Page 143 of Fallen Rook

Achilles—annoyance.

Tiernan—amusement.

Lila—shock.

Tierney—glee. Her eyes were brimming with tears. The corners of her mouth softened, and I knew she was proud of me. I clung to her reaction like a lifeline, hung on to the fact there was someone in my corner here.

Tristan’s face was dispassionate, bored. Fortunately or not, I couldn’t give two shits about what he thought.

“Okay…” Luca weighed his words cautiously. “We all knew this was a possibility. If we keep it under wraps, you can conduct discreet affairs outsi—”

“No discreet affairs.” I splayed my hands on the table. “I’m coming out. Completely. To the Camorra. The Bratva. The world. No matter the price.”

The room was silent. Achilles and Luca exchanged scowls. Luca was the first to speak again.

“Listen, Enzo, in our line of work—”

“Fuck work! In my line of being… I’m talking about my existence here, for God’s sake.” I ran a shaky hand over my hair, forcing myself to calm down. “Besides, I’m the pulse of the operation. I understand the consequences of my actions. I’m still moving forward. I will not hide, Luca. And I will not be ashamed of something I do not control. It is my ethical obligation to live authentically.”

“It is my ethical obligation to make sure you live at all,” Luca snapped back. “How’s it gonna work? You gonna tell the Bratva that you’re marrying their baby sister and—”

“I will not be marrying the baby sister,” I said, sitting straighter. “I broke the engagement with Katya.”

“You what?” Achilles roared, shooting up to his feet.

“Motherfucker.” Luca pushed out of his chair, too. He threw a hand into his hair, yanking hard, and started pacing. “Tell me you’re shitting me, Enzo.”

I stared down at my lap. My entire facade was breaking down like ancient walls all around me, and I had never felt more naked, more exposed, more real, in my life.

From my periphery, a cigarette was offered to me. I swiveled to look at its source. It was Lila. She gave me a little nod, her eyes zinging with fierce determination.

Push through, they said.

“We cannot blow up the wedding; it’s four months away,” Luca said around his own cigarette.

“It’s already done,” I said quietly.

“And Alex knows,” Tiernan added. Both my brothers turned to him. He was still sitting next to his wife, aloof and completely at ease.

“Spill it,” Luca ordered him.

“Katya told Alex that she broke things off with Enzo. That she is in love with her professor, Rafferty Pope, and can’t go through with it,” Tiernan announced. “She took the fall.”

I could kiss her right now. Sweet, brave Katya, who had gotten nothing but heartache and rejection from my family and still somehow managed to find it in herself to help me. She’d put her ass on the line for me, for no reason other than because she was a good person. This made my guilt even worse.

“And is he buying it?” Achilles demanded.

Tiernan curved an amused eyebrow. “He says he is tired of diplomacy when the Camorra doesn’t keep its promises. He also seems to know Enzo is gay. Have you told Katya?” He turned to me.

“Well, yes.” I frowned. I doubted she’d told Alex, though. I didn’t know why I trusted her, but I did.

“There you have it.” Achilles was now physically clutching his head. “Thank you, Enzo, for dragging us into a hot war just so you can ride some dude’s ass.”

“You’re welcome,” I said with fake calm. “And for the record, I’m a botto—”

“Is there a way to salvage this?” Luca asked Tiernan directly. “Or is my next step coming up with a game plan on how to wipe the Russians off the map?”

“The latter,” Tiernan said taciturnly. “Lyosha’s pissed. It will be smarter for you to strike and show them that you mean business.”