She hadn’t brought her daughter. Of course not. This wasn’t our war but we were part of it. The waiter came over and took her order before he left again.

“Anna is so beautiful, Val. I will miss her terribly,” I told her. “When will your son be due?”

“In about three weeks if he decides to be on time,” she said with a smile. “What about you and Luca, do you want children?”

I looked away and without thinking about it, my hand went to my stomach. “I do. But Luca won’t bring children into a war.”

She nodded but there was a knowing look in her eyes. “That’s why Dante didn’t want a second child, but there is never a good time to bring children into our world. Our men are sometimes so wrapped up in drug wars and power plays that they forget what really matters.”

“Family,” I finished, and she nodded. We looked at each other. This was already more information than our husbands probably wanted us to share. Val was supposed to be my enemy.

As if she remembered that too, her expression tightened. “Why are you here, Aria?”

“I told you, because of Fabi. I’m worried about him. It’s Christmas and he’s alone.”

Val didn’t contradict me, because she knew my father.

“How is he doing?” I asked worriedly, remembering my last call with him, which still tore at my heart.

Val gave a small shrug. “He’s still in the induction process. He seems fine, physically, from what I can tell.”

Clothes could cover a lot of things—we both knew that.

“Do you think there’s any way I can see him?”

Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. “He’s part of the Outfit. I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

Her loyalties lay with Dante and yet she was here, but her friendship to me had limits. “But he’s also my brother, my blood, Val. I practically raised him until I had to leave for New York. I want to protect him like a mother would her child.” I wasn’t sure if that was true, since I didn’t have children yet, but I knew Val would understand. She touched her round belly, her dark brows pulled together.

“This war is so unnecessary,” she murmured.

“Our husbands would disagree. Or is there any way you could convince Dante to return to the truce?”

Val sighed. “Pride and honor. They will stop both Luca and Dante from forging another truce. We both know they never liked each other much.”

“I wish that weren’t true,” I said quietly. My eyes were drawn to the entrance because the door opened.

I froze when I registered the tall man who entered the restaurant. Blond hair, cold eyes, dressed in a gray three-piece suit.

Val followed my gaze and she paled. “I didn’t tell him anything, Aria. I would never—”

He stopped beside our booth. Dante Cavallaro.

“She didn’t,” he confirmed in a dangerous voice that sent a shiver down my spine. He leveled his cold blue eyes on Val. “But in a time like this, I won’t let you go anywhere without my knowledge.”

“You tracked me,” she said, staring down at her mobile lying flat on the table.

“That, yes, and Enzo recognized a familiar face this morning during your brunch with Bibiana but he wasn’t sure, and when he sent me a photo of Aria and I told him to grab her, she had already disappeared.”

Enzo had managed to take a photo of me? God, I was an idiot. Dante startled me when he slid into my booth, not Val’s. I was forced to scoot to the side to give him room to sit down. That way he was barring my escape route. My heart rate doubled.

Val’s eyes widened, and worry filled her face. Worry for me.

“Dante,” she said in a placating voice.

“Go outside. Two of my men are waiting for you. They will take you home.”

“Dante,” she tried again.

“Valentina,” he said sharply, and the look he sent her made me shiver. I rested my shaking hands in my lap.

She rose slowly, eyes apologetic as they settled on me.

“Thank you, Val, for coming here,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm but failing miserably.

She nodded, then turned and left.

Dante angled his body toward me. I met his gaze, trying to hide that he scared me but despite how good of an actress I had become, I knew he could see right through me. His own face gave nothing away. Could I hope for mercy? For compassion? But I knew the answer to that question. Dante ruled over the Outfit. He was like Luca in so many regards.

“I will call the waiter over now and pay for dinner. We will get up together, you will stay at my side, and we will go to my car and you will get in,” he said in an emotionless voice, his eyes holding a clear warning.

I swallowed, and nodded. Because it was all I could do. It wasn’t as if I really had a choice. I forced a smile when the waiter came over. Dante paid and got up. He picked up my coat that I had thrown over the backrest and held it out for me, his face a mask of politeness. His eyes told a different story.

I stood and let him help me into my coat. I trembled when his hands touched my shoulders and he leaned closer, his mouth next to my ear. “Don’t try to run or do anything stupid, Aria. I’d hate having to hurt you.”

I gave another jerky nod and he let go of my shoulders, then he grabbed my hand. I tensed even more but followed him outside and toward his Mercedes. He opened the passenger door for me, his gaze searching our surroundings as I slipped in. When he shut the door, I drew in a shaky breath. My heart was beating frantically in my chest. We were at war. War.

And I was the wife of the Capo, and had let myself get captured by the Outfit.

Don’t panic.

Chicago was my home once. Dante’s known me all my life.

Dante wasn’t known for hurting women, but what if he used me as leverage? A strong wave of nausea washed over me, and it took all of my willpower to force it down.

Dante got behind the steering wheel and pulled the car onto the street. “I assume you are alone.” He was focused on traffic but I knew he was aware of my every move.

“I am,” I said.

“You shouldn’t have come to Chicago,” he said as he checked the rearview mirror as if he expected someone to follow us. I feared he was right. Luca had been right. I acted without thinking when my siblings were concerned.

Eventually, Dante swerved the car to the side, startling me, and hit the brakes. We were in a deserted area near tracks. He didn’t say anything. I closed my eyes. This was a place where nobody would hear me scream, a place where bodies could be disposed of.

My fingers on my knees tightened as I remembered the knife, which I’d bought this afternoon, in my bag. A bag that was between my feet in the legroom. But for me to get to it I would have to lean down and unzip the purse. And for me to get out of this car alive after pulling a knife on Dante, I’d need a miracle.

I opened my eyes, glancing down at my bag. Luca and I had practiced self-defense over the years and against an inexperienced man I could have defended myself, but Dante was the Boss. He could kill without breaking a sweat.

And then Dante was leaning over me, tall and terrifying, and his arm brushed my thigh and I flinched away from him, my head colliding with the window. “No,” I gasped.

Dante’s blue eyes met mine, understanding reflecting on his face but he didn’t immediately pull away, still too close as if he was waiting for something. Then he straightened, holding my purse in his hand. He’d reached for it between my legs. I released a breath and quickly wiped a traitorous tear from my face, hoping my emotional reaction wasn’t because I was pregnant. What if I was risking this baby? God, what had I done?