He held out the packet and closed the door.

“Where am I supposed to take the test?”

“I can’t take you anywhere public. I’d loathe encountering someone who recognizes you.”

Because it would force his hand.

He pulled away from the curb and drove us back to an abandoned parking lot near the water.

“Here?” I asked.

“Here. I can’t take your modesty into consideration.” He left the car and I followed. I looked around, shivering.

“Hide behind the trunk; I will wait here. If you do anything to raise my suspicions, I will watch you, understood?” Dante narrowed his eyes at me and I gave a terse nod, then I walked around to the back and unzipped my jeans. Dante turned his back to me and I pulled down my jeans and panties before I crouched down and awkwardly held the test stick between my legs. It took a while before I could relax enough to let go, but Dante didn’t say anything.

I straightened and set the test down on the trunk then got dressed. “Done,” I said.

Dante turned, reached into his car, then walked toward me, and held out wipes.

“You are prepared,” I said with a bitter laugh.

“Usually it’s blood I’m cleaning off with them.”

I searched his face. Was he trying to intimidate me or only being honest? I couldn’t tell, didn’t know him well enough for that.

We waited the remaining time in silence until Dante nodded. I reached for the test with trembling fingers and opened the cap.

I stared down at the test and began crying.

Pregnant.

Dante watched me silently. I showed the test to him, but he knew. More silence followed.

“Luca doesn’t know,” Dante said.

I nodded in confirmation. I gripped the edge of the car. I was pregnant with Luca’s child. A baby. I stared down at myself, and terror unlike anything I’d ever known took hold of me. I had come to Chicago, to enemy territory, with Luca’s baby in me. I was so stupid, so very stupid.

“Aria.” Dante’s voice was softer than it had been all evening and I looked back up at him, and for several moments neither of us moved. I wasn’t sure what to do.

“I know you must think of the Outfit,” I whispered, but he silenced me with his raised palm.

“I will let you go. Luca is my enemy. I don’t think that will change anytime soon, but you are an innocent woman, and you carry his child. I hope he’d do the same if Valentina ever fell into his hands, which she won’t.” Fierceness flashed in his eyes. Protective like Luca. Valentina was Dante’s weakness like I was Luca’s.

I wasn’t sure what Luca would have done if he were in Dante’s position. I wanted to believe that he would have made the same choice.

“But Aria make no mistake: if I ever run across Luca, I will kill him, and it won’t be quick.”

I shuddered because I believed him.

“You won’t tell Luca about this,” he said, an order.

“I won’t, believe me.” If Luca found out about this, he’d lose his mind.

He gave a terse nod.

I took a small step toward him. “Thank you, Dante. Thank you so much.”

Another sharp nod. “Do you have a plane ticket?”

“Yeah, my plane leaves in three hours.”

“I’ll take you to the airport.”

We got back into the car and again my hand found my stomach, still not able to believe that there was a small human growing inside of me. The result of Luca’s and my love.

Dante was tense beside me as he drove me toward the airport. He stopped in front of the departure terminal then turned to me, and a predatory expression took over his face. “Don’t ever return to Chicago, Aria. This once I’m doing this, but next time I will do what’s necessary to ensure the Outfit wins this war.”

“Can’t there be peace again? For your children and ours. For Fabi and all the others who will suffer in this war.”

Dante smiled coldly. “If Luca hands over Romero and Liliana, and if Luca apologizes, then perhaps there can be peace.”

Luca would do neither and we both knew it. Two men who hated each other, and more men eager to tear into each other pulled us all into darkness, children and women alike, and my child would be born into this dark world.

Born in Blood. Sworn in Blood. I enter alive and leave dead.

“Leave,” Dante said, and I did. I never looked back as I headed into the airport. I would never see Chicago again, never see Fabi again. I pressed my palm against my stomach, seeking consolation. I had to trust that Fabi was strong enough to survive in the Outfit. I could not risk anything again, not with a baby growing inside of me, not if I wanted to protect Luca and our family.

As I boarded the plane I wondered again if Luca would have done the same. Would he have let Val walk away?

LUCA

My control was hanging on a thread as I listened to my men. Matteo, too, looked like he had every intention of relieving our uncles of the burden of life.

Uncle Gottardo and Uncle Ermano seemed to be in a silent argument but I bet they were making plans to overthrow me behind closed doors. Ermano was a coward, and Gottardo was only marginally better, but eventually they would act. Perhaps Gottardo would send his remaining legitimate son to kill me.

“War was inevitable,” I growled. “You know that as well as I do. Don’t pretend you haven’t all been waiting for a chance to spill Outfit blood again.” My Underbosses nodded and so did most of my Captains. Not Gottardo and Ermano though.

My eyes went up to the high ceiling of the power station. I’d chosen it for every meeting of my Captains and Underbosses in the last three years to remind them of my bloody statement. I had a feeling their memory needed refreshing.

Gottardo rammed his fist down on the table, bringing my gaze back down to him, and shoved Ermano’s pacifying hand away. “Enough,” he muttered. “You risked too much bringing the youngest Scuderi girl here and making him Captain.” Gottardo nodded toward Romero with a condescending snort.

Romero tensed in his chair but Gottardo turned back to me.

“All because you let the blonde Scuderi whore lead you around by your dick.”

I shoved the massive table away and grabbed my uncle by the throat, lifting him from his chair and throwing it over. I thrust him against the wall and clamped both my hands down on his neck and squeezed as hard as I could. His head turned red, eyes bulging. He clawed at me, beat and scratched, but I didn’t loosen my grip. Nobody dared coming to his aid as he fought for his life.

I stared into his eyes as I had done many years ago when I’d killed his son. His bones gave in, pierced his carotid and esophagus. He choked, blood spurting out of his lips. He coughed, choked on his own fucking blood. Blood hit my face and shirt as he wheezed. I didn’t ease up until the light left his fucking eyes, then I unfastened my grip and let his corpse drop to the ground at my feet. It had become dead quiet around me. I faced my men. My hands, face and shirt were covered in blood, and from the look on Matteo’s face—shock and sick fascination—I knew I was a sight straight out of Hell.

“I am your Capo. I rule over the East Coast. I rule over you. If someone’s got a problem with me, then step up and tell me to my fucking face, and I’ll grant you a fucking quick death. But I swear by Heaven and Hell that crushing my uncle’s throat will look like a merciful end to the next fucker who dares to insult my wife. I won’t stand any kind of disrespect.”