Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48854 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I tell her because it’s the truth. Gian thankfully found the jewel my father wanted. Apparently, he seduced one of the maids into taking him to the office, where they fucked. He told me this on the way home last night, and even though I appreciate my friend’s effort, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lelia.
“Is there something bothering you, Domenico?” My mother’s perceptive nature makes me anxious. I can’t tell her I’ve kissed the Vitale girl. I can’t even admit I saw her and think she’s beautiful. If I did that, I’d have the wrath of my father to contend with. And I’ve only just made him see that I’m capable, even though it wasn’t me. It was my best friend. And when I step up into my father’s position, I’d take him along as my right-hand man.
“No, Mother,” I tell her, faking a smile so she can drop this. I can’t tell her anything about what happened last night. “I’m just tired. Dad’s called me in for a meeting, so I’m heading in now.” I grab my coffee and make my way to my father’s office.
All his private meetings are held at the house, but he does at times call his men to the warehouse where there’s a boardroom set up. It allows us to listen to the torturous screams of the men who’ve wronged him while conducting our business. One thing I know I gained from my father is my bloodlust. It’s a darkness I can’t shake.
Each time I do, it only lures me back in.
“Father,” I greet when I step into his sacred space. Besides me, there aren’t many men allowed in here. Not when he’s here, and least of all when he’s not around.
“Tell me about last night,” he says without acknowledging my politeness. His gaze isn’t on me. Instead, it’s on the screen of his laptop.
I shove my hand in my pocket and pull out the large emerald. Setting it on the desk, I wait for his reaction. When my father smiles, I know he’s happy. There are very specific expressions my father will offer. Mostly, he’s calm, stoic, but right now, he looks like he’s just won a war.
“I’m very proud of you, Domenico,” he tells me as he leans back in his chair. Finally, his attention is on me. When I was growing up, it was the only thing I wanted. My father’s focus was mainly on the men he commanded, on the familia. I was usually an afterthought to him. I’ve become accustomed to that. But right now, as he watches me, I realize all I’ve ever wanted, I no longer need.
“I want out,” I tell him suddenly as the idea forms in my mind. If I’m no longer part of the clan, I can be with her. It’s stupid to think she wants me, even as her father announced her engagement.
“Is this about the girl?” Dad throws out with a smirk cracking on his face. I don’t know how he knows. Perhaps he asked Gian or Romano, but I know none of them would have ratted me out. So, it makes no sense how he even came to that conclusion.
“I don’t know what—”
“The only way you’ll walk away from this is in a coffin, and even then, you won’t be walking.” My father steeples his fingers as he regards me. “I’ve gotten you an invite to the wedding,” he tells me. “I’m sure she’ll look fetching in the white gown that will be made for a princess.”
There’s no need for me to act like I don’t know what he’s talking about. Not anymore. Instead, I ask, “Why would I go to a Vitale wedding?”
“Because you’re going to take the only thing Aldo Vitale loves.” Confusion must show on my face because my father continues, “You’ll take the bride and when you do, ensure he knows it’s the Montesano.”
“You want me to kidnap his daughter?”
“You want her. Don’t you?”
There’s a challenge laid out before me. I can finally have her, but if I do, she may hate me forever. It’s a chance my father is willing to take, but I can’t do that. I can’t have her look at me with venom in her eyes.
“I’ll send Romano in to do it,” Father says easily. “Or…” He allows the word to hang between us, the unsaid option teasing me as I wait with bated breath for him to tell me what my choice will be.
I sit back in the chair, needing to calm the fuck down. He knows about her. He knows I want her. Someone must have been watching me. My father has never had me followed before. Unless he knew I would make contact with Lelia.
“You can choose to either kill her or her mother, while he watches,” he tells me. None of those sound like something I want to do. I’ve killed, but never hurt a woman. And not in my lifetime will I ever stoop so low.