Maya's POV
My father was holding a trembling gun.
"What are you doing, Dad?" My heart was beating so loudly that I could hear it in my ears as I whispered.
He said, "I'm sorry, Maya," but his eyes were crazy. "I never intended for you to suffer harm."
"Then put the gun down!"
"I am unable to." He had tears streaming down his cheeks. "They threatened to kill you if I didn't do this."
"Who said that?"
The door behind him slammed open before he could respond. My father's arm was seized and twisted by a man wearing a black suit. The gun fell to the ground with a clatter.
"Stupid old man," uttered the man. "You were expected to wait for the signal."
My dad went down on his knees. "I just want my daughter to be safe, please."
"She will be," the man stated. "As long as you follow our instructions exactly."
I was left alone in the concrete room after they pulled my father away. My hands continued to shake. A gun had been aimed at me by my own father. What was going on in my life?
Hours went by. Outside, the fighting had ceased altogether. Now that the house was quiet, the noise seemed less dangerous.
I thought I would see Moretti or one of his guards when the door opened again. Rather, a tall, dark-haired man entered. He appeared worn out and was dressed in jeans and a black shirt.
Dante Romano was the one.
I jumped out of bed and exclaimed, "You're alive."
He said, "Disappointed?" in a kind tone. "Simply exhausted."
"No," I blurted out. "I assumed Moretti had mentioned that you were injured."
"I was." He displayed a bandage on his arm to me. "But stopping me requires more than that."
"How did you find me?"
Dante remarked, "Enzo put a tracker in your shoe. The day we first met."
I glanced at my sneakers. "You've been observing me all along?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Dante remained silent for a while. "Because you're significant."
"I don't get it. I am not unique."
"You're wrong about that," he stated. "However, we'll discuss it later. We have to get you out of here now."
I caught his arm as he turned to go. "Hold on. How about my dad?"
Dante's expression hardened. "What about him?"
"He was just present. With a firearm. However, I believe he was being forced to do it."
"Your father made his own choices," Dante stated icily. "He took from us. He endangered you. He is no longer your issue."
"But he's my family!"
Dante looked directly into my eyes and said, "No. We are now your family."
I felt sick to my stomach the way he said it. It wasn't particularly frightening. Something else was involved. Something that simultaneously made me feel warm and perplexed.
I said, "I don't understand any of this."
Dante said, "I know," and his tone softened. "Come on. I'll explain everything, and let's take you somewhere secure."
Together, we strolled through the house. It was a complete mess. Bullet holes in the walls, broken windows, and overturned furniture. The fighting had been bad and real.
I inquired, "Where are your brothers?"
"Marco is receiving sutures. Luca is ensuring that Moretti's men are all gone. Enzo is in the vehicle."
"And Moretti?"
Dante said, "He won't be bothering anyone anymore," in a tone that discouraged me from asking further questions.
A black car was waiting outside. Enzo was using a laptop to type while behind the wheel. When we got in, he looked up.
"All clear," he informed Dante. "However, we must act quickly. There will be more of Moretti's people arriving."
I said, "Where are we going?"
"Home," said Dante.
"But I no longer have a home."
Dante gave me a look I couldn't read. "Yes, you do."
It took roughly an hour to drive there. There was little conversation. I reflected on everything that had transpired as I gazed out the window at the city lights. I was anxious about my chemistry test two days ago. I was now in a car with criminals who claimed to be members of my family.
We came to a halt in front of a massive lakefront home. It resembled a fairy tale castle, only more terrifying.
As we exited the vehicle, Dante remarked, "This is where you'll be staying."
"Like a prisoner?"
"Like family," he remarked.
The house was cold but lovely inside. Like a museum, everything was pricey and flawless. Luca stood by the window, watching the street, while Marco sat on a couch with his arm in a sling.
Marco grinned and said, "You found her."
"Are you hurt?" I said, "I'm fine," even though I wasn't positive.
"Good," Marco declared. "Because we have a lot to discuss."
"May I give my friend Jessica a call?" I inquired. "She will be concerned about me."
"Already taken care of," Enzo stated. "She believes you returned home to tend to your ailing aunt."
"However, I don't have an aunt."
"You do now," Enzo said. "Martha is her name. Florida is where she resides. Thank you for asking; she is improving."
I gazed at him. "You created a phony aunt?"
Enzo remarked, "I make up a lot of things. It's a requirement of my job."
"What is your job exactly?"
"Keeping this family safe," Enzo stated. "Which now includes you."
"I didn't request to join your family."
"No," Dante replied. "However, you are. Whether you like it or not."
"Why?" Frustrated, I asked. "Why me? Why is this taking place?"
The brothers exchanged glances. I couldn't understand the silent conversation they were having.
At last, Dante said, "Sit down. This will take some time."
On the couch opposite them, I took a seat. My stomach began to ache because they all had such serious expressions.
"Maya," Dante uttered slowly. "How much do you know about your mother?"
"How is my mother related to anything?" I inquired. "Three years ago, she passed away."
"She passed away from cancer," Marco said softly. "However, do you know anything about her life prior to meeting your father?"
"Nothing really," I replied. "She didn't discuss it much. The past didn't matter, she said."
"It matters now," Luca stated in a gruff voice.
Dante stated, "Your mother's name was Lin Chen. However, that wasn't her true name."
My heart began to race. "What do you mean?"
"Elena Romano was her real name," Dante stated. "She was our sister."
The room began to spin. I was having trouble breathing. I was unable to think.
"That's not possible," I muttered.
Marco stated, "She fled when she was eighteen. She developed feelings for a man our father disapproved of. She vanished after changing her name."
Luca stated, "We searched for her for years. However, she was adept at hiding."
Enzo muttered, "We learned she passed away on the same day we learned about you. We found you because of your father's debt. However, money was never your concern."
"You're our niece," Dante declared. "You're a Romano."
I was unable to talk. I was immobile. Had their sister been my mother? Was I their niece? Had I been living a lie my entire life?
Marco remarked, "I know it's a lot. But it's the truth."
My voice sounded like a croak as I said, "That's why you've been protecting me."
"That's why we took you," Dante stated. "Your father endangered you. We couldn't allow you to suffer any harm."
"However, you stated that I needed to settle his debt."
"We lied," Dante declared. "Until we were certain you were safe, we couldn't tell you the truth."
I got to my feet quickly, feeling lightheaded. "I need air."
Dante reached for me and said, "Maya."
"Avoid touching me!" I retreated from them as I spoke. "You took me hostage! You misled me! You gave me the impression that my father had deserted me."
Dante stated, "We did what we had to do."
"To protect you," Marco continued.
"I don't care!" I yelled. "You had no right!"
Luca moved ahead of me as I dashed for the door.
"Move," I said.
Luca said, "I can't let you leave. It's not safe."
"Safety isn't important to me!" I said. "I just want to get home!"
Behind me, Dante declared, "This is your home."
"No, it's not!" I pivoted to confront him. "You two are strangers! You are criminals! You are not a member of my family."
"Yes, we are," Dante said coolly. "And you know it in your heart."
I detested him because he was correct. Something had felt familiar since I had first met them. It had felt right. I didn't want it to be true, though.
I said, "I want to see my father."
"That's not possible," Dante stated.
"Why not?"
"Because he's deceased."
The words were like a kick to the gut. "What?"
Dante said, "He tried to kill you tonight. As directed by Moretti's men. He was already preparing to harm you once more when we discovered him."
"You killed him?"
"He killed himself," Enzo muttered. "When he understood what he had nearly done to you."
I dropped to my knees. My dad had passed away. All my life, my mother had been deceiving me. I was mistaken about everything I believed to be true.
Dante knelt next to me and said, "Maya. I am aware that this is challenging. But now you're safe. You're with relatives."
I muttered, "I don't know what's real anymore."
"We're real," Dante declared. "This is real. We'll look after you."
I said, "I don't want to be taken care of. I want my life back."
"That life is over," Dante declared. "However, this one could be better."
I glanced up at him. His eyes were kind, but his face was hard. He appeared to be bearing the weight of the entire world.
I questioned, "Why should I trust you?"
"Because we're all you have left," Dante stated. "And because all we have left of her is you."
She. Mom. Their sister.
The lights went out just as I was about to ask another question. Everything turned red as emergency lighting came on.
I said, "What's happening?"
Dante had already started to get up and take out his phone. "Enzo?"
"Someone's cutting the power," Enzo said as he quickly typed on his laptop. "A number of cars are coming. Military-grade gear."
"How many?" Luca checked his gun and asked.
"Too many," Enzo remarked.
"Who is it?" inquired Marco.
Enzo's face was pale as he looked up from his computer. "The feds are to blame."
Inward, the front door exploded.