QUIET POWER (Quiet Mafia #3)

Chapter One-1

We called it the boomerang effect, the kind of love that couldn’t be broken. It could stretch and bend but always returned to its rightful shape.

Two Weeks Ago

Sweat dripped down my face, and my body begged me to quit. Aldo, my trainer, even threatened to leave if I didn’t slow down. But I wanted this, needed this. After the shock of finding out that Sienna was a Coppola, and that I had been manipulated by my own beloved nonna, my world had flipped upside down. All through my childhood, my nonna had taught me what I needed to know about my world. As she helped my father groom me to take over the family business one day, she shared her knowledge and gave me the confidence I needed to be the man they needed me to be. It was all those things that made the level of betrayal that coursed through me so untamable. If I stopped, I knew I’d snap. I was not going to leave this ring until I could no longer feel.

“Boss,” Niccola called, but all I could see was dust as I kicked, punched, and jammed at the eighty-pound bag that swung from the ceiling. “Elio!”

“He’s not listening,” Aldo panted. “He wore me out, and now he’s determined to fight his way through the bag.”

I blocked their chatter and used my arm to swipe at the sweat that dripped from my brow.

“Great,” Niccola groaned. “Well, I’ve got a reason for you to stop.” He paused. “Mariano was sighted near the dockyard.”

Good.

“I have Gain and Donatello tailing him.”

I’ve been planning my kill.

I saw him glance at Aldo out of the corner of my eye. “All right.” He stepped closer. “Sienna left.”

My punch wavered and the bag swung out to the side in a twist.

“She left a note, too.”

That stopped me mid-punch, and I ripped the tape from my swollen hands. I tossed the sticky ball on the floor of the ring as I ducked under the ropes and dropped to the floor. Aldo tossed a towel at me as I grabbed my water, downing nearly all of it.

“When?” I grunted.

“The camera showed five-fifty, sixteen minutes after Nonna left.”

“Note?”

“It’s in the kitchen at the Hill House.” Niccola nodded. “She also wrote something in flour, and I’m not sure what it means.”

I nodded once, grabbing my keys, and headed out the door to the Hill House.

Once behind the wheel, I steadied my breathing and allowed my mind to slip back to memories of the night before.

When the house finally settled after the shock of Sienna’s news, I was left with my head still spinning as I relived the night’s events one by one. I’d left Nonna in the kitchen with Abramo making calls to ensure we had extra protection. We were unsure of just what the repercussions would be once the news of who Sienna really was got out. Nonna firmly believed the Coppolas might be heading this way and that they’d planted Sienna in our lives to spy all those years ago.

“I thought you could use this.” Mama handed me a glass of rum and sat down beside me, nursing her own drink. It wasn’t often that Mama dipped into the hard liquor, but tonight was a different story.

“Elio, I—”

“Her face told me everything.” I cut her off, needing to let her know where my head was. “She found out who she was and came back to tell me.” I shook my head, unbelievably disappointed in myself. “She tried and tried to show me she was loyal, and because I’d been so well schooled by Nonna in the importance of the family and our oath, I couldn’t see it. Now…” I swallowed hard, “she’s up there in turmoil while I’m down here with Nonna’s eagle eyes watching my every move.”

“I’m so proud of you, Elio.” I turned to face her head-on, wondering why on Earth she would say that now.

“I also believe Sienna had no idea who she really was, and so does your papa. Shame on Elenora for withholding such a secret, and shame on Nonna Greta for behaving in such a way.” She reached for my hand. “I’m just so proud you can see this for what it is and not turn your back on someone who needs you now more than ever.”

“I love her, Mama.”

“I know you do, and that’s why we are going to make this right, but it will require you having some distance from her.”

“I’m not sure I can do that.”

“Trust me, son, the last thing you need is your nonna meddling any more than she has.” She gave me a knowing look, and I found myself wondering if Nonna had ever crossed Mama before. “I think it’s best for Sienna to take some time away from the house, to clear her head. She needs time to digest this news even more than we do. Surely it can’t be sitting well with her.”

I nodded my agreement but loathed the idea of her leaving the house without me. I shifted my gaze out the door and caught Nonna watching me while she spoke to someone. Her gaze, which once brought me so much comfort, now brought only anger.

“Can you distract Nonna long enough for me to go talk to her?”

“No, figlio.” She set her glass down and angled herself, so her face was hidden from Nonna’s view. “Your nonna needs to think you’re finished with Sienna. If she even suspects for one moment that you’re not going to listen to her about her fears, who knows what she’ll do. Don’t underestimate her. Let me go to Sienna. I’ll tell her what we’ve discussed, and as soon as there’s an opportunity that’s safe, you can go to her. But for now,” she stood and ran a soft hand down my cheek, “stay away.” I gave a slight nod of agreement and forced myself to sit back in the chair.

I’m not sure how many times I tapped the screen on my phone to check the time. With every minute that passed, I felt my chest growing tighter, my blood pumping harder, and my foot vibrated against the floor.

Fuck it.

I texted Gain in spite of the fact I knew he was working in the garage. I’d sent him on a mission to set off Nonna’s car alarm. Gain was a particularly trustworthy soldier and never asked questions, just did as he was told. Moments later, I heard the alarm, and the kitchen was instantly illuminated with flashing headlights. Abramo shot up from his chair and went racing outside with Nonna hard on his heels.

I hopped to my feet and charged down the hallway, up the stairs, and into Sienna’s room. Mama shook her head in defeat as I burst into the room, then smiled at me.

“I’ll leave you two be, then,” she said but leaned in as she passed me to speak quietly into my ear. “A plan has been hatched. Don’t waste time discussing it, just reassure her that you love her. No more than five minutes.” She eyed me as she said that.

Once the door was shut, I locked it and quickly moved across to her. I was glad the room was dark. She didn’t need to see the pain and hate I was carrying on my face. She sat with her back straight and her legs over the side of the bed. She sniffed and wouldn’t make eye contact with me. Her hair fell all around her face as I knelt in front of her and found myself unsure what to say. Instead, I took her hand and slid my family ring onto her ring finger then moved her hand to my chest, covering it with my own.

“We’ve spent a lifetime getting to right here, I will not let a name change that.”

“I swear,” she croaked, “I swear I had no idea.”

“I know.” I cupped her cheek with my free hand. I hated to see her hurting and how much this situation really did change things. She flinched slightly at my touch but didn’t pull away from me. “I’m so sorry for everything, Sienna. I trust you more than anyone in this world. I was momentarily blinded by all our family rules. I want to spend the rest of my life making that up to you.”

She let out a sob and leaned into me and pressed her lips to my neck. I wrapped my arms around her, wanting nothing more than to hold her tight.

“We will get through this, but—”

“I know.” She took a deep breath and hesitated, and it reminded me that she and Mama had already hatched a plan.

“You should go.”

She sighed and pulled back, but I grabbed her head and pressed my lips hard against hers. Again, she tightened at my touch, but a moment later she surrendered, and I knew as she relaxed and kissed me back that we were going to be all right.

Donte was leaning against the counter when I came in, and the moment he registered me, he shook his head and stepped back. His gaze swept quickly around at Nonna’s new soldiers, who now seemed to hover everywhere now, and cleared his throat.

“Ah, boss, this was left for you.” He pointed to the counter, knowing better than to have touched it. As I studied it, Niccola and Vinni came in and joined us. Then Mama, who looked as though she hadn’t slept all night, emerged from behind them and gave me a slight nod to read it.

“She traced the words, La Fine.” Donte’s tone made me look up.

It was written in flour, which he knew meant it was for me.

“What context is this?” I grated.

“I told her about the story that Niccola used to share about you. About how you were in love with someone, and that’s why you didn’t date.” He cleared his throat. “The look on her face told me everything. When I told her I knew it was her, she begged me not to tell a soul. That’s Sienna, making sure everyone else around her is all right, even at her own expense.”

“Donte,” I warned, not needing a rundown on Sienna’s personality.

“She’s saying your story is over, boss. La Fine,” he blurted then averted his eyes from me.

I turned away from them and broke the seal on the envelope she left. The necklace she always wore was curled in the corner of the fold, and I slid it out into my palm. My heart skipped a beat as I realized the bear pendant no longer rested against the crow. I grasped the chain and threaded it through my fingers as I tugged the paper out. The room went silent as her words flooded my head and my stomach sank.

Dearest Elio and Capris,

As a little girl, I dreamed of having a place I could call home, a room that was just for me, and parents who would tuck me in, kiss me goodnight, and chase the monsters away.

Then one day I met you by the pond. You earned my trust and slowly became my friend. You taught me what it meant to share life experiences, and I eagerly awaited each note you would leave for me tucked in the trunk of a tree. As the years went on, I fell totally in love with you and let my guard down enough to finally meet your family.

I never thought I would ever be so accepted by anyone, let alone complete strangers, and to feel their warmth and love was overpowering. I’ll admit I was nervous at first. Who could blame me? It was my first interaction with people who were so obviously happy and wanted to share it with me. You brought me that.

Then just as I became comfortable and felt a sense of belonging, my entire world disappeared. Nothing was left of you but a picture and a broken heart.

The only way I could cope with my loss was to put you in a box and seal it up tight in the fear that, over the years, if I slipped in a moment of weakness and thought of you, I wouldn’t be damaged.

Moving on was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

Then life brought you back into my world.

I was tested, and I failed.

You chewed me up, swallowed me down, and spat me back out.

I thought I was doing everything right.

I thought my loyalty was enough.

I thought I was enough.

I never asked for this. I am not this.

But I know as I’m sitting here writing these words that this is it for us.

This is where we are supposed to say goodbye.

I can’t—won’t go through that again.