Page 130 of Righteous Enforcer
I decided I needed to protect my father and Adriano, so I passed on bad information. Not lies, but nothing that would help Maksim and Ivan in their war against the Dantes.
Maksim must have figured it out because he brought me my father’s finger and told me he’d cut him piece by piece if I didn’t do better.
A day later, Don Lorenzo confronted me. To this day, I don't know if someone betrayed me or if he simply figured it out himself.
"You think I don't know what you've been doing?" he'd asked. "You've been selling our secrets to the Russians. Betraying my son."
"No," I'd protested, even though it was true. "I can explain?—"
"There's nothing to explain," he cut me off. "I’m sure you understand what happens to people who betray me.”
“Please… I’m pregnant.” I hadn’t meant to blurt it out. I hadn’t even told Adriano yet. But I couldn’t let Lorenzo kill me… kill his grandchild.
He sat back and studied me. I swear I saw a moment of humanity. I suppose when he said I could live but had to leave, that was his humanity. “You leave. Tonight. Never contact myson again. If you stay, you die," he continued, voice empty of emotion. "If you go, you both live. Choose."
My father had helped me fake my death, his final act of love before Maksim killed him anyway, punishing him for my disappearance.
I lost everything that night. My father. The man I loved. The life I might have had. All I had was Mirabella.
Now, looking at Ivan across the table, I realize I'm about to lose everything again.
"Maksim's death won't go unpunished," Ivan says, pulling me from my memories. "The Dantes have lived too long thinking they're untouchable."
“You killed the Don, didn’t you? When does it end?”
His hand slams on the table, making me jump. “It ends when every Dante is dead. Start with Adriano, the monster they send when someone needs to be dealt with.”
"He's not a monster."
"No?" Ivan scoffs. "Ask the men who've screamed beneath his blade if they agree." He grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. "But don't worry. I'll make sure he sees you before he dies. Make sure he sees exactly who led us to him." His smirk makes my skin crawl. "You're not the spy anymore, Eva. You're the bait."
"He won't come for me," I lie, praying it's true. "Not after I ran."
Ivan releases my face with a dismissive flick. "We'll see."
I swallow hard. If Adriano doesn't come, I die. If he does come, he dies. The thought of him walking into Ivan's trap, believing I've betrayed him again, is unbearable.
"You won't win," I say. "The Dantes aren't as easily destroyed as you think."
Ivan's expression darkens. "Neither was my brother. Yet here we are."
He rises, tossing his napkin on his plate. He moves toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "Sleep well, Eva."
The door closes behind him, leaving me alone with nothing except the certainty that whether Adriano comes for me or not, whether he still loves me or hates me, I've dragged him into a death trap.
33
ADRIANO
Days blend together after I overhear Eva with Ivan. I keep expecting her to show up at our gates with tearful eyes, playing victim again.
But she doesn't come.
Each morning, I check security reports, scanning for signs of her. Each night, I find myself staring at the ceiling, replaying everything I heard in that Bratva dining room.
"When's Mommy coming back?" Mirabella's voice pulls me from my thoughts. She sits across from me at breakfast, pushing soggy cereal around her bowl. Dark circles shadow her eyes. She hasn't been sleeping well.
Neither have I.
