It took all I had to walk away last night.

What I wanted, what I would have done with any other woman, was strip her bare, bend her over the kitchen counter, and fuck her raw. Take her to bed. Fuck her again. Then again.

And then I would walk away. Out the door never to return. Never to give a second thought.

With her though, it’s different. With her, everything is different.

Wrong place. Wrong time.

Twice she’s been put in my path.

I finish my coffee. Head out to the car. Sending Eric to take care of the locks means I won’t have a bodyguard this morning. My father will have words with me when he finds out, which he always does. I need a bodyguard. We have enemies. All things I know.

Which brings me to Natalie.

If I’m not careful, she will become a target. And I feel very protective of her.

Those locks needed to be changed. They wouldn’t keep anyone out and that dog’s too old to protect her.

This professor she mentioned, I don’t like the sound of him.

My phone rings when I get in the car. I check the display. It’s my father.

“It’s early for you, isn’t it?”

“Heard the Vitelli boy is in the hospital.”

“That’s right.” I glance at the bruise on my knuckle. I don’t mind doing the physical work myself. Never want to be one of those men who’s afraid to get his hands dirty.

“He’ll be lucky if he can talk again,” he says.

“My initial meeting didn’t make the impression I hoped.”

“Roman thinks it’ll push old man Vitelli.”

“Roman needs to learn his place.”

“He was right before.”

“I’m meeting with Vitelli Sr. today. He’ll show gratitude for my restraint. My plan is not to incite another uprising like the DeMarco one. It’s to garner respect and, perhaps more importantly, obedience.”

“Power corrupts,” he says.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” I say. “Where do we, the Benedetti family, fall in that? Or do we have no reckoning?”

There’s a pause. “Just make sure you take Eric and at least two more soldiers with you. Roman too.”

“I’ll take the security, but my uncle can stay home this time.”

My father would normally have handled this himself, but I’ve taken over some of the things he would do because with mom’s illness, he’s been preoccupied. As much as I trust Roman’s loyalty to him and to our family, there are moments where he’s ambitious, too much so. He’s not a Benedetti. He’s my mother’s brother. He may be consigliere, but I am my father’s son and successor.

“Sergio—”

“Is mom’s appointment at Dr. Shelby’s office?” I ask, even though I know. Instantly, I feel the shift in mood. Today’s an important day. We find out if my mom’s chemo worked. I know dad’s scared shitless. It’s actually the only time I’ve ever known my father to be scared.

“Yeah. At the hospital.”

“All right. I’ll see you then.”

“One more thing before you go. I want Eric with you 24/7. It’s why I pay him. You want to go fuck some girl, go fuck her, but he stays. I don’t care where or how, but he stays, understand?”

The way he says ‘some girl’ grates on my nerves. “Relax, dad.” I hear a door close on my father’s side.

“Relax, he tells me,” Dad says, but he’s not talking to me. “Your uncle just walked in. Twenty-four fucking seven, Sergio. I’m not budging on that.”

“Fine.”

I arrive early at the restaurant where I’m meeting Vitelli. My men have already checked the place and I’m on my second espresso when Vitelli and two of his men walk in. I haven’t seen him since a wedding eight months ago, but he hasn’t changed much. Maybe a few more gray hairs, but he’s got the same look on his face as always, the one that says he’s owed something simply for the sake of a shared history, and I don’t like it.

After my men are done searching them, Vitelli approaches the table alone.

“Sergio,” he says in greeting.

We don’t shake hands.

“Sit down.” I signal the lone waiter. “What would you like?”

He looks at my espresso and orders the same.

“How’s Joe?” I ask. It’s unspoken who did the damage, but we all know.

“Recovering.” His tone is flat. “Although it’ll be slow.”

I nod. Sip the last of my espresso as he gets his. Silence drags out, but it doesn’t bother me. I want him to start.

“Look, Sergio, our families go way back. We were neighbors in Calabria.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Yes, but we have history. Shared roots. My boys,” he focuses his attention on the little espresso cup, and I see his mouth harden, see the rage behind it.

Violent men. It’s what we are. He and I both.

He looks up at me. “My boys fucked up, Sergio.”

“Yeah, they did. And Joe fucked up twice.”

“My youngest is sitting in a fucking hospital bed with his face sewn together.”

I study him, my expression even. Give him a minute to compose himself.

“You played together when you were little, for Christ’s sake!”

“Like I said, that was a long time ago. I know you were unaware of their dealings, but I’m not sure that’s an excuse. If you’re unable to control your family...” I let my words trail off.

His shoulders visibly tense up and a moment later, he clears his throat. “It was an oversight,” he acknowledges, knowing where I’m going. Knowing he can easily be replaced. Am I surprised he values his position over loyalty to his own sons?

“Will it happen again?”

“No.”

“Because if it does, someone will be in a box rather than a hospital bed. Am I clear?”

His youngest got his eyes from him. The same arrogance fills them.

“You’re clear, Sergio.” He makes to stand, but stops halfway up. “How’s your mother?”

I feel my eyes narrow, feel hate move through me.

“Your uncle mentioned she’s finished with her treatments.”

My uncle did what? He must see my surprise because I see that minuscule hint of victory in his eyes.

“Wish her well from my family.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Vitelli.”

I watch him leave, rage boiling inside me. How dare my uncle discuss our family’s private affairs with anyone? Especially this.

Checking my watch, I get up and walk to the back door. Eric’s beside the car. I get in, preoccupied now. This meeting didn’t go as planned. As I expected. I’m distracted as we drive to the hospital but when we pull up and I climb out, I take a breath in, compose myself. I’ll deal with Roman later. Right now, I need to be here for my mother.

When I arrive at the doctor’s office, they’re waiting for me. My mother and father sitting across from the doctor, my mom’s head wrapped in a teal blue scarf. Roman is standing off to the side.

“Sergio,” she says when she sees me. “There you are.”

“Mom.” She stands and I hug her, feel how much weight she’s lost. And I think I already know what the doctor’s going to tell us. I think she does too when she pulls back and gives me a weak smile. I wonder if all of this, if it isn’t for our sake. If she isn’t humoring us. Giving my father hope because she knows what will happen to him without it.

Another moment later, the door opens and my brothers, Salvatore and Dominic step inside. Salvatore spots me first, greets me, then our mother. Dominic goes directly to her and when everyone’s said hello, she pats the chair beside her for Dominic to take. She keeps one of his hands in both of hers.

Dominic is different than Salvatore. Salvatore, I get. He and I are close. But Dominic has anger inside him. Rage even. Jealousy rules him and in a way, I understand. He’s third born. If anything happened to me, Salvatore is next in line to rule. And to rule, to be king, is what my little brother wants most of all. I sometimes wonder at what cost.

Once we’re all gathered, the doctor puts his glasses on and opens a folder on his desk. And from there, he delivers his news.