My cell vibrated on my nightstand, and I lunged for it when I recognized the number. Bringing the phone to my ear, I quietly moved out of the bedroom and down the corridor to one of the empty guest bedrooms, where I locked myself in. “Fabi?”

“Aria,” Fabi said in a raspy voice. He sounded as if he was having trouble breathing and my heart clenched with fear.

“What’s wrong?”

Pause. “Nothing,” he got out. “Wanted to hear your voice.”

“Are you okay? You don’t sound good.”

“Father was mad today. He’s always mad since you all left,” Fabi said simply, and I could imagine what that meant.

I swallowed. “I can talk to Luca again and ask him to take you in.”

“No!” Fabi gasped. “That’s betrayal. I’m part of the Outfit. I shouldn’t be talking to you. We are enemies.”

I sucked in a breath. “We’re not.”

“I need to go.”

“Fabi?” There was silence on the other end. I stared down at the screen. Fabi had ended the call. I started trembling, opened the door and made my way back to our bedroom in a trance.

Luca was still in the bathroom when I stretched out on the bed. What could I do? Talking to Luca wouldn’t change anything. Luca had enough to deal with, especially with the upcoming meeting of the Famiglia. But could I keep this from him?

When Luca stepped out of the bathroom, looking exhausted and tense, I made my decision. I’d handle this on my own.

Luca gave me a lingering kiss before he left in the morning. The moment he was gone, I sat up and grabbed my laptop, checking flights to Chicago. I considered my options. I couldn’t be gone for long before someone noticed my disappearance. I would have to take the earliest available flight and return on a late plane the same day. Biting my lip, I hesitated. I couldn’t use Luca’s and my bank account. If he checked it, he would notice something was wrong.

My fingers shook as I made my decision. I had been the Famiglia’s accountant for close to a year now, and I handled several of the bank accounts. Betrayal.

I only borrowed the money and would put it back as soon as possible. I quickly booked my flights with the account we used for the Sphere, then logged out. In two days I’d leave for Chicago and hopefully return with Fabi.

Now I only needed to figure out a way to get out of the premises of our mansion without anyone noticing. I went over to my walk-in closet and rummaged in the upper drawers until I found my brown wig. I’d need that to stay undetected in Chicago.

My pulse raced in my veins at what I was about to do. I’d found a way to bring Lily and Gianna to New York with me. Now I needed to save Fabi from our father before he managed to break my little brother.

I went downstairs and found Gianna and Lily sitting at the dining table. I didn’t see Sandro anywhere, nor the new guards Luca had put in place on the premises in the last few weeks. Romero was thankfully in New York with Luca and Matteo, since this was his first official meeting as Captain.

I sat down, and Gianna and I said at the same time, “I’m sorry for what I said.”

We looked at each other for a moment, then laughed. Lily let out a sigh of relief. Slowly, the smile slipped from my face.

Gianna grimaced. “Oh no. I don’t like that look on your face.”

“What’s wrong?” Lily asked, putting down her cup of coffee.

I reached for an almond biscotto and poured myself some coffee, trying to gather my thoughts. As I was about to take a bite of the pastry, my stomach churned and I set it back down on my plate. I was too nervous to eat. I had a feeling I’d throw up if I tried to force down anything.

“Aria, spill it,” Gianna muttered. “You are up to something.”

“Fabi called me yesterday,” I whispered.

Lily jerked in her chair, eyes widening.

“He did?” Gianna asked in disbelief.

“Father is giving him a hard time. I think he’s beating Fabi worse than before.”

“That bastard. I thought being married to his child-bride would improve his mood.”

“It didn’t. It’s our fault that Fabi is left alone with our father. I have to try and bring him to New York with me.”

Gianna shook her head. “Don’t tell me you want to go to Chicago.”

“Aria,” Lily said imploringly. “It’s too dangerous. You are the Capo’s wife.”

“I know,” I said firmly. “But I also know that I will never forgive myself if I don’t check on Fabi and try to help him. He doesn’t deserve being left alone. I will fly to Chicago, and nothing you say will stop me.”

I paused. “Will you help me?”

Lily and Gianna exchanged a look.

“I helped you escape, Gianna, and I kept a secret for you, Lily. I think it’s not too much to ask for your help.”

“It’s not that we don’t want to help you, but we are worried,” Lily said quietly. “And we should go to Chicago together. I don’t think you should go alone. Fabi isn’t only your responsibility. He is our brother, too.”

“You know we can’t all disappear,” I said. “That will draw too much attention. It will be difficult enough to hide my disappearance and you know that.”

Gianna narrowed her eyes. “You already have a plan, don’t you?”

I nodded, and told them what I had in mind.

When I was done, Gianna shook her head. “That is either genius or insane, I can’t decide.”

“It’ll work, that’s all that matters.”

Lily worried her lower lip. “If you get caught, Luca will be furious.”

“And even if your plan works, how are you going to explain Fabi’s sudden appearance in New York?” Gianna asked.

“I will tell him Fabi ran away from Chicago and came here. Luca will take him in.”

Gianna got up and sank down in the chair beside me, taking my hands. “Aria. This isn’t a small thing you’re trying to do. The Famiglia is at war with the Outfit. Luca will lose his shit if he finds out you went to Chicago behind his back.”

“It’s not our war! Why are we supposed to stay away from our own brother only because Made Men decide they hate each other?”

Gianna snorted. “You realize that those are my words?”

“Gianna is right, though. Luca will be furious.”

“He won’t find out.” He could never find out. He’d be worried sick if he found out I went to enemy territory.

chapter 15

ARIA

Luca was bound to the Famiglia in a way that I would never be. I was loyal to Luca, but he had to understand that loyalty wasn’t the same as unquestioning obedience. Luca, Romero and Matteo were still busy in New York, and in the afternoon the meeting of the Famiglia would go down. That would keep everyone busy.

I had four guards to avoid. Three of them were in different spots in the garden, only one of them in the mansion with us. I got up at three in the morning, got dressed, packed my bag and slipped out of my room. Gianna and Lily were waiting for me in the dark corridor. “Ready?” I whispered.

Gianna made a noncommittal noise.