“You were permitted but have many, many eyes on you at all times, Sophia.”
I listen to the line ringing, while pinning Massimo with my stare.“And you would know this how?Stalker much?”
He grins.“Just intelligence gathering, but…”
My father’s deep voice comes onto the line.“Papa?”
“Sophia, baby, I can’t believe it’s you.How are you?”
How am I?I’ve been kidnapped by the fucking enemies, and while they’re treating me fine, it’s not like I’m on a fucking vacation.Yet, I know the drill.No one, especially not the police, or the FBI is to know that I’ve been taken.No, that would just bring questions to Papa’s door, and to Massimo’s family too.No, the families will settle it without the help of the organized polizia thank you very much.“I’m fine, but anxious to come home.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”Yeah, like it’s my fucking choice and the only way it’s going to happen is if he sends his soldiers to bust through the gate around this perimeter.Either way, he’s going to have to give the order, yet Massimo swears that he won’t.
“Are the plans all made?”I ask innocently, knowing it’s putting my father on the spot, glancing at Massimo whose eyes darken with warning.I put up one pointer finger, a gesture for just one more minute.I won’t give anything away, but I need to know.And Massimo should want to know.
“Not yet, princess.Papa is still working on the remodeling.Everything is in shambles here right now.The demo crew has left nothing untouched, everything sacred has been damaged by the storm, except of course us.Me and Anna are okay, and you.”
The recent storm.Anyone listening will assume that’s exactly what he’s talking about, unless they’re smart enough to dig into it, but of course there’s so many lines tapped each day, who has time to follow up and confirm every single strand of information on a call?
“I see, well I hope the remodeling team gets things put back together soon.Papa, the damage, it wasn’t our fault?”
He sighs.“This storm had been brewing for a long time, building strength, there was nothing that we could have done to prevent it, princess.We just have to let the aftereffects ride out.We did nothing, but must clean up the mess and move on once it blows over.Capische?”
I hold back the tears.“Capische,” I tell him before ending the call.I expect to see a gloating Massimo when I look up, but the look in his eyes almost makes it worse.Pity.He was right.My father is not going to own up to one damn thing, and he’s not planning to come for me, but instead thinks he can wait it out while it blows over.All while his daughter is stuck in the fucking enemy camp trying to do anything and everything to get the fucker’s debt absolved and to get free.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”I ask, wiping my eyes.
He takes a sip of his coffee and puts his mug down before topping my cup off with warm coffee and a little drizzle of fresh cream.“I am sorry.I hate to see you upset.”
“Looks like you’ll be seeing a lot of me unless you want to kill me or send me to the warehouse, because that did not sound like a man who planned to send in the enemies to get his baby girl back.It sounded a lot like someone who doesn’t give a fuck about anything except people believing his word.Our ancestors, they are really fucking stubborn, aren’t they?”
Massimo laughs.“I see a lot of that in you too, Sophia.Do not condemn what you do not fully understand.I have to remind myself of the same thing, time after time with my father when he pushes my buttons.And that man pushes them all the fucking time.”
I grin.“Well, that I would pay to see.The famous Massimo Roselli getting pissed off at this old man and having to hold his tongue.”
He smirks.“Finish your coffee.We’ll go down to the main dining room for breakfast, and then I’ll take you for a drive.If you promise not to try and get away.”
“Would you make that promise if you were me?”
He grins.“If you try to get away, then the deal we made is off.If you want to win the deal, at least try to play along with it all, not just the parts you like.”
My eyes raise to the sky as the sun peeks through the clouds.“I like no parts of your sordid deal, Massimo Roselli, but I do plan to win.”
“The fact that you think you will makes it that much more pleasurable to me.Now hurry along, and grab some sensible shoes and a swimsuit.
I try hard to keep the balance of emotions from toppling from one side to another or falling completely down the hill altogether.Because I have no doubt in hell that I won’t be able to get up.I should be running far away from Massimo, but whatever this connection is, whatever that inner chemistry that makes my blood thrum, my heart race and moisture gather at my center when he’s near, it is very hard to deter.
But that’s what I have to do if I’m going to win this deal, and I have to win the deal if I’m going to get our family out of a debt that my father says is not ours to pay.No matter what I do, which side I take, what line I draw, I will be at war with someone.
The unfortunate part is I don’t know who will be left standing after the families tear each other apart and I’m not likely to get the information from either Massimo or my father, especially not on a public line.No, I’m going to need to get to the truth a different way, and for that, I’m going to need a little leeway, and for that, I need to continue to play the game…
While never conceding or so much as screaming his name…
17
Massimo
