Page 190 of Unchained

“I promised you that I’d fight for us,” she hiccups.

“I’ll fight every war I need to, to keep you safe. You’re not just my wife, you’re the other half of my soul. But you ain’t giving up LA, Gianna. You didn’t endure a life of suffering to give it over to Dom. We’re going to work this out, baby. I promise you.”

I rest my forehead against hers and breathe her in. She’s here. She’s safe and unhurt.

“I don’t want to be that woman anymore. I don’t want to be the woman my father forced me to be.”

I cup her cheek. “Then don’t be that woman. Ruling an empire doesn’t mean you have to do it the way he trained you to. Do it your own way. Burn it down and create something beautiful. I’ll be right there beside you, G.”

She closes her eyes, and I press a kiss to her forehead. “I don’t want to become my father, Colten.”

“You never will. Because you aren’t a monster like him. You’re the love of my damn life.”

She sighs. I think it’s registering. It might take time, but whatever she decides, I’m here for her.

“We really need to take my uncle's phones and see who this Tatiana hoe is they keep talking about,” she says quietly.

I chuckle. “Yeah. Good idea. Enzo didn’t seem amused that she’s back.”

I’ve heard chatter about Tatiana; Mikhail’s guys had big problems with her in Vegas a while back. Seems like she’s trying to resurface.

“Whoever she is, Colt. I’m going to hunt her down and fucking kill her in the most painful way I can come up with.”

I grin. “That’s my girl.”

Tatiana’s battle is with Enzo, yet no one knows why. I’m hoping this isn’t about to escalate. Because I’ve got my wife comin’ home with me, and I’ve got big plans for us. Plans that don’t involve killin’. Plans that involve peace. We both deserve it.

“Mikhail and his guys should be covering the cemetery now, so we’re safe to leave,” I tell G, sliding my hand into hers.

“Where is my brother, Colt?” she asks, worry laced in her voice.

“He’s taken Tate back up through the exit to Fabio’s. Hunter and Jett are waiting for them to go get him help.”

She glances away, and I pull her back to me. “Gianna,” I say sternly.

“I stabbed Tate in the leg,” she blurts.

My heart races. “Why?”

“Tommaso wanted me to prove my alliance with the Milano family. I had to go along with it to get him in the cell with us. Once he did, I yanked the knife out of Tate’s leg and slit his throat. That’s how I escaped. But he was in a bad way; the guards beat the shit out of him. I’m sorry, Colt. I promise, I did it to keep us both alive.”

She’s rambling. It’s cute as fuck.

I stop her by saying, “It’s fine, baby. Tate will be fine. This ain’t your fault.”

She can’t stop, though. She continues, “I promised him I wouldn’t let him die. He said I have to go find some woman in New York called Miley? Did he have a daughter that died?”

I almost stumbled backward, my chest tightening. That would explain so much. The reason Tate came back a few years ago a complete shell.

Why he’s so clocked out from everything.

“I-I don’t know, sweetheart. He’s never mentioned anything,” I say.

“Hmm. Well, we can hunt her down too if he wants. Might be a nice little side quest for us,” she says with a wicked grin.

“I thought you were done with this?” I question.

She taps my cheek. “I said I was done with LA. Didn’t say I was done being a menace. I’ll think on it all, okay?”