My father steps from the hedge’s shadow, putting himself into the moonlight, where I can clearly see the victorious glint in his eyes.
“Thank you for bringing him to me, Carina.”
Rafael
If there was ever a “What the actual fuck?” moment, this would be it.
I fix my attention on Nardone because he’s the one orchestrating whatever is about to happen. And also because if I look at Carina and find one sliver of guilt on her face, I might kill her.
“Tell me, Rafael,” Nardone says, “did you and your brothers have anything to do with the raids on my warehouses over the past few weeks?”
I fold my arms. “I’m my brother’s consigliere, not his enforcer. Did you do something to piss him off? Because Tristano retaliates if necessary, but does not usually attack unprovoked. He knows a feud between families will only result in the loss of life and profit, not to mention the Wolf Pack would get involved and both of you would be fucked.”
The older man strokes his chin, giving me the urge to yell at him to get on with whatever the fuck is happening. I’m here for a reason, so it’s time to cut the bullshit. But if I appear uncontrolled, he’ll use my impatience against me.
“Tell me something else—”
I interrupt Nardone with a minute slicing gesture. “I’m not saying anything else until you tell me what’s going on.”
He cocks his head and the malicious gleam in his gaze brightens. “Carina, you’re free to leave. Violetta, go with your sister.”
He gives the orders without looking away from me. I maintain my neutral expression, although rage threatens to incinerate my insides. Carina hurries to her sister and wraps an arm around her shoulders, guiding her into a standing position. The pair make to leave, but then Carina stops and approaches her father. Not too close, yet far enough so I can’t make out their words.
It’s a short conversation and then my fiancée is retreating from the gardens like the coward she is. Carina doesn’t slow her steps, but she does give me one final glance before disappearing from my sight. In her gaze is a devastating sorrow that I can sense from several yards away. She might feel bad, but I don’t give a fuck.
It’s obvious the cunt sold me out.
“This evening is ending a lot differently that I’d originally planned,” I say, my tone full of sarcasm. “Would you like to tell me what the fuck is going on? Or are you going to kill me now?”
Nardone nods sharply in my direction, but I know it’s not for me. Two men holding firearms leveled at my back come from behind me to stand on each of my sides.
Now it’s a party.
“You’re such a young, rash man who only sees what’s in front of him, not the big picture.” The mob boss comes to stand before me, now that his men are protecting him. What a pussy. “And that’s because you couldn’t get your eyes from between Carina’s legs.”
I incline my head. “You’re not wrong there.” My easy acceptance of his statement has his mouth thinning. “So, are you going to enlighten me and give the big picture?”
“In time.”
The entire way to Nardone’s nightclub, the one located in the heart of the city, I silently call Carina every foul thing I can think of. Which is a lot, if I’m being honest. But eventually that fun exercise proves futile. After that I force myself to put all my fury into a compartment in my mind that I’ll unlock at a later time, assuming I’m still alive to do so.
If I am, I can guarantee that shit will be like pandora’s motherfucking box.
For now, I have to be smart and figure out what Nardone wants so I can use that knowledge to prevent my death, while devising an escape plan. However, once I’m bound to a support beam in the basement of the night club with my arms behind my back, I do admit my circumstances are not ideal for escape. It’s a good thing I’m not just a pretty face.
My head is finally in the game, and not in Carina’s cunt, so I should be able to figure out something.
Time without a clock holds no unit of measurement for me and when Nardone shows up in my prison with his men, I assume it’s showtime.
“Well, hello ladies,” I say with a bright smile. “What can I do you for?”
The older man snaps his fingers and his security positions themselves next to me, one on each side. Then he gestures to me with a circular motion. “Tell me your worth.”
“I’m priceless.”
The first punch doesn’t faze me, but the second one hurts like a bitch. I shake my head to clear the haze from my vision and then grin at the pair of made men. “Why don’t you hit me with the same fist you jack off with, that way it’ll have some strength behind it?”
“Don’t fuck with me, Silvestri. You won’t be worth anything if you’re dead.”
