Page 52 of Oblivion
“Then you know why I don’t want to get involved in this shitshow that’s happening around us,” Nico said matter-of-factly.
“I do.” I nodded. “But I also know that this shitshow isn’t only mine. Where do you think The Syndicate, the Outfit, and the Albanians would attack once they’re done with me and Sons of Hades?”
He didn’t like that answer but fuck it. I wasn’t sugarcoating things today,
“She has a point,” Cole piped in, his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “As much as I would like to avoid getting involved with all of this, we all know that those motherfuckers wouldn’t think twice once they’re done eliminating one of their enemies. What will we do then? It might be too late.”
“Then what do you suggest, Cole?” Nico asked him, holding onto Alessia like a lifeline. “We all have our own issues to sort through and getting involved in this was the last thing on my list of priorities.”
“But don’t you get it?” I asked, stepping forward. “These people don’t care about the territory. They don’t care about honor or code. They don’t give a flying fuck that they could kill innocent women, children, and men. They don’t care, Nico. I’m not asking you to attack them right now.”
“Then what are you asking, Ophelia?” Nico exclaimed.
“I’m asking for your support. There is a big possibility that they won’t even look your way. Even more, I won’t have to ask for your help unless absolutely necessary, but I want to know that I have it should I need it.”
“And how do you plan to take them down?” Cole asked. “You must have some sort of plan.”
“We do,” Cillian answered instead, placing his hand on my shoulder. “My father only cares about his personal image. Hell, his associates do too.”
“And what about The Syndicate?” Alessia was the one to ask.
“I am going to deal with them,” I answered. “My father is gone. It’s only a matter of time until I get to meet with my uncle. He never wanted America. He was happy in Europe, taking over territories. He and my father never saw eye to eye, and I’m planning to use it.”
“I hear there’s a bounty on your head,” Nico interrupted, earning a soft slap on his knee from Alessia. “What?” He looked at her. “She’s a walking target. Showing up here after faking her own death isn’t exactly the smartest decision.”
“That’s what I said, but she didn’t listen to me,” Cillian said and smiled. “But, I, for a fact, know that they’re not allowed to kill her.” He looked at my frowning face. “They need you alive, which means that there’s something they want.”
“And you’re just telling me this now?” I asked, hating being blindsided.
“I just found out, Birdy,” he murmured. “Your uncle doesn’t want you dead. He needs you for something, and I’m sure he will let you know what.”
“So what?” Nico asked and stood up from the chair, lifting Alessia with him. “We just sit around and wait?”
“Au contraire,” Cillian said. “We get ready.”
“We fight,” I added. “If needed. But I need you.” I looked at Nico then at Cole. “I need allies. I know I might not be your favorite person, but I will never forget this. I will forever be in your debt.”
Silence descended on us, all five of us waiting for the final verdict to be announced.
“I told you a long time ago, Ophelia,” Cole said and walked toward me. “Whatever you need, whenever you need it. You’re almost like family to me, and I can guarantee that the Mancini family will stand by your side if it comes down to that.”
“Thank you,” I murmured and squeezed his upper arm. I looked at Nico and I could see he was breaking.
He nodded at Alessia who smiled at him and then looked at me. “The Romano family will stand by you as well.”
Relief washed over me and for the first time in months, I felt like I could breathe.
15
OPHELIA
Ever since wecame back from the wedding, I felt as if something big was about to happen. Something ate at my insides and my spidey senses were constantly tingling. Cillian told me I was just being paranoid, but my senses never once failed me, and I had a feeling that they weren’t wrong right now either.
Cillian shared what he found out about my uncle. It turned out that my grandfather was still alive and well and living in Russia. One other thing my father lied about. But what did they want with me?
When Cillian told me that there was a bounty for my head, I thought they were planning to kill me, to avenge my father. But nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. I feared that there was so much more I needed to unravel until we got to the end of this story.
The biggest question I had was about Belladonna.
