Page 21 of Unworthy Ties

Rocco

W atching Gabriella flinch at every creak in the floorboards since the break-in tore something inside me.

I could handle enemies, bullets, blood—but not the look in her eyes as she jumped at every sound and glanced towards the window as if expecting shadows to manifest into something more menacing.

It was as if every tiny noise reminded her of the chaos we had endured, the vulnerability that clung to her like a second skin.

I couldn’t protect her from the ghosts in her own head.

Not with guns, not with locked doors, not with the men I stationed outside.

Those were threats I knew how to crush. But the kind that crept in when the world went dark?

The kind that twisted a strong woman into watching shadows on the wall like they might come alive?

That was a war I didn’t know how to fight.

A low rumble of thunder rolled through the sky, rattling the panes. She flinched again, arms wrapping tighter around herself. The sight of it carved a hollow ache through me.

I moved closer, my heart pounding louder than the storm outside.

“Gabriella,” I whispered, voice low and steady, cutting through the tension that hung thick in the air.

She turned, eyes shimmering like the rain sliding down the glass, reflecting both fear and something softer—something buried deep beneath the surface.

“Come here,” I urged, my hand reaching out toward her. She hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face, but the tremor in my voice seemed to reach her, pulling her in. Her steps were tentative as she crossed the room, each footfall echoing in the oppressive quiet.

When she stood before me, I could see the storm inside her—a tempest of anxiety and unspoken words. I gathered her into my arms, encasing her in warmth and strength. “You’re safe,” I murmured, feeling her body relax against mine, if only a little. “I promise you’re safe.”

As the thunder continued to roar outside, I felt the tension in Gabriella’s shoulders ease ever so slightly.

Her breath was shallow, but a stillness settled between us, one that seemed to quiet the chaos that had surrounded her.

I tightened my grip, anchoring her to me as if I could shield her from everything that haunted her.

“I don’t want to be afraid anymore,” she whispered, her voice trembling, yet laced with a quiet strength that made my chest ache.

I pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, taking in the depths of her brown eyes, swirling with shadows of doubt and flickers of something brighter—something hopeful. “I hate it.”

“You won’t be,” I promised, searching for the right words. “I will find them.”

The storm pounded against the house, but my focus was sharper than the thunder. Nothing would touch her—not while I was breathing.

A surge of protective anger rolled through me, and I felt the need to take immediate action flood my veins. I stepped back, creating a small distance between us, just enough for her to see the determination etched on my face. “I’m going to take care of this right now.”

“Huh? Rocco, it’s storming. Just leave it for now.”

I shook my head firmly, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on me like the dark clouds outside. “No,” I replied, my tone resolute. “I can’t let them get away with this.”

Gabriella’s brow furrowed, the flicker of fear returning as she glanced toward the window, the rain lashing against the glass like fingers clawing for entry. “What if something happens? What if—”

“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I interrupted, grounding my words in the certainty of my resolve. “Stay here; keep the door locked. We have men posted right out front.”

Her lips parted as if to argue, but I saw the moment her will crumbled under the weight of my conviction.

She nodded slowly, though reluctance shadowed her features.

I could tell that she wanted to protest, wanted to scream at me to stay, but the unyielding look in my eyes quelled her instinct to resist. Instead, she stepped back, her expression shifting to one of reluctant acceptance.

The hallway felt darker, the shadows deeper, as I made my way to the front door. I wondered if what I was about to do was going to be worth it.

The hallway felt darker than usual, shadows pressing close as I moved toward the front door. Every step tightened the knot in my chest. What I was about to do—call in a favor from the most hated man in the mafia world—made my stomach churn.

It was akin to making a deal with the devil.

I stopped for a moment, hand hovering over the phone in my pocket.

Fabrizio’s name alone was enough to make my blood boil, yet every second I hesitated felt like I was gambling with Gabriella’s safety.

Pride and principle screamed at me to walk away, but the thought of her trembling behind me in the storm left no room for argument.

I dialed the number, each ring stretching the tension tighter. When he answered, smooth and mocking as ever, my teeth ground together.

“Rocco,” Fabrizio drawled. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Cut the pleasantries, Fabrizio,” I said, my voice low, edged with the anger that simmered beneath my skin. “I need information. You know who broke into my place.”

“I might,” he replied, feigning indifference. “But I know a lot of things.”

He knew goddamn everything that went on in this city. Fabrizio was tied, or may have even surpassed Dino with how much he knew about the workings of the underworld.

“And I’m sure you know this one,” I said dryly.

“You come to me on your knees, and I might consider sharing. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll be standing in the dark with only your anger for company.”

“Fabrizio,” I growled, gripping the phone tighter. “This isn’t a game. I’m not asking for a favor; I’m demanding your cooperation.”

“Haven’t you heard?” His tone oozed arrogance. “Everything is a game, Rocco. And right now, you’re losing.”

I pressed my jaw tight, the storm outside echoing the heat rising in my chest. “You don’t get to play games with me,” I snapped. “This isn’t about power. It’s about her. Gabriella’s safety. You want terms? Fine. Name them. But I will not wait while someone threatens her.”

Fabrizio chuckled, slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world. “Ah… so noble, so infuriating. Very well, Rocco. I’ll dig. But remember, every favor has its price. And you—” He paused, letting the words hang in the air like smoke,“—will owe me more than you realize.”

I ended the call before I could say anything else, heart hammering with a mix of fury and unease. Calling him had been necessary, but that didn’t make it any easier. Every second I relied on Fabrizio, I risked giving him leverage—leverage that could cost me more than just my pride.

But Gabriella… Gabriella was worth it.

It wasn’t long before Fabrizio called back. I hadn’t expected him to summon me to his mansion in person, but the tone of his voice gave away his eagerness to toy with me, to draw me into his web. I could almost hear the smile in his voice as he announced, “Meet me at midnight, Rocco.”

Midnight. The hour alone made my jaw tighten. I should have said no. I should have stayed away, kept my distance. But Gabriella’s safety didn’t allow hesitation.

I parked a few blocks away and approached on foot, keeping to the shadows.

Fabrizio’s place was a fortress, just as ostentatious as I remembered.

It was lined with marble pillars, wrought-iron gates, and guards who looked far too comfortable with power.

He wanted me to feel small, cornered, aware of just how much leverage he held.

The door opened before I even knocked. A butler gestured for me to step inside, his face devoid of warmth, a mere sentinel in the sprawling castle of Fabrizio’s ambitions. I crossed the threshold, the air thick with a scent that was equal parts luxury and menace.

I followed him to a lavish sitting room where Fabrizio lounged, a glass of whiskey in hand, that insufferable smirk plastered across his face.

The shadows danced around him, accentuating the sharp lines of his features, and for a moment, I felt the weight of every decision I had made pressing down on me.

I didn’t sit. I stood a few feet away, fists clenched at my sides, eyes locked on him. “Cut the theatrics,” I said, voice low and controlled. “We both know why I’m here.”

Fabrizio chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass as if time itself moved to his rhythm. “Ah, Rocco… always so blunt. I like that about you. It makes the game more interesting.”

“Name your terms,” I said, not wanting to play Fabrizio’s ‘games.’

“You know Dino Barbato, of course.”

I paused. We had two Dinos, and I could never remember their last names because they were near identical. The one that came to mind first was the taller one, the one who is far too extroverted for my liking.

“The tall one or short one?” I asked.

“Well, he’s six and a half feet tall, so unless you have a taller Dino than that, he’s the one I’m referring to.”

“What of him?” I said, cracking my knuckles in irritation. He was an asset to Ettore, but God damn him for getting me in this situation.

Fabrizio leaned forward, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Dino has been poking around places he shouldn’t be, and his curiosity is getting me into some…trouble.”

I narrowed my eyes, the irritation in my chest twisting tighter. “What kind of trouble?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,” he said, waving his hand. “I just need you to put a stop to it. You are higher in command than him.”

I paused, the weight of the situation pressing down like a vice.

Whatever this “trouble” was, Ettore had likely set it in motion—and if he wanted it done, failing meant more than a simple oversight.

It meant blood, betrayal, and the chaos that could tear the family apart.

As much as I cared for Gabriella, her safety didn’t give me the luxury of gambling with our position.

One misstep, one slip of information… and everything we’d built could come crashing down around us.

“No deal,” I said, turning towards the door.

“I thought you’d say that,” he chuckled. “Which is why I prepared some bonus information for free.”

I froze, the door handle cool against my palm. A voice inside me screamed to leave, to walk away and not look back, but a darker curiosity wrestled with my instincts. I turned slowly, bracing myself for whatever bait he was about to dangle before me.

He leaned back, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “You’re working with the Salvaggio boy, yes? What if I told you I could solve that problem, too?”

My pulse spiked, every instinct on high alert.

How the hell did he know? The only people who knew about Maximo were Felix and Dino, and they’d sooner get their hands chopped off than tell anyone.

And yet here Fabrizio was, leaning back with that infuriating grin, like he’d been waiting for this exact moment.

He was everywhere. He knew everything. Fabrizio didn’t just have ears; he had eyes in places I didn’t even know existed.

“I’ll get back to you,” I said, slamming the door shut as I walked out.