davina,” Ilias whispered for me to stop.
“And the sick part of it all, I would do it again if it meant Ilias would be safe.” I shrugged and looked into Lucca’s eyes as I said, “So, what’s one more Syndicate over my head? I doubt I would come out alive from the first anyway.”
“Arlo?” Lucca murmured without releasing me from his stare.
“She’s telling the truth,” Arlo cleared his throat, “It was too sloppy, Ilias doesn’t react that way.”
“You can’t believe her!” Ilias raised his voice, but it was too late.
“Oh, I can, fratello.” Lucca finally removed his eyes away from me to Ilias. “It’s the way she speaks of your name. I just wanted Arlo to confirm it.”
“Lucca.” Ilias stood rapidly, holding his side, but bringing me close to his frame.
“Clean up all evidence left, and bring anything that ties her to Ugo’s life.”
Arlo took a step forward, taking in Lucca’s instructions, while my body froze with each word. Then his merciless eyes took me in.
“The Moretti Family now owns you. Until everything is cleared, and I find a way to assure my brother’s safety, you are bound to stay here with a target on your head.” Lucca placed his glass down onto his desk, and continued, “The only reason you are still breathing is because you saved his life, and unless I find a way out of it, Ugo’s life will need to be justified.”
“For fuck’s sake, Lucca. You cannot do this!” Ilias roared, but I held him back from moving forward.
“You gave me no fucking choice, Ilias! You want to know when the famiglia is at its weakest?” Lucca took a seat, emotion now stripped away. “When a new boss has been named. And now, I have New York in my backyard and older members breathing down my neck as I change the old ways.” His lips pursed, and I saw the moment his eyes held a question. “There’s just one thing,” Lucca added, “How were you protecting her in the first place?”
“I was assigned to watch and protect her,” Ilias replied, confused.
“By who?”
Ilias took a second to reply. His brows pinched together deep in thought, and I could tell by the way his mind raced wildly.
“Chief Pierce.”
“Fuck,” Viktor whispered from the back with his gaze on the ground, but when he looked up, all eyes were on him. “Chief Pierce hasn’t been in the precinct for long, and once he arrived, I checked his records. I don’t think it’s a coincidence he worked for the NYPD before moving here.”
“It’s not,” Lucca said through a locked jaw. “Viktor, bring him in. Arlo, retrieve what I’ve asked and assure nothing is left. And you two,” His eyes moved to Ilias and me. “Don’t leave the compound, clean up, bag your clothing, and burn it all, Ilias.”
I couldn’t understand what was happening. Why were they going after Chief Pierce? What could he possibly be associated with when all he’d done was be assigned to my case?
I watched as they all followed orders without question. They just nodded and left. I felt as if I was stuck in another dimension. A dimension where souls were trapped and bodies moved around like vessels with no empathy or regard for human life. But it wasn’t a dimension. It was real. It had already taken a part of my humanity the moment I held a gun in my hands––when I felt its power––and it tore my heart open when I raised it. But, after I’d shot and took the life of a living being, it was me who bled. I bled the innocence and hope I still held for the world.
