Chapter Ten

Damon

For a moment after Jillian opened the door, I thought I was hallucinating. Maybe the concussion was actually a worse head injury than they realized. Maybe I had an allergic reaction to the medication. Maybe Leo had already shot me and I was dead. Because I specifically remembered telling her to leave—not to come inside the house. Then I remembered looking over my shoulder as she drove away, leaving me to finish the last of the family business I’d planned to be part of before she and I started our new life together.

The thunderous explosion of my .45 M&P firing dispelled any of those notions.

“Jilly, come over here and untie me, doll.” I purposely kept my voice low and calm to draw her attention to me.

The weight of her actions hadn’t sunk in yet. The blank expression on her face worried me. Was she in shock? How would she react when she realized what had happened? When that moment hit her, the last place I needed to be was tied to a fucking chair.

“How did you know, Damon?” The tone of her voice was bland. Lifeless.

“Jillian,” I replied, my voice firm and commanding. Her eyes rose to meet mine, but my Jilly wasn’t in there. She blinked a couple of times then seemed to come around somewhat. Her eyebrows drew downward, and the corners of her eyes crinkled in confusion. “Untie me, Jillian. Right now.”

She nodded and robotically moved behind me. I heard her lay the gun on the wood floor, and she began working diligently on the knots in the rope tied around my hands.

“Jillian, grab the knife out of my back pocket and cut the rope.” Marco looked over at me after he spoke to her and slowly raised his eyebrows.

The second she cut our bonds, I jumped out of the chair and gathered her into my arms. No physical pain I felt could match the pain I would’ve felt if Leo had shot her first. She melted into my embrace and laid her cheek against my chest. We lost ourselves in each other. Holding on to dear life and holding on for dear life became one and the same at that moment. She was my life—my reason for living, breathing, fighting, and loving.

“I killed your uncle, Damon.” She didn’t release me. She didn’t even look up at me. She confessed to it with no emotion in her voice. “I’m sorry you lost your uncle.”

“Jilly, I only care that you’re not harmed. I told you to stay away from here for a reason. If you’d been hurt…” She swallowed hard, and I watched as she pulled her brave mask over her face to hide the uncertainty in her expression. She was so courageous, faking it until she made it.

“Damon, I feel the same way about you. If you thought I’d let you walk in here alone and already injured, you don’t know me at all.”

She was right. Deep down, I knew she’d find a way to follow me. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see her standing in the doorway, though I still couldn’t say I was pleased. The chances she took were too great. “I know you very well, doll.”

“Then you know better than to tell me not to do something that’ll help you.” She gently pressed her cheek against my chest, still concerned with hurting me.

“I’ll never admit to that.”

When I felt her body shaking with laughter, I knew she’d be all right. Eventually. We’d have several nights of nightmares in the near future, whether she realized it or not. The mental pictures always returned, at first anyway.

“How did you know, Damon? What tipped you off that Leo and Geno were working together?”

“When Marco called, he said Leo told them that even Geno wanted Lorenzo killed to get him out of the picture. You and I knew that after the shootout at Geno’s business, but Leo wasn’t there when Geno’s Underboss and Consigliere left Lorenzo in our hands. Leo didn’t know what they’d said to us. There’s only one way Leo could’ve known what Geno’s plans were, and that’s if Geno told Leo himself. And the only way he’d do that is if they were in on this scheme together.”

“What happened when you got here? How did Leo get the upper hand on the two of you?”

“Fucking Geno ambushed us,” Marco interjected. “Dad had already left, and I was about to leave with Leo in tow. But Geno and a couple of his guys came in just before Damon did, so they got the jump on both of us. Once Leo had control of the situation, Geno rushed out through the lower garage. I have a feeling he’s on his way to Mom and Dad’s house to finish what they’ve started. We need to move.”

Jillian gave Marco the keys and told him where she’d parked my car. He rushed out ahead of us to pull the car around the front circular drive. I draped my arm around Jillian’s shoulders, and we walked out together…slower. Marco was tapping the steering wheel impatiently when I opened the car door.

“Man, you need to sit this one out, Damon. You’re moving like an old grandpa. Let the young studs handle the fight, and you watch from the sidelines.”

“I’ll show you ‘old grandpa’ when I kick your ass, Marco.”

He laughed as he peeled out of the driveway, burning rubber in the race to stop Geno’s plans. We met two teams of our men on the road headed for Leo’s house.

“You already called in the cleaning crew?”

“Yep. I’m surprised they didn’t already have the place cleaned in the time it took you to make it out the front door.”

My brother was a smartass, spouting off with his typical digs at me. Still, there was no one I’d rather have on my side in an all-out war.

“Marco, one day when you’re least suspecting it, you’ll wake up to find me standing over you. You’ll try to apologize for all these mean and hateful things you’re saying to me right now, but your pleas will fall on deaf ears. Then I’ll make your childhood nightmare come true when I throw you out of your apartment bare-ass naked and refuse to let you back in.”

Marco threw his head back in laughter. “That would be a funny sight, little brother, if you could actually pull off something like that. I’m really not worried about it, though. But if it makes you feel better to dream about doing it, knock yourself out.”

“I’ll lock your ass out. Your naked ass. It’ll be epic. That girl next door you’re always panting over will finally get an up close and personal look at the disappointment she’s dodged for months now.”

“If you weren’t already beaten to a pulp by an old, decrepit man, I’d kick your ass for that insult alone.”

“Can you two finish this sibling rivalry argument later? I’ve had a very long and stressful day already, and I’d hate to have to remind you both who the real boss around here is.”

Marco and I both chuckled, amused at how well Jillian fit into our family. She had that same air of her sweet personality from when I’d first met her, along with her Southern feistiness. But she’d also developed a definite edginess about her that wasn’t there before. She was every bit as sexy and feminine, but now enhanced with a hint of danger and a splash of darkness.

“We’ll settle that question later tonight. The first time you yell ‘god,’ I win.” I murmured my reply against the shell of her ear then watched the goose bumps fan out across her arm. Every fucking time. I fucking loved physically seeing how much she wanted me.

“As much as I’d love to have that very long, drawn-out argument with you, I don’t think either of us is in any shape to even think about it. I’ve been up over thirty hours now. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’ll be out for three days straight. Any chance we can wrap this whole family war up in the next fifteen minutes so I can get some sleep?”

“Let Geno show his face, and it won’t even take that long, doll. If he runs off and hides somewhere, we don’t have to find him today. His family is done and he knows it.”

“In that case, I really hope he’s on a flight headed for an island in the Caribbean to find a beachfront bachelor pad so you and I can go straight to bed instead of looking for him.”

“If there’s no sign of him at my parents’ house, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

“When Dad sees you, he won’t give you any other choice. You should’ve stayed in the hospital like Matteo said.” Marco cut his eyes to the rearview mirror, shooting pointed looks at me as he spoke.

As my brother, he was just looking out for me, I knew that. But we both also knew why I couldn’t appear weak—especially at that time. The other families were watching everything unfold and waiting to make their decision. Would they back us or the Sanfratellos? Would one of the smaller factions make a play of their own? Leo had already dealt us a deadly blow by betraying us the way he did, showing our house wasn’t in order as it should’ve been. Division in our ranks couldn’t be tolerated. A show of unity and force couldn’t be delayed for even one day.

When we pulled into the driveway, I was relieved to see the gates closed and several of our best soldiers on active duty, vigilantly patrolling the yard. One glance at Marco and they waved us in. When my haggard appearance didn’t shock any of them, I knew word had already spread of what had happened earlier. That was for the best, though, because they’d be even more alert and observant while they stood guard.

Inside the house, I heard the low murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. We stopped to listen briefly before entering the room. That was a habit I wasn’t in any hurry to break. Knowing what I was walking in on had saved my life one too many times to ignore that instinct.

“That’s Carrie,” Marco whispered.

“Mama’s in there too,” I replied.

The three of us looked at each other, our eyes darting back and forth in surprise, when we heard the next voice.

“That was Lorenzo.” Jillian walked into the kitchen ahead of Marco and me.

Just before I entered the room, I heard my father. “Carrie, you know I can’t allow this. That’s my final decision.”

He stood to leave the table, his last words effectively ending their conversation. He took one look at me and froze in his tracks. “Damon, you look even worse than I heard. You need to rest—right now. The home health care nurse is already here and waiting for you upstairs. We gave her one of the guest bedrooms to stay in.”

“Dad, there’s a lot we need to discuss…there’s something the three of us need to tell you.”

“Damon, I know you’re dedicated. But you have to take care of yourself right now. Marco can fill me in on everything while you rest. You and I will talk after you’ve recovered. Jillian looks dead on her feet—that’s not good for her or the babies.”

“Don’t worry, little brother. I’ve got your back. Take Jillian to bed with you, or I’ll be tempted to steal her away while you sleep.” Marco winked at Jillian, and she giggled at his overt flirting.

“You know, I’ve killed men for less than that, Marco.”

“You boys,” Mama started. “Always picking on each other. It’s good to see some things never change. Now, Damon and Jillian—off to bed, you two. Marco, you sit down in the den with your father and behave yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Marco and I replied at the same time.

The nurse, Michelle, was waiting for me just as Dad said, but I convinced her to give me a few more minutes to bathe before she started her assessment. When I finished, Jillian jumped in the shower while Michelle thoroughly chastised me for my complete lack of self-preservation. By the time Jillian crawled into bed with me, Michelle had finished the paperwork and started a saline IV in my arm.

The medication Michelle injected into my IV hit my vein, and all the pain in my body melted away. Jillian’s warm body was snuggled up to my side, her arm draped across my stomach and her cheek rested on my shoulder. My eyelids became too heavy to hold open. I vaguely remembered hearing her soft, rhythmic breathing before the deepest sleep I’d ever had pulled me under and wiped away all my cares.

Until I woke up.

Darkness had already settled in, making the bedroom pitch black with the curtains drawn. I reached for Jillian, but she wasn’t there, only her cold, empty side of the bed. Concern and confusion propelled me from my slumbering position, making every muscle in my body revolt from the sudden movement. From how stiff I felt, I must have slept all day and into the night. If it was even still the same day, that was.

After I sat up on the side of the bed, I turned on the lamp and waited for my eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. My eyes traced the IV tubing through the machine and up to the nearly full bag hanging beside my bed. Michelle must have changed it recently, and I must have slept straight through everything. After I pulled on my lounge pants, I stood, removed the bag from the pole, and made my way downstairs.

A very serious conversation was underway, so I stopped outside of the den to listen before making my presence known.

“Jillian, for the first time since I became the Boss of the Marchetti family, I don’t know what I should do. Our law says Leo’s betrayal couldn’t go unpunished, and the only punishment we have for betrayal is death. I know this in my head. But in my heart, he’s still my brother, so his death isn’t an easy pill to swallow. The problem I’m facing, Jillian, is Leo had earned his place in our world. He was a made man. You understand what this term means?”

“Yes. It means he’d proven his worth and was protected by the family. He was untouchable.”

“That’s exactly right. A made man is only punished by another made man. As the Underboss of this family, Leo would’ve been punished by me and no one else. But that’s not what happened, and my men may already know. How do you think that makes me look?”

“I understand your concern. But before I answer your question, I have to ask you a couple.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Is there anything you wouldn’t do for Lina?”

The pause in the conversation meant Dad was caught off guard by Jillian’s question. That didn’t happen with my father—except when Jillian was involved. She seemed to have that effect on the Marchetti men.

“No, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. She is the best person I know, and I love her more every day.”

“If Leo had killed Lina, would you have spared his life?”

“No. I wouldn’t have thought twice about killing him. I would’ve watched the light leave his eyes without a single regret.” Dad usually reserved that gruff tone for the rare occasions he had to repeat himself to one of his men.

“My mother was the best person I knew, and I loved her more every day of my life. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t have done for her. Leo taunted us when he described his plan to kill Damon and me. He couldn’t wait to kill you and Lina to take your place. He took great pleasure in describing how he murdered my disabled mother in cold blood.

“So, I didn’t think twice about killing him. I watched the light leave his eyes without a single regret for what I’d done. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a damn thing. Now I’ll answer your question. If avenging my mother by killing the man who had an elaborate plan to overthrow you and kill your wife and your son means I can’t be part of the family, then I think that makes you look weak.”

“Weak? How does that make me look weak?”

“Because you’re allowing lower-level men to dictate how you run your family. Because you reward tradition over loyalty. Because you don’t have the courage to make your own rules when you know the archaic ones need to be changed. If you’re so worried about your treacherous Underboss being killed by someone who isn’t made, you can fix that by changing my status in the family. Induct me.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely not.” My deep voice carried through the den, startling Jillian and Dad with my abrupt intrusion. “That is not happening. We are not making her a capo.”