Dominic shoved him back and chuckled. “Check inside the house before you plant guards outside it, dumbass.”
“Mommy?”
Effie’s voice had all of us turning toward the stairs. The fighting had woken her up. She stood there, clutching her teddy bear and watching us.
“Honey!” Isabella ran up to her and took her in her arms. “Uncle Luke is going to be okay, baby!”
“He is?”
“He is.”
“I’m so glad. Can we go see him?”
“He’s still sleeping, but soon. I’ll take you to him, and you can give him all those cookies you made.”
“They’re delicious, Effie,” Dominic yelled up.
Salvatore’s stood there, hands fisted, at Dominic’s side.
“Thanks, Dominic.”
Effie’s relaxed familiarity with Dominic surprised me and, when I glanced at Salvatore, I saw that it surprised him as well.
“It’s late,” Isabella said over her shoulder. “Go home.” She turned and walked up the stairs with Effie.
“Why was everyone yelling?” I heard Effie asking her mom as their voices disappeared down the hall. I didn’t hear my sister’s answer.
“Well, she always was good at dismissing anyone she had no use for,” Dominic bit out.
“Fuck you. Dad’s looking for you. Go home.”
“You go home. And take your pretty little plaything with you before I decide to have a taste myself. Her sister was pretty good.”
Salvatore reared up to punch him, but I grabbed his arm. “He’s not worth it, Salvatore.”
“Get out.” Salvatore didn’t look at me, but stood nose to nose with his brother.
“I wasn’t planning on staying.”
It was a moment before he walked out the front door.
Salvatore turned to me and took me into his arms.
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine. He didn’t do anything to me.”
“He was right. I should have checked the house.”
Salvatore stepped back and looked me over as if he wanted to see with his own eyes that Dominic hadn’t hurt me.
“Stop. Nothing happened. And everything is out in the open now.”
His eyes searched mine, and I touched his face with my hand.
“Take me home, Salvatore.”
21
Salvatore
Lucia sat silently beside me.
“What is it?” I asked after a few minutes.
“Effie is Dominic’s daughter. Isabella confirmed it.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“They fell in love, Salvatore. They were young and just fell in love. You were right in what you thought. That’s why Papa sent her away, disowning her. He gave her an ultimatum: abort or leave. She left.”
I remained silent, understanding a little more of Isabella. I’d pegged her to be a hateful, power-hungry bitch. She might well be, but she was also stronger than I gave her credit for.
“Dominic was supposed to tell your father, but he never did.”
I glanced at Lucia. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“He let her go all alone.” Lucia looked off into the distance. “He sent her money, though.” She rolled her eyes.
“Lucia.” I don’t know why I felt the need to defend Dominic. I wasn’t, really; I just needed to explain how things were at our house. How my father was. “My father is a very domineering man. When we were kids, Sergio was the only one brave enough to stand up to him.” She opened her mouth to speak, her expression unbelieving. “Wait. I’m not defending Dominic or what he did. I’m just telling you there is more to his story, another layer, like there is with your sister.”
I’m not sure if she accepted that or not.
“Luke and Isabella, they’re in love,” she said, changing the subject.
“I heard he’s out of surgery, and that he’s going to make it.”
“I’m so relieved.”
“There are still too many questions, Lucia. This isn’t over.”
“Who shot Luke?”
I shook my head. “Unclear. Luke was working with the younger Pagani, Paul Jr. His father forbade any interaction once he found out what his son was up to.”
“I think Dominic is more involved than you know, Salvatore.”
“What do you mean?”
“He and Isabella, I think they have been working together. She said they had an agreement.”
Fuck.
“I think she’s wondering if Dominic ordered Luke’s shooting.”
“So my little brother is working with Isabella DeMarco and Paul Pagani to bring down his own family?”
Our gazes locked, but neither of us said more.
As we pulled up to the tall gates of the house, I fished my phone out of my pocket and dialed Roman.