"Are you sure that I should be here?" she whispered.
"No," he said. "Not in the slightest. But I'm trying to show you that I can take responsibility, too. We need to talk to Noah alone. Come with me."
He headed towards the blue building. He drew a packet of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. Savannah's lips twisted in slight disgust. She’d tasted the tobacco on him many times. She usually didn't mind it in the heat of the moment, but other than that it really bothered her.
"You don't like me smoking, do you?"
She shook her head. "I think it's a terrible habit that can kill you."
Elio sent her an amused look, making her think of what she'd just told him.
"Don't give me that look," she reprimanded him, pushing his arm lightly. Then she smiled. It was ridiculous. That was a fact.
"I'm literally putting my life on the line daily. Lung cancer wouldn't even be in the top hundred on the list of things that could kill me, baby girl."
"You never know."
Elio pushed the doors open. It was quiet. Every worker was somewhere in the arena rather than in an office at this hour. No lights were on so they moved through the hall under the glow coming from outside.
Savannah squeezed his hand and cut him off, making him stop as he reached out to turn the knob. "I'm scared," she said.
The man nodded. He cupped the back of her head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I know. Now I need you to trust me more than ever. Can you do that?"
She nodded but in the back of her mind, she wasn't sure. It felt like they were pushing their luck, especially after what she heard Flavio say to her. It was obvious that relationships between Made Men and outsiders were forbidden. The Famiglia was a distrustful organization and Savannah understood it better the moment they stepped into the room and saw Noah Falcone standing by the huge glass windows holding a gun in his hand.
He kept his demeanor harsh. Being only twenty-two, barely two years older than Savannah had nothing on him. Anyone could shit their pants if they were alone in a dark room with him. If she hadn't felt Elio's presence next to her, she would too.
Noah raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. He pointed towards the table that was in the middle but other than coming closer to it, no one sat down. It wasn't a business meeting and it could go extremely bad. Not like Elio could control it at this point or question his Capo.
"Parli," the Capo said.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Savannah pursed her lips. She was helpless. Whatever was to happen from now on was out of their hands. She wouldn't dare move or say a word in her defense. Elio, out of respect towards his Capo, wouldn't either. Once confronted she would cower, weakness boiling inside of her.
It was as if she was again, after all this time, standing in front of her father, waiting for another punch. Another blow. Another harsh word. A nightmare to live through all over again.
"So you're the waitress that Gastone seems to have a problem with," Noah narrowed his eyes. He waited for an answer but didn't get one. His finger twitched on the trigger. "It's not going to go over well if you refuse to talk to me."
Savannah was tested. Like never before. Right now, raising Aiden could be considered a walk in the park. She would gladly bring up ten kids than spent time with the Capo and spill all her thoughts and feelings. Because there was no mistake that was what he wanted from her.
"I guess, I am."
Then his eyes moved to Elio. "Haven't I told you that there would be consequences if you step out of line?"
"I haven't done anything that could be considered a betrayal, Capo."
Noah laughed bitterly. "You're a great liar. I have to give it to you. If I were to go simply on your words, you'd be off the hook. However, if you hadn't done shit, you wouldn't be here. So what the fuck happened and remember your oath."
The girl wasn't certain herself what this could possibly be. Elio was on the path towards dating an outsider, but it hadn't happened yet. So what had Noah seen in him to think otherwise?
"Savannah saw me kill Hunter. And I was the one to make her watch," he said.
Realization flashed in her mind.
The memories of that day vividly slid in her head. The blood, dismembered body parts. Elio's composure and dark, satisfied expression.
Surprise crossed Noah's face. Then a brutal expression followed that made Savannah shift closer to the man. "Clearly, you're not here because you cannot handle the girl."
"No, I'm here because I need you to know about her."
"I have known about her ever since your father called me. Telling me about a certain girl who came to his club to warn his son about the owner of the diner who was in touch with the fucking Bratva. It didn't take much to see that it was out of place to obtain information this way." He mockingly pointed the gun at Savannah. He wasn't holding it to pull the trigger. It was loosely hanging in his palm.
"I told him because I wasn't going to stand by and put all the employees at risk because of one man's actions," Savannah spoke. "One person is not worth more than a few. At least not Hunter."
"There's more," Noah pressed.
Savannah looked at Elio for encouragement. He nodded.
"I knew about the Russian. I’d seen him a few times when he came looking for Hunter. I immediately knew that there was something off about him. The way he carried himself screamed danger. And even though I didn't know his deal, I was aware of him existing"
She took a breath.
"And?"
"I have a brother whom I'm raising by myself. If something were to happen to me, he'd be alone."
Noah
