By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers, #4)

by Cora Reilly

We barely tolerated each other and she still hadn’t forgiven me for our wedding night. That wasn’t why the night haunted my dreams.

I pressed my forehead against the glass, remembering the day when years of peace between the Camorra and the Famiglia had ended.

Greta jumped off the edge.

Nevio shoved Gianna away, his face twisting with fear.

I stared at the spot where Greta had been moments before. I didn’t think. I began runni...

“Amo, don’t!” Dad...

I reached the edge and I stared down at the Hudson. My eyes frantically searched the inky s...

After I dropped my gun, I jumped before I lost sight of it again. The impact knocked the air out of me and it took several confusing heartbeats before I could tell what was up and down, and swam up to the surface.

For a long time, I was sure I’d never reach her but then my hand closed around hers.

I wrapped my arm around Greta’s middle and pulled myself up with one arm until my feet reached the first step.

Greta still dangling in my hold. Putting her down on the ground, I stared at Greta’s unmoving form beneath me, my chest heaving.

Fuck. I’d barely any breath left for me but I pressed my mouth to hers, and b...

I’d tried to make my peace with the fact that I’d nev...

but the idea that she wouldn’t still be safe somewhere, living her life...

“Have you lost your mind? Why did you jump? Why didn’t you try to stay at the surface?” More whys flooded my head but I kept them to myself.

“To be alone with you.” I didn’t crack a smile at her failed attempt at humor.

“I wanted to stop your family and mine from killing each ot...

Dad would send everyone out to save me, and Remo would try to save Greta.

Love is a fucking weakness.

“Don’t allow them to kill each other, Amo, please. Don’t let what’s between us cause a war. It’s too precious to be the reason for something this horrendous.”

I bent down and kissed her, claiming those lush lips. When I pulled back again,

“There’s nothing between us anymore, Greta. You didn’t allow it to be.”

“Don’t trust me to save y...

I had, however, fucked my wife when I’d returned home in wet, blood-covered clothes.

Like the Camorra, we now had too many enemies and no true allies.

Dad had taken it from me the day after the bridge incident, and had barely spoken to me for almost six months, but Mom’s insistent mediation had eventually brought us back together.

“Eventually the Camorra won’t be as focused on our transport routes anymore.”

“If we’d killed Remo and the rest that night, we would be better off.”

“Nevio would have killed Gianna and Isa. He wouldn’t have batted an eyelash. I can’t see how that would...

The look in Greta’s eyes when I’d turned my back on her after I’d pulled her from the river popped up uninvited.

I hadn’t talked to her since that night and I tried not to think of her—which was close to impossible.

But worry had become her constant companion these last twelve months, mainly for Gianna and Isa.

Gianna was her usual snappy self, which was probably an act, but Isa had definitely changed, become quieter, even more obsessed with her fictional worlds and chess.