Angel's Mafia (gxg) ✓

XXXV | Rotting

ANGEL

THEY TAKE US AWAY IN HANDCUFFS.

Cade is next to me, and she doesn't look like what I pictured. When I disappeared in the middle of night, I went straight to Los Angeles―her hometown. And I went looking for her son of a bitch brother, Nathan.

Except he wasn't there. And when I asked a lady who I assumed was Cade's mother, she just looked at me, dazed, with bloodshot eyes and said Nathan was in Italy. Visiting.

Of course, she looked high out of her mind. It looked like a mix of more than five drugs, and I was wondering how she didn't keel over and die right then and there. I took her to the hospital, but I couldn't stay. Not once I realized that Nathan was likely back at Cade's dorm.

I had sent Dominic and Maria and Cade back to Italy. Back to our home. If anything happened to Cade, it would be my fault.

So as I got on a second plane, I hoped I wouldn't be too late. Dominic had informed me of their plans to start the heist at the museum at three o'clock, and it was past then. He hadn't said anything about Cade being missing, but I wasn't sure if he would. It was no secret he didn't like her.

But once I saw Cade, standing there, her short-cut blonde hair almost golden, her beautiful blue-gray eyes startling and wide . . . I wanted her. Wanted her to know that . . . that . . .

"This is your cell for the night," says the guard in Italian.

I nod brusquely and translate for Cade. She is placed in the holding cell next to me, and we are each alone. Dominic, Maria, and Vittoria are in a different block.

"Where did you go?" Cade asks as we are locked in.

It's not the question I expected.

To kill your brother, I almost say.

"Business," I reply vaguely.

Why isn't she panicking? Why isn't she afraid? We're in prison, and although this isn't my first time, I am surprised she isn't more worried.

I hesitate. "Cade, don't worry. I can get us out of here in an hour."

She nods faintly. There is something strange about this. Isn't she worried about university? About them not taking back a student who was arrested?

She's in shock, I decide.

I know that this won't get written down on her record―I won't let it―but she doesn't know that. Maybe it hasn't occurred to her yet.

Andre and Gru should be here soon, anyway. Once the polizia realize we're a part of the Mafia, they'll let us go. The law enforcement want no part of us, not really, not when they know our revenge is so much harsher than anything they're legally allowed to do to us.

"Cade?" I whisper through the wall.

I see her pale, slender hands curl around the bars.

"Thank you."

She says, "For what?"

"Shooting Dante."

"I missed."

"That doesn't matter. The fact that you shot, intending to kill him―for me, that's what counts."

In a soft whisper, she says, "I'm sorry you had to kill him."

"Me, too." Me too, Cade, me too.

WHEN ANDRE AND GRU ARRIVE, the police briskly let us out of the cells. I see Cade's face again and even tired, dazed and shocked, she is beautiful.

It's almost five o'clock, and by God, this has been the longest day of my life. And it's still not over yet.

By midnight, I must deliver Cadenza Conti to the Grim Reaper.

By midnight, I must deliver the only girl I have ever loved into the hands of a monster. Or my family will die.

Not my blood family, but my family be love and friendship and mutual bloodthirst. How can I let a second family be slaughtered? How can I give them up?

I can't. But I can't let Cade go either.

I have seven hours to figure out a plan, and it doesn't seem like there is much of a choice.

To save my family, I have to betray Cade.