“The administrator wasn’t there when I came in.Also, youraintín’sroom number is 315.Someone showed you the wrong room.”
He doesn’t need to know we searched the entire hospital, and she wasn’t there.
“Oh, so she’s in room 315?Are you sure?Because they insisted that’s her in 314, and we both know it isn’t.Where is she?”I pause and hold up my hand to give him the chance for the ultimate lie.“As the head of the family, I should know if she’s been moved to a different hospital or location.”
Broderick pauses for only a moment, then tips his head slightly, and for the first time in all the years I’ve known him, I see the evil lurking behind his eyes.
“I swear on my bond to this family, she is there, sir.”He drops his head more and turns to walk out of the room.
As soon as he’s gone, JJ shuts and locks the door.
“He lied to you as the head of the family.”JJ knows that disrespect shouldn’t be allowed.
“Let’s let him tie his own noose.”
I’m not afraid to cull my organization.I’ve done it before.
ChapterSeven
Daria
Itry not to fidget as I sit at the large table.I had one of the salons on the main floor send me up an outfit so I looked more respectful than wearing my slacks to dinner.Uncle Aldo can be very traditional at times, dinner being one.
I’m wearing a mid-calf black leather skirt and a long-sleeved black button-down shirt.I kept my black tank on underneath to cover Patrick’s marks.
My cousin Delina sits across from me in a black tea-length dress, while her three older brothers all sit around their father at one end of the table.He lost my aunt years ago, and her seat remains empty.Lyric is on one side of me, with Alek on the other side of her and my mother seated across.Hayes is standing behind me.
He caused some stress when he insisted on being with me.My uncle tried to argue this was a private family matter, but Hayes said I needed representation for my new family.Everyone looked at me, and I shook my head, explaining that we were not married.
I heard my brother tell Patrick he had to marry me before he knocked me up.I tried not to cringe from the thought I could already be pregnant.I’m going to have to figure out a way to talk Patrick into waiting.I don’t want to cause open warfare between my families and the man I’m falling for.I can admit I do care for him a lot.
“Daria, are you going to take some courses on campus for the spring semester?”Delina asks, trying to make small talk.
She and I are really close, but things feel off tonight.I’m sure it’s because of the tension from my relationship.
“No, I don’t think so.I’m already filling up with clients and won’t have time.”
“Daria, do you plan to tell us where your relationship with Paddy is going?”My uncle asks.
I feel a shift behind me and realize it’s Hayes.Delina sits back with a sigh, like she’s expecting an argument to start.She’s the only female in the house and tries to keep all these men in line.They keep her on a tight leash.She attends UNLV and tried to talk her father into letting her live on campus, but her brothers put a kibosh on that, and her father caved to their demands.
“Zio, my relationship with Patrick is mine.I believe we’re trying to make things work out.We’re still new.”
“What about the fact he has a girlfriend?One who’s saying he’s only dating you to get into our organization?”
“I don’t believe this woman at all.I trust what Patrick tells me.And I’m sure Hayes back here would tell you the same.”
I turn to see Hayes standing there.He very slightly shifts, letting me know he’s not sure what to say, but I’m hoping he’ll confirm what I said.
“I can tell you that Ms.Daria is correct.Paddy’s current interest is her.”
“So, you won’t say if he’s had other women recently,” my cousin Riccardo adds in.
“I didn’t say that.Despite the rumors that always fly around, Paddy hasn’t been with anyone in a while.Daria is the first woman he’s shown this much interest in.”Hayes confirms, and a small part of me that had some doubt finally settles.
I look down the long table to my uncle, who’s sitting there with his hands steepled in front of him, elbows on the table.I wait for him to drop an ultimatum, which I’ll ignore.But I’m hoping he doesn’t.
He leans back and looks at my mother, then at my brother.
