Her Dad’s Best Friend

Searing sunlight is burning my eyes. It's like someone stole a spotlight from a stage and is shining it in my face.

"Rise and shine," I hear a voice say. A stranger is in my bedroom.

I try to get out of bed, but I'm tangled up in the sheets. When I adjust to the light, my heart sinks. My room is filled with men.

"Who are you?"

"My name isn't important. We're going to take a little trip." He reaches for me. I step back, my hands up in front of me.

All the men laugh.

My heart is pounding against my ribcage. I'm surrounded. I'm still fully dressed, thank God, but I'm not in a good position right now.

"It's time for you to take a little nap," the guy in front says.

And then a sweet-smelling cloth is over my face. My eyes close against my will as the world turns black.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hard Choice

lacopo

I go to my room to look at the empty black box that stayed for so long in my safety deposit box. Ariana never wanted that ring. It was for the woman who had my heart. Now it's o

n Kelly's finger. She played me like her mother played her father.

My phone rings. It's a number that I haven't seen for a long time.

"Mateo."

"What, no hello for your old uncle?"

"You're not my uncle."

"I used to be, kid. You're just a little bambino. Never forget that."

I don't want to argue with him. "What do you want?"

"I know that you've been reluctant to give up your position as the new don. So I've decided to give you an incentive."

"What kind of incentive?"

"The kind that's wearing your nonna's ring."

My stomach twists. I feel like he's sucker-punched me. "You have her?"

"You're a fool, lacopo Genovese." The soft menace of the man who was my father's right hand is mind-blowing. "How can you do this?"

"Because you are weak. Because you are ruled by emotion. Because you love her," Mateo sneers at me.

"I will find you and break every bone in your body." He had stolen her. My mind is racing, trying to figure out how to get her back. "Where is she?"

"Where you will never find her." His soft chuckle makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "She's a beautiful girl, no? Maybe I will taste what has ensnared you and encouraged you to forget your duty

to the family. Ariana was far better. More beautiful. More powerful. You let her get away." He stops. "You have a clear choice now. I can murder your fiancée or you can step down and give all your power to me. "Fuck you," I shout. "Don't lay a finger on Kelly." She may have betrayed me, but I still need her.

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