Pietro stalked toward me the moment I was in the lobby. “He’s alive?”

“Yes, and not seriously injured. They beat him up. He suffered a broken wrist and a few broken ribs but apart from that he’s okay.”

Ines and Sofia hovered in the doorway to the living room. Relief settled on my sister’s face and she leaned against the doorframe as if her legs couldn’t carry her much longer. “What about Fina?”

I shook my head. “We don’t know anything. I didn’t talk to Samuel yet. He’s flying over with a private jet now. He should be here soon.”

Sofia hugged Ines tightly, crying softly.

Pietro released a deep breath.

“I’m surprised Remo let him live,” Danilo said with a deep frown. “I think we can all agree that it’s not an act of mercy. That bastard doesn’t do mercy.”

I had to agree. Samuel should have shared the same fate as the other Outfit soldiers. That he hadn’t could only mean Remo had something worse in mind. Something that would hit us just as hard or harder in the end.

I didn’t voice my thoughts because I feared it meant Serafina would suffer.

Danilo’s eyes conveyed he thought the same thing. He came closer to me, his voice low and insistent. “Remo’s going to be furious the Outfit breached his territory. He’s going to make us pay through Serafina. We must do something.”

“Another attack won’t save her. He’s now alerted, even more than he was before. If we try to free her, we sign her death sentence.”

“Maybe Samuel did already,” Danilo growled.

Pietro’s face was ashen as he listened. At least, Ines and Sofia were too far away to hear what Danilo had said.

“Let’s go into my office,” Pietro suggested.

Ines stepped in my way and touched my chest, her eyes swimming with worry. “What will you do with my son?”

It took me a moment to follow her train of thought then it hit me. Samuel had acted against my explicit order, had led several of my men into death. That was betrayal. Rocco was locked in our cell for that very reason, because he was worth more alive than dead, now more than ever. But Samuel didn’t have any worth for me. At least not a strategic worth.

For the kind of betrayal he had committed there was only one punishment: death.

Danilo slanted me a curious look. As one of my Underbosses, he had to put trust in me that I didn’t favor certain Made Men because of their status. I risked the distrust of all my men if I favored family.

Yet, Danilo was practically family too. Could I trust in him to keep the details of Samuel’s behavior to himself? Or had he perhaps already told others?

Ines’ hands trembled against my chest and her eyes begged me to be merciful. I’d killed for her, a man who was meant to become my Consigliere. I’d do it again. I’d never regretted my decision because Ines’ happiness had been on the line, her life even.

And today I was faced with a similar choice. Only now I had to decide not to kill a soldier deserving of death for his betrayal.

“Dante—” Pietro began but I raised my palm to stop him. I respected him but this wasn’t between him and me.

I lowered my head and said quietly. “For you, Ines. Only for you.” I covered her hands briefly and she released a shuddering breath. She nodded and I stepped back.

Pietro touched her back briefly as we moved to the office.

Danilo’s face was perfectly neutral. He was difficult to read.

“I’ll talk to Samuel. I’ll make sure he never acts out of line again,” Pietro said as we settled on the plush armchairs in his office.

I tilted my head. “I appreciate it. But he’ll have to answer my questions first. I’ll make my point very clear to him.”

Pietro searched my eyes, then nodded.

He knew I had to make sure Samuel obeyed my commands in the future. I didn’t want to be faced with another choice like today again. I cared deeply for Samuel, and I wasn’t sure if I could go through with killing him. And giving a kill order to Arturo or Santino was out of the question. If anyone did it, it had to be me. I hoped it would never come to it.

We discussed possible reasons for Samuel’s release but in the end, they remained speculations, until Samuel shed some light on the situation.

A while later, I got a call that Samuel was almost at the mansion.

Pietro hurried out to tell Ines but I stayed put to talk to Danilo. “You kept your thoughts regarding my decision about Samuel’s punishment carefully hidden.”

Danilo pushed his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “You are Capo. Your word is law.”

“It is, and yet I’d like to know your thoughts on the matter. You are Underboss and practically family.” I put an emphasis on the last word.

Danilo lowered his face. “Sometimes I’m not sure if it’ll still come to a bond between our families. Do you really believe we get Serafina back alive?” He glanced up, eyes tortured and angry.

“Yes. I think Remo’s plan is to send her back. If he wanted to torture and kill her, he could have done so right away. This is a mind game, and I think ultimately it’ll end in him sending her back to us in exchange for something.”

I realized he’d avoided answering my question once more. I stepped closer to him and squeezed his shoulder. “You are going to be family. This incident is a family matter and I expect it not to make the rounds.”

Understanding flickered in Danilo’s dark eyes. “Don’t worry. I can keep a secret if required.”

Rocco had said something similar to me many years ago. I hoped things with Danilo wouldn’t end in a similar manner.

I allowed Pietro, Sofia and Ines to have a few minutes for their family reunion after Samuel arrived. Bruises bloomed on his face and his eyes were bloodshot. His right arm was in a cast and his movements suggested his ribs made movement painful.

Danilo excused himself. He’d return for another meeting tomorrow morning. Then we’d know the details of Samuel’s release.

I glanced at my watch. Val and the kids would come over for dinner but I wanted to get my conversation with Samuel over by then.

Samuel caught my gaze and resignation filled his blue eyes. Ines’ eyes. My eyes.

I doubted I could kill him—ever.

Pietro clapped his shoulder lightly then Samuel headed for the office and I followed, knowing everyone was watching, waiting…

I was furious at him. Furious about his rash actions, but seeing him and the broken expression in his eyes, I realized that Samuel was already experiencing his own personal torture.

I closed the door of the office so we’d have privacy.

Samuel sank down in one of the armchairs and buried his face in his palms, letting out a shuddering breath.

I walked closer and regarded him for a moment. My nephew looked up.

“You went to Las Vegas behind my back.”

Samuel’s mouth twisted. “For nothing. Everything was for nothing.” He shook, closed his eyes. “I know I betrayed the Outfit, betrayed you by going behind your back. You should punish me for it.”

Yes, I should. I remembered when he’d taken his first steps. Carla and I had paid a visit to Ines at the time. Samuel was the first of the twins to discover the mansion on his legs but Serafina soon followed, always determined to be close to him.