I stumbled toward Amo and Nevio. They stared at each other, still holding onto their respective knife. They were too experienced fighters not to know what would happen if they pulled their knives. “Don’t. Do not move,” I said thickly. I locked eyes with Nevio and his lips twisted into a grin.
“Nevio,” I warned. “You’ll both die.”
“If it means he won’t ever get to touch you again, I’ll gladly bleed to death.” I should have never asked Nevio if he’d ever leave our family, never mentioned falling in love. My brother was too intelligent to not make the connections and act upon them.
Amo brought his face close to Nevio’s with a harsh smile. “I guess it must be hard for a crazy fucker like yourself to know that your sister loves me, that I kissed her.”
I wanted to cry. How could love be this destructive? I grabbed Nevio’s hand before he could pull the knife out. “Nevio, don’t,” I begged.
Amo smiled darkly.
Nino appeared by our side, something in his hand and he rammed a syringe into Nevio’s neck. Nevio’s eyes widened a fraction, his body becoming tense and he passed out, letting go of the knife. Fabiano helped Nino to hold Nevio up.
“If you pull that knife, I’ll slit your throat,” Nino said to Amo.
“I won’t, don’t worry,” Amo said and looked at me as he released the knife slowly and lowered himself to the floor. One of his hands cradled the knife buried in his side, his mouth twisting with pain. Then a sardonic smile stretched his lips. “This doesn’t hurt as badly as you not choosing me.”
I had not not chosen him. I’d chosen peace. I’d chosen my family. I’d chosen saving many lives. I’d chosen Amo becoming Capo…
I sank down between him and Nevio, both of them bleeding profoundly. Nino was taking care of Nevio and Fabiano finally came over to Amo.
I was in trance, unable to catch a clear thought.
Soon Alessio, Massimo, Dad and Savio filtered into the room followed by two doctors and several nurses. Dad’s gaze swiped over the scene then he stalked toward me and pulled me to my feet. “Greta?”
“I’m not injured,” I said tonelessly.
Dad handed me over to Savio who touched my shoulder and I met his gaze. His was brimming with questions, but I couldn’t answer them. Dad knelt beside Nevio, while one of the doctors began to treat Amo.
Within an hour, we were in the Camorra hospital and both Amo and Nevio were in surgery to save their lives.
I sat on a chair between the two rooms, feeling like I was torn apart. Blood covered my hands and my dress. I wasn’t sure whose it was. Nevio’s? Amo’s?
I could feel everyone’s gazes on me. Nobody had asked any questions yet.
I had a feeling Dad was almost scared to ask what had happened. Maybe he worried what I’d say about my feelings for Amo. Nino and Fabiano had certainly filled him in on the details. Dad had reacted with a rageful outburst.
“Luca and Romero are on their way,” Nino said in a low voice.
“With a declaration of war,” Dad said with a dark laugh.
“We have his son, it would be stupid to threaten us now,” Alessio said.
“It might be prudent to kill Amo while he’s in surgery and get us an advantage in this war,” Massimo said.
I looked up. Nino shook his head. “War would be unwise at this point.”
“Killing his son will be an advantage.”
“You don’t know Luca like Remo and I do, Massimo. Killing his son won’t slow Luca down. He’s easier to handle as long as the people he cares about are alive. Luca is the most dangerous when he doesn’t have anything to lose, and we don’t want that.”
Mom came in and glanced worriedly at me. I gave her a very weak smile so she rushed to Dad. “How is he?”
“He’ll pull through. No major arteries were involved,” Dad said, hugging Mom as she sagged against him.
“Savio said Nevio attacked Amo to protect Greta.”
“I didn’t need protection from Amo,” I said firmly.
Dad’s expression darkened in a way that resembled the look in Nevio’s eyes when he’d attacked Amo. “Nevio obviously disagreed.”
“Nevio didn’t attack because he thought I was in danger.”
“Maybe it’s a danger you can’t see,” Massimo said with a hint of condescension.
I rose to my feet. Dad approached me slowly. “What exactly has been going on between Vitiello and you?”
“Nothing,” I said. I hated lying, and I was bad at it, so Dad’s eyes narrowed. He touched my cheek. “Mia cara, you know you can tell us anything. There’s nothing we can’t protect you from. Even if Amo makes you believe, he might have something over you, believe me there’s nothing he can do.”