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"I don't understand," I say.

He squeezes my hand reassuringly. "It appears Adrian has been working with the Russians for far longer than we suspected. Since before I became Don, since before the war. Police had surveillance on the Russians during the conflict. One device was monitoring Viktor. They recorded him instructing Adrian to target the Italian. He was the one who fired the shot. But they couldn't prosecute; the Russians exploited their connections to destroy the evidence."

"The stray bullet that killed my mom... it came fromhim?"

"The bastard has been against us for years. Perhaps he wanted more money, or Viktor promised him leadership within the Bratva. I believe my uncle's presence must have kept him in check. After my uncle's death, Adrian felt emboldened to expand his operations."

"That's why we feigned promoting him to consigliere," Gianna explains. "We wanted to test his loyalty—and discovered it severely lacking."

I inhale slowly. "What do we do? What's our strategy?"

“Ourstrategy," Nico echoes.

I glare at him. "These people killed my mother. Viktor is responsible because, without him, no shots would have been fired that day. And Adrian pulled the trigger."

"I'll handle Adrian, don't worry about that."

"I want him to face justice."

Nico hesitates. "What?"

"I want him to face justice," I reiterate firmly. "He doesn't deserve to get off easy. He deserves to rot in a prison cell for what he did. He needs to understandIsent him there. Not because he betrayed the mob... but because he murdered my beautiful, kind, witty, innocent mother."

Nico exchanges a meaningful glance with Gianna.

"It's the better tactical decision, too," I continue. "It means you won’t have blood on your hands. And you'll avoid a murder charge altogether. I'm not just doing this solely for Mom's sake, Nico. I'm protecting you, too."

"You can't dismiss the logic here," Gianna interjects. "If the Family witnesses us executing one of our own—even one who deserves it—it could create ripples with devastating consequences. But if Adrian faces arrest for a murder charge, we simultaneously avert a war and eliminate Adrian in one decisive move."

"I'll meet him somewhere public." I squeeze Nico's hand reassuringly. "Before meeting you, I survived alone for nearly five years. I navigated from one dilapidated neighborhood to another. I have more resilience than you think."

"I know you're tough, but if I lost you, I wouldn’t be able to take it."

"You won't lose me," I assure him. "I can handle this."

"Would our police contacts be capable of arranging such an operation?" Gianna contemplates aloud.

"Absolutely," Nico confirms. "They'd even let us monitor the meeting alongside them. But it's risky, Vignette. Adrian is unstable. Even in public, he might attempt something reckless. And if that happens, I'll lose it. Even with cops present, I'll snap. I'll eviscerate him before witnesses."

"I can handle this." When Nico regards me skeptically, I retort, "I lost my cool last night. I acknowledge that. I was terrified and confused. But fear can turn into rage. This man killed my mother. Then he tried to deceive me into thinking the only man I've ever cared for was the actual killer."

"I believe her," Gianna declares.

"As do I," Nico concedes. "But that doesn't mean I like it."

“Let me do it. You've both welcomed me into your inner circle. That wasn't necessary. But now that I'm here, I have to emphasize that Mom isn't the only one who deserves justice. Your Family does too."

"Our Family," Nico corrects. "If you do this, there’s no going back. Even if you and I..."

Break up. The unspoken words hang in the air, like he can’t say them.

"You'll still be tied to us. Forever. I wouldn’t be able to take the risk of leaving you unguarded. What if someone—an ally of Adrian's—sought vengeance?"

"It’s a good thing I’m not planning on going anywhere, then, isn't it?"

He gazes at me with raw emotion, displaying a vulnerability I never expected from him. "If anything happens, I'll be there, piccola pittrice. I won't let anyone harm you. Not now. Not ever. I... I care for you."

Was he about to say love? I think back on my conversation with Gianna. People don't fall in love within a week.