Pietro rocked forward but I grasped his arm.

“Fuck. I’m going to skin the bastard. I’m going to fucking kill him for touching her,” Danilo growled.

“Don’t move,” I ordered. Remo probably waited for a show. That would give him additional satisfaction.

Serafina didn’t look our way. She stared at the ground, her shoulders hunched. She looked broken, and worse ashamed, when she had absolutely no reason to be. We were at fault, not her. When she finally raised her eyes and looked at Pietro, he sucked in a sharp breath. The anguish on his face and the look of hopelessness on hers, it broke through the cracks in my armor, but I battled my emotions.

Remo grinned. “Next time you consider fucking with us, look at your niece, Dante, and remember how you failed her.”

I had. I had failed them all. I’d done what I thought was best and I still couldn’t see what else I could have done after Remo had kidnapped Serafina. Before then, long before then I should have removed Rocco from his position.

Remo got intimately close to Serafina and even from afar I could see her shudder. I gritted my teeth, my grip on Pietro tightening so he didn’t storm forward. Danilo, too, was obviously fighting with himself.

When Remo finally moved back from Serafina, he nodded toward Rocco who lay behind us on the ground. “Hand over Scuderi.”

I turned and grabbed the rope wrapped around Rocco then dragged him toward Remo and Fabiano. The latter, I fixed with a hard look, wondering how he could have become the man he was today. He’d known Serafina when she was a little girl. They’d played together. He’d always been a good boy. I shoved Rocco toward them. He was responsible for what Fabiano had become, and for Serafina’s fate as well. I hoped they’d torture him the way they were famous for. “Release my niece, now.”

Remo held my eyes for a moment, challenge in them. He was Benedetto’s son through and through. The same eyes and insanity. His father had fallen deeply, and Remo, too, would fall and his kingdom would fall with him.

Remo pulled Serafina close once more and she cringed. I gritted my teeth so tightly, the sound vibrated in my head. Finally, Remo pushed Serafina away and she stumbled toward me, her eyes disoriented.

She was in shock. I quickly wrapped my arm around her and Pietro appeared on her other side, supporting her as well as we led her away. Danilo came toward us, reaching for Serafina and she cringed away from him.

Danilo stepped back, and I sent him a warning look because I could tell he wanted to storm toward Remo and pummel him to death. Our time would come. But now today, not with Serafina close by. Her safety was our top priority today.

Serafina trembled violently in our hold. I scanned her as we headed toward the car. She didn’t have any obvious injuries, except for the bite marks at her neck. Fury and guilt battled a relentless battle in my chest seeing the marks of my niece’s suffering. I’d have to ask for a female doc to check on possible rape injuries.

We got into the car. Pietro in the back with Serafina, and Danilo with me in the front. I hit the gas and pulled away, wanting to get out of Camorra territory as quickly as possible.

“You are safe now, Fina. Nothing will ever happen to you again. I’m sorry, dove. I’m so sorry,” Pietro rasped and then the sound of his rough crying could be heard.

My fingers around the steering wheel tightened. Danilo glanced out the window and closed his eyes. I kept throwing glances at my niece and Pietro through the rearview-mirror. Pietro was a strong Underboss, a man who’d been raised in a similar manner as I had been. I’d never seen him cry and I was sure I never would again after today. Getting Serafina back was meant to heal this family, but I had a feeling healing wouldn’t come easily, maybe not at all. Remo had left his mark, and not just on Serafina’s body.

I hadn’t heard from Dante in hours. My nerves were frayed. What if he didn’t return to me?

Remo Falcone couldn’t be trusted. He was one of the worst monsters in our world. Dante was sure Remo wanted to continue his devious game of breaking us, but maybe he changed his mind and just ended everything today with a bullet to Dante’s head. It was Remo’s chance to kill three high-ranking Outfit members at once, and it would throw the Outfit into utter darkness. He and Luca would attack and try to tear our territory apart. My eyes darted to Leonas who climbed the tree in the garden of the safehouse. Sofia and Anna sat on a blanket on the grass, talking. If the Outfit fell, what would happen to them? I’d protect them with everything I had, but where could I run to? Everyone knew my face and we were surrounded by enemies. If I had to choose between Camorra and Famiglia, I’d try to seek shelter with Luca. I didn’t like him, trusted him even less, but he was more than only monster if Aria could be trusted. My children, especially my daughter and Sofia would be safer in his territory. Leonas… I closed my eyes. I needed to stop considering the worst outcome.

Steps crunched beside me on the porch and my eyes flew open. Enzo held up a cup of coffee.

I gave a small smile. “Thank you.”

He set the cup down on the small table beside me then sank down on another chair on the porch. He’d been separated from his family for long periods of time as he guarded my family in Minneapolis but he never complained. “Have you heard from Dante?” I asked, even if I knew he hadn’t.

He shook his head. “They’ll be fine.”

I nodded. Anna began braiding Sofia’s long hair and sang “Somewhere Qver the Rainbow.” My heart thudded hard in my chest. Today wouldn’t mark the end of this conflict. It was only the starting point. Dante would seek revenge no matter what I said. The Outfit yearned for blood. This war would pick up. It would kill many, scar even more, emotionally and physically.

Yesterday, Anna had turned eleven, an age where the future gleamed hopefully before you, but all I could think about was how to protect my girl from the horrors of this world. Who could say if Remo wouldn’t try his luck again and this time kidnap my girl?

A small sound escaped my lips.

Enzo glanced my way, his dark brows drawing together. He’d turned fifty this year and his age showed in his face, weathered from the sun. Gray sprinkled his hair and brows. Taft was even older. They were good bodyguards. Dutiful and vigilant. I trusted them but we needed fresh blood and more protection.

“I want a bodyguard for each of my children,” I said. Once Leonas was older Dante would insist he could protect himself but for now he, like Anna, needed a bodyguard who protected only him. Taft had brought Leonas to school and protected him there while Enzo had guarded our home with a few men who were responsible for the general perimeter.

“You mean a bodyguard who’s assigned specifically to one of them and only pays attention to its ward.”

“Yes.” Anna sang another song, a sadder melody I didn’t recognize. “Especially for Anna. After Serafina’s kidnapping, I want her safe. She’s growing so fast, and we can’t lock her in forever. She needs someone who’s going to be at her side at all times.”

Enzo nodded. “A few of my men would be good options.”

I knew the men who guarded our house and they were good, but I wanted more for Anna. I wanted someone who was more ruthless. Someone who wouldn’t hesitate to pick the most brutal option if it meant protecting my daughter.