Heartless Ending Book 3 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 21 - Giana

Romeo's POV

Myself and Jake were the first to arrive back at the safe house. I called Timo's phone but no one answered so I moved onto Leo's.

"Yea." Leo panted into the phone as Sarah's cries of pleasure was heard through the receiver, I hung up on them. Clearly they had achieved their goal, in more ways than one. "Timo's not answering." Jake called over to me, he had tried Timo again while I tried Leo. I wish we has swapped calls. "I'll try him again as I get his location." I jogged up the stairs going to the tech room. As I entered the room the 2 man team were on the floor knocked out. "What the fuck?"

"So glad you could join us Giovanni. Take a seat." Giana kicked a desk chair towards me and I sat down. "What do you want?" I calmly asked her. She looked towards the screen and pressed a button on the desk. Carmela and Luca sleeping came into view and my nose twitched.

"So precious." She smiled at the screen. I slowly reached for my gun. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Look closer. My men are in that room just waiting for my signal." I held up my hands in show of surrender and showing her that I had nothing in my hands. "Now. Lenny is dead for stealing from my family. Marco is dead for being a dick to me, and I see you took out the other two of his associates. The only question is why? And no lies your families lives are at stake."

"Stefano is out to kill my family and I won't allow that." I gave her the abridged version of events and she shrugged at my explanation. "It seems by killing Marco for me tonight you have put yourself and your family on the chopping block." Her eyes met mine and anger flashed through them. "It seems so." She put her gun down on the desk. "I want to be queen of the mafia." I smirked at her. "I'm already married." "Your wife is currently locked up in the basement and sedated. Hardly the signs of a happy marriage." Giana wiggled her finger as if telling off a naughty child.

"I didn't mean that cunt in the basement. I mean her." I pointed at the screen, but didn't look away from Giana's face. Giana looked back at the screen following my directions. Her eyes widened and thrill was clear in them as she looked back at me. "That would mean The Queen of Hearts is still alive. I admired her work for years." Giana was a little crazy but she was someone I needed on my team if I were to go up against Stefano. "Help me kill Stefano and I'll give you 30%." I started negotiations. I could see her contemplating this. "40% and I get you." She countered. "45% and a seat at the table. Not your brother. You." Her smile widened. "Deal." She excitedly bounced in her chair. "Now you're working for me, you think you could call off your men?" She nodded quickly finding her phone. "Leave." She called into the phone and I watched the men leave the room and Carmela's apartment. Relief flooded over me. "I'll be in touch." Giana said as she kissed me and left the room.

I searched the house to find Timo, Ricky and now Jake all tied up next to Melanie in the basement. "That's Giana then? She's fucking crazy." I nodded as I untied Timo who helped me cut Ricky and Jake free. "We will all have to get used to her. She is now on our team." I informed the guys who all looked shocked.

After what happened all I wanted to do is go to my family. I walked into her room and kicked off my shoes sliding in bed behind Luca's small sleeping form. "Hey." Carmela's sleepy voice called to me as I moved him closer to her so I would have room. "Hey." Her eyes had already closed again so I stayed with them in bed, I watched my family sleep for a while before falling asleep myself.

Carmela's POV

It was several hours after I had fallen asleep that I felt something in the room with us, I was on high alert, my emotions enhanced knowing it wasn't just my life I was having to protect. I slowly reached for my gun that was hidden between the mattress and headboard of the bed, while maintaining to those I the rom that I was still asleep. I peeked through my eyelashes and down to Luca, he was still soundlessly asleep but I knew once the fight began it wouldn't be that way.

I barely heard the word 'Leave' spoken and it took me a moment to understand what was happening when 3 sets of footsteps receded away from us and out of the apartment. I stayed still and just listened, not sure if the threat was truly gone but I knew no one was now in the room with us, or the apartment for that matter, but that didn't mean they didn't leave something behind. After about 10 minutes of nothing I slowly got off the bed taking the gun with me and adding a dagger as I went looking around for anything that was out of place. My search didn't turn anything up, I went to the bathroom and then joined Luca back in bed. I watched him sleep peacefully for a while, just thinking that I finally have my son and I couldn't wait to have a life together and for the two of us to make memories.

I pretended to sleep when I heard movement in the apartment again and saw that it was Romeo taking off his shoes. It didn't occur to me to tell Romeo to leave when he first got in bed with us, I was just so happy with my son in my life. "Hey." I softly spoke to him as he moved Luca towards me so he would have room. "Hey." He said back with a happy tone, he was probably just relieved I didn't kick him out. There were nothing else to say after that so I closed my eyes again and pretended to sleep.

I could feel him watching me for a while, it killed me to not know what happened tonight but I would wait and ask Timo. At least he didn't set my emotions on edge when he was around me. I was becoming restless and when I opened my eyes I could see that Romeo and Luca were both asleep. I took a minute to think about what I wanted as I looked into his relaxed sleeping face, all the hard lines and frowns that were always a main feature on his face were gone and I saw the teenage boy that were my best friend in him.

Too much had happened for us to be them young teens that were innocent really, but I think I'd be able to be... maybe friends again. Even if my body craved more, I needed to be on my own until I fully worked out what I want. I slipped out of bed again and went in search of coffee. Silence wasn't something that was easily come by though, I could hear a women having a jolly good time which didn't help me not think about my time with Romeo the other night. I needed air, so left the apartment and went up to the roof.

The air although cool was okay, I watched the sun start to chase away the darkness of the nights sky as I drank my coffee. I could hear traffic down on the street, it was a low hum of engines but it was peaceful. A blanket being swathed around my shoulders broke my silent thoughts. "Sorry, thought you might be cold." I smiled and pulled the blanket tighter around myself. "Thank you. You gunna tell me about tonight?" I asked into the night air knowing he would tell me. "We did a spontaneous attack on Stefano's 3 top men that were here to 'watch' me." I snorted with amusement. "I'm guessing the people that were in my room earlier disappeared without a fight was because of you?" He half smiled into the night air. "Didn't think you knew they were there. But yes I made a deal with Giana Delatorre. 45% and a seat at the table if she helps kill Stefano." I took another mouthful of coffee, I'd heard the name many times. "She's crazier than me. Your gunna have your hands full with her." I laughed and went to go back inside. "Rose?" I turned back to face Romeo, wondering what else there were to say as he took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. "Thank you. For listening to me I know I don't deserve it but I want you to know I appreciate you trying." I removed my hand from his. "I'm not doing it for you. Luca needs both his parents and anyone he can get to protect him as we go through the aftermath of tonight. Don't confuse my understanding of the situation for anything other than convenience for now. When this is all over I will take my son with me when I go." I know I was being a bitch but I had to control and shut down any feelings that might get in the way and confuse me more. I still needed to work out what I wanted.