“What if something went wrong?” I asked for the hundredth time, even if I sounded like a broken record. I couldn’t focus on anything but my worry for Maddox. This was his first official mission, maybe that was why I was so nervous. I’d have to ask Mom, Gianna, and Aunt Lily how they managed to stay calm when their husbands were on a dangerous mission.
“During a mission, he won’t always have time to check his phone,” Matteo said with a hint of amusement, but Dad’s gaze reflected a hint of concern, which in turn, multiplied my own trepidation.
The roar of an engine made me perk up. I shoved up from the sofa, dropping the folder, and hurried outside, not waiting for anyone to catch up. My eyes widened when I spotted Maddox in the alley getting out of the van, covered in blood and dust and soil. He looked as if he’d dug himself out of his own grave.
I hurried over to him, trying not to appear like an over-worried girlfriend. I wasn’t sure how Mom could do this for decades, especially now that she had to worry about Dad and Amo. Maybe it got easier with time but right now I dreaded being left at home while Maddox risked his life again.
“The bikers got you bad,” I said worriedly.
Maddox kissed me fiercely before he shook his head, looking absolutely furious. “This wasn’t only the bikers. Your dad’s men tried to kill me and make it look as if it was the enemy.”
I tensed and withdrew a few inches from his embrace, hoping I’d heard him wrong. “What? Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure, unless it’s a secret Italian sign of love to shoot bullets at your allies.”
I swallowed hard. “Did you question them?”
“I did, at least the ones who survived. One’s dead. They say it was their plan and no one else was involved.”
“But you don’t believe them?”
Maddox’s face made it clear that he suspected someone else to be involved and I had a feeling he suspected my family.
“You and my family have been getting along better, right?”
“Your father tolerated me, and Amo and Matteo were okay to deal with…”
Maddox fell silent when Dad and Matteo joined us in the alley, his expression hardening.
“See, he’s in one piece,” Matteo said with a chuckle, motioning at Maddox. I grabbed Maddox’s arms and his lips twitched from pain but his eyes were only focused on Dad and Matteo.
“I guess that wasn’t the outcome you’d hoped for, right?” Maddox growled.
“What are you talking about?” Dad asked coldly. “And what happened to my men?”
“Two of them are tied up in the back of the van and one is dead.”
Dad stalked toward Maddox, looking murderous, and Maddox looked only too eager to get into a fight with him.
I wouldn’t allow those two hotheads to kill each other. If they couldn’t act like adults and actually talk to each other before attacking then I’d just have to be the one mediating between them.
I stepped between Maddox and my dad, my palms against either of their chests. They barely glanced my way, too busy killing each other with their eyes.
Matteo, too, had his hand on his gun, ready to intervene, and definitely not in Maddox’s favor.
“Was it you who killed one of my men?”
Maddox gave Dad a scary grin. He reminded me of a Rottweiler baring its teeth. “I did, and I would do it again if it was my life against theirs. Your men tried to put a fucking bullet in my head!”
Dad picked up his phone but didn’t cease the staring contest with Maddox. “I need you to pick up something for me. Right now.”
“Show me my men,” he then ordered Maddox.
“I want to be there when you talk to them. I won’t let you create lies behind my back.”
“You don’t order me around, White.”
“Dad,” I said firmly. “I need to talk to you alone. Now. Please.”
Dad began to shake his head, but I kept staring at him imploringly. The two bouncers of the Sphere appeared in the alley and Dad motioned at the car. “Pick up the load and bring them into one of the holding cells.”
Maddox clicked the car shut with the keys. “Nobody takes anyone away until I know if these three acted on your orders.”
I turned to him, touching his arm. “Let me talk to my father, all right?”
Maddox gave a reluctant nod. I turned to Dad. “Dad, please.”
“Five minutes,” he said with a scathing look at Maddox. He led me inside while Matteo and the bouncers remained outside with Maddox.
My belly was flipping from anxiety. If Dad had really tried to have Maddox killed, I wasn’t sure what I’d do. This was worse than leaking information about Earl and that had been bad enough. If Dad had ordered his soldiers to pull the trigger, the blood was on his hands.
I felt sick just thinking about it. I loved my family and I didn’t want to destroy it, but I also loved Maddox…
The moment Dad and I entered his office, I could feel the entire load of worries crash down on me in one all-consuming tidal wave.
“Swear that it wasn’t you!” I screamed, completely losing it. If Dad had ordered his soldiers to kill Maddox and make it look like an accident, then I wasn’t sure I could forgive him. Even if he did it to protect me. There was a limit to what I could accept.
“Watch your tone,” Dad said firmly, crossing the room to his desk.
My eyes widened in fury. “I won’t be quiet, not when you might have tried to kill the man I love.”
Dad sank down on his desk chair, looking exhausted and angry. I didn’t care if my tone pissed him off. Not after what I’d just found out.
Dad regarded me quietly for almost a minute. “Love?”
I couldn’t believe he was trying to discuss my emotional state in a moment like this.
“Dad,” I said firmly.
He sighed, looking down at his wedding ring. I’d never seen him without it. “I wasn’t in on it.”
I gave him a doubtful look. “Your soldiers respect and fear you. They follow your orders because they fear the consequences, and you really want me to believe you didn’t know anything?”
“What I know is that some of my soldiers aren’t happy with my choice to let Maddox White live, and even less to let him dishonor my daughter.”
“Dishonor,” I repeated in a shaky voice.
“Their words, not mine.”
“But it’s what you think as well.”
“I want you to be happy Marcella.”
“And Maddox is the one who makes me happy!”
“I know.”
I hesitated. “If you know, then why did you try to kill him?”
Dad sighed and got up before he rounded the desk and gripped my shoulders. “I didn’t.” He pressed my palm on his heart then covered it with his hand. “I swear on my honor and my life that I didn’t know of their plan to kill Maddox.”
“Swear it on Mom’s life,” I demanded.
A smile flitted across Dad’s face. “You’ll make a great addition to the Famiglia.”
“Dad,” I warned, not wanting to be distracted with compliments, no matter how flattering. Nothing in this world meant more to Dad than Mom. His love for her was infinite.
“I swear it on your mother’s life. I didn’t know anything about the attempted killing, nor would I have approved of it. If anyone kills Maddox White, it’s going to be me.”
“That’s not funny,” I muttered.
“I was dead serious.”
I shook my head. “What about Amo or Matteo?”