Chapter 115

Aldo

While a part of me would always feel that strain of possessive jealousy when it came to Ethan’s attraction to Layla, I was partially grateful to know that the man cared for her well-being as much as I did.

“Look, I’m going to be upfront and honest about this,” I started. “I don’t want there to be any further bloodshed created from this mess.”

Ethan gave me a pointed look while raising a single brow. “Layla doesn’t know that you’re meeting with me, does she?”

I silently shook my head. “No one does, as far as I’m concerned. Ever since I became injured from the explosion, Layla’s been taking control of all the operations. Everyone looks to her now. She calls the shots and no one questions her.”

I was enamored over the fact that Layla was able to take on the role of head of the family. But it came with a price that no one was ever prepared for. Not even when I had first re-entered the family all those years ago.

It was as though I had unknowingly signed an invisible contract—binding my literal soul to the position and all the perils it came with. Knowing that my wife had stepped into that same position, left a horrible taste in my mouth and a dark shadow in the back of my mind.

“It bothers you,” Ethan said. It came out as a statement rather than a question.

“Honestly? To a certain degree, yes. It bothers me,” I admitted. “I’m glad that Layla is able to receive the respect and attention she deserves but...”

“But that kind of attention comes with a hefty price, Aldo,” he commented. “I told you before that I had reached out to Layla, she is not willing to see reason on this matter. She is going to take things too far and it’s going to end badly. You know this.”

I did.

It felt like taking a punch to the gut but, yes. I knew the direction Layla and Carlo were heading in. I’ve known for a while now that Carlo hasn’t been too pleased with the idea of me wanting to aim for peace rather than stay within the family’s generational mentality of bloodshed and violence.

Was what I was after so wrong? So impossible to ever achieve?

“I don’t want any more bloodshed, Ethan. Before the Rossetti family started making waves, things were going well. Peaceful even. I came here mainly because I want to know if you’re willing to work with me.”

Ethan looked momentarily affronted. “Work with you?”

I nodded. “Let’s find a way to get Eli back without having to deploy any men and having to have a single bullet go flying,” I said.

“Layla doesn’t seem to think that sort of option is possible.”

“Layla is currently running on anger and thoughts of vengeance,” I noted dryly.

Ethan folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head. “Speaking of ‘vengeance’. She said something strange before she ended the call.”

“She said something along the lines of me not knowing what Vanessa was really after. The fact that she took Eli is clearly a display of someone who is looking to make a trade. So, what is it that she’s after?” he questioned.

My gut churned.

She wants Matteo Marcello. She wants you—locked away for the murder of her older brother. A man that you don’t even recall knowing or killing.

Every time I was faced with this feeling, I kept refraining from telling Ethan the truth. My mind would fall into a state of tug-of-war. He deserved to know the truth regarding who he really was. There again, Ethan—Matteo, had gone ahead and built a new life for himself.

An honest and humble life that was built on morality and decency. One that I continuously found myself envying more and more.

It was the kind of life I’d always wanted. A life that wasn’t filled with danger and ongoing threats.

“Me,” I answered. I watched the man go stiff. “Vanessa is looking for a trade, you’re right about that. Me for Eli.”

His brows furrowed in question. “Why you?”

“She wants me to personally turn myself into the police, take account of every crime I’ve committed. She wants me to rot in prison for the fact that her brother had been killed by a Marcello,” I explained.

Ethan let out a long breath and pressed a hand to the side of his head. “Well, that certainly explains Layla’s current disposition.”

It was bad enough that our son was in the hands of a deranged psychopath. But now, she was being faced with an unthinkable decision to make. Her son or her husband?

I would never admit this to Layla for fear of a major altercation. But it truly came down to the wire where a decision had to be made, for the sake and safety of my son, I would gladly walk into the nearest police station.

But I knew Layla would never condone such a decision or even humor the thought. Vanessa had upped the stakes. It was no longer about Eli. The boy was merely her bargaining chip to get what she wanted.

Right now, she had all the leverage, leaving Layla to fall into a spin. Something had to be done sooner rather than later.

“They’re not going to like the fact that you’re looking to work with someone like me,” Ethan said.

“I have no doubt. And you know I could easily say the same about you,” I remarked. “You know I’m not looking to cause any problems with you and your work. I know the risks on both ends of this.”

“Do you have a plan in mind as of yet?”

“No, not quite,” I confessed. “Well, sort of. My main objective was to see if you’d be willing to work with me in the first place.”

“Honestly, Aldo. You know what kind of a position this whole business puts me in. I mean, for Christ’s sake, the fact that I’m even conversing with you about all this puts everything I’ve built at risk,” he acknowledged.

“I know that.”

I knew of the risks Ethan was taking. How on earth would he even explain himself to his coworkers if the two of us were even spotted together?

Hell, even being remotely near a life like mine was enough to make anyone feel squeamish and nervous. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that

“All I can ask is that you give it some thought, alright?”

“I will,” he said promisingly. “But I’ve got conditions, Aldo.”

I expected nothing less. “Such as?”

“I will not be involved in any plan that involves unlawful weapons. And I’m gonna tell you that I have concerns when it comes to your man Carlo.”

Hearing this made me stand up straighter. “Carlo?”

“I know that he’s never been okay with the idea of me being around,” he said. “He’s someone who possesses a short fuse. I can tell he’s someone who has a need for violence.”

“Watch it,” I bit out.

He may have been right in his assessment of Carlo, but I wasn’t going to stand for any disrespect toward someone who had remained close by my side for years.

Ethan merely shrugged. “You know I’m right,” he pressed. “Any plan that involves peace is not something that he’s going to willingly stand behind.”

Fuck. Yeah, we both knew he was right.

“Alright, I’ll take your terms into consideration. In the meantime, I want you to think about the idea as well.”

I stepped back and began making my way toward the car. I needed to get back to the house before anyone began asking questions.

Ethan and I were both playing a very dangerous game. And I didn’t want it to seem like I was choosing him over Layla; however, there had to be a better solution than what was currently in the works.