Finding Her

C H A P T E R - N I N E

Ready for War

V A L E R I U S '   P O V :

"What are we going to do about this?" Papà is the first to ask. I can tell he's getting ready to rip a few heads off and I don't blame him. I am too.

"For now." I start, taking a deep breath. "We kill every single fucking Russian until one of them leads us to Ivan Moscow."

Is it a completely logical plan? No, not really. Will it bring me peace at night? Absolutely.

That bastard isn't going to get away with an easy death. He hurt my baby.

"Those bastards are asking for a war they can't
win." Fabio grits out.

My brothers are relaxed most of the time but nobody messes with family and gets away with it. We're all ready for bloodshed.

"You need a more thorough plan, Valerius. We can't just jump in blind." Enzo speaks his first real sentence to me today.

He acts like I'm the dumb one.

"I know that, Enzo. Don't question my ability to lead." I snap. He isn't phased. He's gotten used to me being angry with him.

"Did.. Did they hurt her?" Marcello's words show how concerned he really is. His question is naïve.

I feel my whole body tense knowing that everyone already knows my answer they just need confirmation. I don't have to say anything but look at Marcello and press my lips together for him to tear up.

"I don't know everything that happened but it's enough to know it was nothing good." I say bitterly, trying not to look into the pitiful eyes I know they're all holding for me. "Nothing a child should go through."

"Aren't you worried, Valerius? A little girl in the Mafia is no good. Think about your enemies." Mamma chides with concern. Stress rises in her voice.

Oh so the worry was for me and not the threat on my fucking daughter. She acts like I don't know how to protect myself. Like I'm the child.

"He can't just fucking throw her to the streets! The hell do you want him to do with her?" Fabio raises his voice and mamma hushes him.

"I'll always be worried and there will always be a threat on me no matter by who but the safest place for her is with me and she will stay with me. End of discussion." I end the conversation. Mamma shakes her head with her hand coming up to her forehead.

She's clearly not agreeing with me.

My mamma has always put her children first. She always made sure we were getting the proper education and we were always safe. Some say she's overprotective but it's just her way of showing she cares. She loves us.

"Bianca, I know you're worried but the way you're feeling about him potentially being in danger is how he feels about his own daughter." Papà explains. I just hope she could hear him out because he's right. "See his side of things."

I click my phone on and check the time— almost one in the morning.

Great.