Page 26 of Don’t Break My Heart (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #3)

“I can’t take much more of this,” I whisper under my breath to Onyx. Sickness has been sitting in the pit of my stomach since we arrived at Emilio Moretti’s funeral service.

Onyx squeezes my shoulder. Onyx, Reef, and I have been relegated to the row behind the family, and I wasn’t putting up a fight. Being here is one thing, but having to act sad for this family another thing altogether. At least back here I can hide my true feelings.

Mrs. Moretti has wept terribly through the entire service.

Orlando held her hand at one side and Romeo on the other.

All I could think is she must be a better actress than I am.

There is no way she loved that horrible man, how could anyone?

I also find it odd that she confides in her two sons, the one who faked his own death and hid from the family for nine years and the other who she let get sent away when he was just a child.

They’re better people than I am. If my mother had let my papa destroy my life in the way he did his sons, there is no way I would come to his funeral, much less comfort the woman who stood by him and let me down.

But something tells me for my boys, this is more for show.

The priest finishes up his service and a harpist plays “Amazing Grace” as the immediate family lay white roses on Emilio’s empty coffin. And I thank God it’s over. My tongue is literally bleeding from having to bite it so hard to stop myself from saying all the awful things I wanted to.

Onyx places a hand on my back, and we slip away with Reef at my other side.

We walk down the back of the congregation.

I need air away from the suffocating pleasantries of the family.

The looks from their ma and the cold shoulder from Daisy and Valentine when we first arrived were enough to tell me that Emilio might have forced me to be part of this family, but it’s pretty clear I’m an outcast.

“There wouldn’t be one person here who hasn’t suffered at his hands,” Reef mutters under his breath, disgusted.

“It makes me sick. All the people he killed, all the lives he ruined, and he still has half the city turn up to pay their respects,” I whisper back as we escape the masses.

Onyx’s vacant eyes meet mine, and he nods. I know he feels it as well. This evil man ruined all of our lives. He did unspeakable things for decades and got away with it. Yeah, he got blown up by his own sons, but I’m sure I could have thought of a worse way to end him.

We find a nice quiet spot under an old weeping willow tree, and I suck in the first full breath since we arrived at the cemetery this afternoon.

If I get told to play the part one more time, I’m going to be sick.

Like seriously, I’m going to throw chunks over the next person to say it.

I tug my wool coat closer over my chest, a chill coming over me.

Reef’s hand finds my back, and he rubs slow circles. “Are you alright, wildcat?”

I glance up at him. He looks sad, and I know it has nothing to do with the funeral. Every day we stay in this place he looks like he’s losing himself more. “Do you ever feel like you can’t breathe around these people?”

“Like they’re suffocating the life out of me? All the time. Romeo can’t even tell his ma about me.”

I raise a brow. “That’s fucked.” Taking his hand in mine, I give it a squeeze, my heart aching for him. And then it all makes sense, their fighting lately and his sadness. There is so much more going on here. I smile up at him softly. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t just sign the papers.”

“I get it, wildcat.” His hand moves to cup my chin. “You’re a good person. You’ll make the right choice tomorrow, I’m sure.”

“What if I don’t and more people suffer because of me?” I turn to Onyx. “And don’t say I can’t save them all,” I warn him.

He shrugs. “You can’t, but you wouldn’t be my girl if you didn’t try.”

I can’t help the smile that comes across my face. They are both here suffering every day I delay this decision, but they still back me one hundred percent.

“Don’t come any closer,” I hear Onyx growl in a way that makes me jump out of my skin.

I turn quickly to see Dante approaching us with another couple of men in black tailored suits at his sides. He stops, keeping his distance, looking me over with a cautious curiosity. “Miss Stryker.” He greets me with way too much familiarity, like the two of us are old friends.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Even more surprised he would approach me at an event like this. Very brazen.

“Paying our respects.” He motions to the congregation, and I spy three Moretti brothers now watching us, their faces steely cold.

I nod, pursing my lips as I look him and his two men over. “You’re either stupid or brave. Either way, there must be a good reason you chose to risk your life today,” I say, getting right to the point. We have about three seconds before this little chat turns into all-out war .

“I hear you didn’t sign the organization over to Valentine. Have you thought more about my offer?” His lips quirk up at the sides cheekily.

“Very presumptuous, Dante. Maybe I intend to stay and run the organization myself.” I feel the way Reef stiffens beside me.

Onyx doesn’t bother hiding his growl of disapproval.

They have all been on edge since I didn’t sign the papers for Valentine, and this might just tip them over it.

Supporting me but on edge just the same.

I think they finally realized I have more power than any of them thought.

Dante’s lips twist up at the sides. “We both know that’s not what you want.”

I raise a brow, crossing my arms over my chest. “No one knows what I want, Dante.”

Amusement dances in his eyes. “I can take a few guesses, but since we’re running out of time, I have set up a meeting on neutral ground.

Ten p.m. tonight. Let me lay my cards on the table and give you a little more insight into the Moretti family.

” He reaches out and hands me a business card with a scribbled address on it in black marker, his phone number on the other side.

I look over the card, running my thumb over the embossed paper, not sure what to do.

I’m curious as to what he thinks I can do for him.

I can’t hand the organization over to him, I don’t have the power to do anything of the sort.

My only option is to either run the organization myself like Emilio set up or to hand it over to the next in line, which should be Orlando, but since both he and Romeo have no interest, it will be Valentine.

But Dante has me curious. I want to know more about his connection to the family and why his sister ended up married to an asshole like Valentine.

“Step away from her,” Onyx barks .

Reef’s hand comes to my waist, tugging me back toward him and away from Dante. I feel Onyx’s hand at my other hip as well, their mask of protection firmly in place.

“Tonight, Miss Stryker,” he says again with way too much confidence, then he and his men walk away.

Onyx locks eyes with me. “Don’t even think about it, trouble.”

“What the fuck does Dante want?” Romeo snarls out from behind me.

I flick the card, my mind made up. “That’s what I’m going to find out tonight.”

Romeo’s eyes flare with anger, but his brother steps in between us.

“Like hell you are.” Orlando tugs me toward him, pulling me around the other side of the tree, caging me in as he stares down at me, his nostrils flaring. “How do you know Dante?” he roars.

Romeo comes to stand beside him, the two of them a sight in their jet-black suits.

“Yeah, doll face, why was he talking to you just now?” Their handsome faces are harsher than usual.

I look between them, trying to understand what their relationship with Dante is.

They looked friendly enough at the ball the other night.

Is this just a jealousy thing or is there really something to worry about here?

“I met him at the ball the other night.” I shrug it off like it’s no big deal.

Orlando’s eyes narrow in on me, and I see the barely controlled rage bubbling up inside of him. “Stay the fuck away from him. He’s dangerous.”

I tilt my head up toward him defiantly. “Don’t push me, Orlando. I have been very patient with all of you.” I look at Romeo as well just so he knows he’s not excluded from this. “But you don’t own me. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t see. If I think it’s smart to go see him tonight, I will. ”

His grip on me tightens. I match his steely gaze with my ice-queen one.

I trail my fingers up his neck and into the base of his hair. I dig my nails in just a little, a playful threat not to fuck with me and to show him he doesn’t intimidate me with this whole standing-over-me thing he’s doing. “Maybe it’s time for you to trust me, dear husband.”

“Trust.” He huffs out a bitter laugh.

“Why is this the first we’re hearing of you meeting him at the ball?” Romeo backs him up, the two of them working together.

“Did either of you tell me about every conversation you had that night?” I snip back, knowing all too well they have left out every detail of their conversation with Dante, even though I saw it with my own two eyes.

They glare back at me, fresh fury raging off them. They don’t like it when I call them out on their bullshit.

“How do you know Dante?” I toss back at them.

“We grew up with him,” Orlando says, seething. “That’s how I know how dangerous he is. You don’t know what he’s thinking.”

“Or what he is capable of. I have done business with him for years; he’s not a man I want you to get messed up with,” Romeo adds, his hand coming to my hip, his fingertips digging in possessively.

I glare at the two of them. Of course they gang up on me over something like this, using their oversized frames to try and intimidate me.

This is when two is not better than one.

Like this I know I stand no chance. They are so fucking infuriating, trying to control me and everything I do.

Fuck them. I try to buck off the tree and get away from them, but their grip on me only tightens.

“You’re both being total assholes right now.

I need to hear what he has to say before I sign anything. Did you know he is Daisy’s brother? ”

Something dark and dangerous flashes in Romeo’s eyes. “Of course we knew,” he clips.

I stare back at the two of them, confusion swirling all around me. Why didn’t they tell me if they knew? It seems like important information. But I guess that would have to mean including me like I’m their equal, and these assholes still don’t see me like that. “Why is she family, but he an enemy?”

Orlando pushes off the tree, running his hands through his hair. “You don’t know this world. You can’t even begin to understand what we’re all up against.”

“Then tell me,” I snap back, so fucking sick of it. “I’m not some dumb bimbo who won’t understand. Let me in. I can help.”

Romeo glances over his shoulder then turns back to me, looking nervous all of a sudden.

“We need to go,” he says, his hand coming to mine, when the two of us have stared at each other for a ridiculous amount of time, neither of us backing down or really getting anywhere.

“We can talk in the car,” he adds, more for Orlando’s benefit than mine.

I glance past him and see his ma and brother are watching us. They must be why he suddenly wanted to leave. They already hate me, probably shouldn’t go making a scene at their papa’s funeral.

“Romeo’s right, this isn’t the place.” Orlando wraps an arm around my shoulder like we’re not in the middle of a fight, and the five of us move toward the car as a group.

I have gone from feeling sick to just plain angry.

Controlling assholes. I wouldn’t even be fighting this if I didn’t think it was important.

But something in my gut tells me I need to trust Dante.

Once we’re all safely inside, Orlando turns back to me. “How do you see this playing out, treasure? ”

“I have no idea, Orlando. That’s why I need to go to this club tonight and find out what he wants.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Onyx snarls from the driver’s seat, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror, deadly serious.

“Stop fucking wrapping me in bubble wrap. I get it. You assholes want to keep me safe, but for fuck’s sake, I think I have proven I’m not some damsel in distress.

I can hold my own. Who shot the fuckers who snuck into our villa?

Who drove a fucking motorbike for the first time and got Orlando to safety when he was shot?

Who fucking killed Syd? Me. Give me some fucking credit, because if you don’t, none of you are going to like the consequences,” I seethe, anger vibrating off me.

Romeo takes my hand in his, and I glance his way, ready to pull it back.

“Dante is a powerful man, doll face. He’s approached you because he knows you hold the key to everything he wants.

The longer you take to make up your mind about signing the business over to Valentine, the more risk you’re under. ”

I straighten my shoulders, pulling my hand free.

I clasp them together as I stare out the front of the car.

He doesn’t get to touch me right now, not when he’s still treating me like some precious doll.

“Either we all go together and I have your protection around me, or I go alone. Either way, I’m making this meeting because I know whatever Dante has to say is important.

” My voice is calm and controlled. I’m done with fighting them over this shit.

Either they are with me or they’re not. There is no in-between.

No touching me like they love me but keeping me in the dark. I deserve more respect than that.

“Where does he want to meet?” Orlando says after some time.

Surprised, I turn to him and hand him the business card Dante gave me with the address on it .

“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbles. But something in his face tells me this time I’m going to get my way. And that gives me all the info about Dante I need. They trust him, or it wouldn’t matter how much I beg, they wouldn’t let me take this meeting. He might be dangerous, but they trust him.