Nevio said something to Dad and they all looked toward a tattooed man in his forties and a younger version of him. Growl and one of his sons, Maximus.
“How about you give us my half-brother and his son?” Dad asked with a cruel smile.
Amo looked toward his friend who had already taken a step forward.
“In exchange for my wife and daughter?” Matteo asked.
“In exchange for not letting them bleed out right here before your fucking eyes,” Nevio snarled. “We’ll keep them for now.”
“I should have slashed your throat,” Amo said.
“It’s not too late, Vitiello. Come here and give it a try.”
I turned my back on the scene and began running, catching Mom by surprise. I wasn’t sure if what I’d seen in Amo’s eyes would be enough to save us all, but I had to give it a try. And if nothing else, this would stop Nevio.
I stormed toward the edge of the harbor platform. The Hudson was black and unwelcoming below me. Before my anxiety could stop me, I closed my eyes and then I jumped, my arms pressed flat to the sides of my straightened body. My fall was short and the impact hard and cold. Terror gripped me.
The same terror that had overwhelmed me every time I’d been surrounded by water for as long as I could remember. That’s why I had never learned to swim.
“Greta!” Several screams rang out before all sound was cut off.
1 year later…
I woke in a cold sweat, my heart almost beating through my chest, my breathing ragged. It was dark in my room, but so had been the night in my dream. The night that haunted me often and woke me sweat-drenched every time.
I sat up and swung my legs out of bed. Only dressed in my boxers, I walked out into my living room and stared out over the New York skyline.
I only spent one or two nights over at Cressida’s and my townhouse per week, and never in the same bedroom. My sleep was already fitful, with her by my side it would be non-existent. We barely tolerated each other and she still hadn’t forgiven me for our wedding night. That wasn’t why the night haunted my dreams.
I pressed my forehead against the glass, remembering the day when years of peace between the Camorra and the Famiglia had ended.
Greta jumped off the edge.
Nevio shoved Gianna away, his face twisting with fear.
I stared at the spot where Greta had been moments before. I didn’t think. I began running. Nothing else mattered.
“Amo, don’t!” Dad roared.
I reached the edge and I stared down at the Hudson. My eyes frantically searched the inky surface for a sign of Greta. She was nowhere to be seen. The current in the Hudson could be strong. Nevio catapulted himself into the floods without thinking but I knew it was impossible to find someone in a large body of water without a hint of where they might be. Ignoring the commotion around me, my heart beat faster and faster, until I spotted a flash of white floating below the surface off to the right down the river. Nevio was nowhere near that spot. After I dropped my gun, I jumped before I lost sight of it again. The impact knocked the air out of me and it took several confusing heartbeats before I could tell what was up and down, and swam up to the surface. The current was dragging Greta away. I began swimming, using the force of the water to get where I needed to be.
For a long time, I was sure I’d never reach her but then my hand closed around hers.
It hadn’t rained in almost three weeks, so the water level was low and the river lazier than usual. It cost me all my strength to drag us to a stone platform. We had been dragged a good distance away from our families. A steep ladder attached to the pillar led up to the platform. I wrapped my arm around Greta’s middle and pulled myself up with one arm until my feet reached the first step. I was out of breath when I reached the top, Greta still dangling in my hold. Putting her down on the ground, I stared at Greta’s unmoving form beneath me, my chest heaving. Fuck. I’d barely any breath left for me but I pressed my mouth to hers, and began to resuscitate her. I’d tried to make my peace with the fact that I’d never see her again, but the idea that she wouldn’t still be safe somewhere, living her life, it was unacceptable.
When she sucked in her first breath, it felt as if I could breathe freely again too. Her eyes slammed open, locking on mine.
Fuck.
I cradled her face. “Have you lost your mind? Why did you jump? Why didn’t you try to stay at the surface?” More whys flooded my head but I kept them to myself.
“To be alone with you.” I didn’t crack a smile at her failed attempt at humor. She shivered, her breath catching. She swallowed. “I wanted to stop your family and mine from killing each other. I can’t swim.”