My father turns at the door.“I’ve already talked with the family.Let them know it’s a year, we wait it out, let the Amortes know it will be a year and then our plans remain.You and the desires of your dick are not running a family that has operated in a certain fashion for generations.And this Cassone issue, in nine months, as far as the world knows the debt is wiped clean.Our reputation is preserved.She is returned, our family saves face in the community, people think the Cassones have paid their debt, and we go after the Gallinis for the money they cost us, and all is back to normal.”
Dad lied to the Italian side of the family and said she’s being held for a year as our prisoner.Fucking father.Always trying to save face, even when saving face is not needed and I can fight my own fucking battles.But still, now everyone there, which means everyone here, especially the Amortes, will think that the deal with Sophia was for a year, and that it is still only for a year and I am keeping Sophia Maria Cassone against her will as a punishment.
All because of my father’s lies.All the people in the criminal underground will know it or at least believe it to be true.In essence, everyone now will believe the wedding was one of force, that I took her to punish her and her family, and she is being used until the debt is paid.
My mind reels with the enormity of the situation, and for one minute the thought of how good it would feel to throw a glass across the fucking room.But revenge, now that is a far sweeter balm.That’s what I focus my thoughts on.
And the people who caused this war, the Gallinis who hit our trucks and blamed the Cassones, the Amortes who lied about my disgracing their daughter and put a hit out on me and Sophia, every single one of them will pay.
16
Sophia
My heart clamors in my chest as Massimo’s father slams the front door with anger, and then Massimo speaks with his brothers, apologizing that they had to sit through the argument and saying goodbye before they head for the door.All but Leandro, who speaks quieter and more seriously than usual when the others are gone.
“We should have known he wouldn’t come around.The family traditions and family’s insistence itself are all far more than he could handle without caving to their will.”
“I honestly thought he would fight for me after what Sophia did for us.She didn’t have to pull that fucking trigger, not once but twice, Leandro.She didn’t know that I had them covered.Sophia had no fucking way of knowing that I still had two in the chamber and the space to shoot.She thought she was saving my life, once an enemy but no more.Yet he doesn’t give her the respect she deserves, that anyone else would get if they were anyone but a Cassone.”
“I’m not arguing with you, Massimo.But fighting him tooth and nail is only going to wear you down.We need strategy.You’re better at it than anyone I know, but you’re blinded by this girl.”
“My wife,” Massimo growls.
“Your wife, my sister-in-law.I’m with you on this Massimo.She’s earned my fucking respect and then some.Even if she hadn’t pulled that trigger, if you love her, she’s the one, then she’s fucking family as far as I’m concerned, but I’m not the one you need to convince.We need a plan before the Italian family gets on a plane and decides to camp in our backyard.This thing they have with the Cassones is deadly and dirty.You know that as well as I do.”
“You’re not wrong.I just need time to think, and to get a handle on what the Gallinis have on us and the Cassones and what they’re planning to do before they try and make another move.”
Leandro’s voice still sounds concerned.“We’re in the middle of a storm, brother.That’s for sure.Let me know how I can help.In the meantime, I’m going to head down to the club.You know you broke a lot of hearts last night waltzing in with Sophia.They may have seen the announcement in the newspaper, but I don’t think any of the ladies, especially Lyndsey really thought you were marrying in the real sense of the word.They didn’t expect you to bring a wife there.That’s where they expected you to come to get away from her for a while and play.”
My mouth gapes.
Massimo clears his throat.I would know that sound anywhere.“Lyndsey knew it was just a passing fancy, nothing more.The minute one of our boys gives her a little attention she’ll forget all about me.Personally, I think she may have her eyes on you,” Massimo teases.
Leandro laughs.“Not on your fucking life.I’ve gotta run.Someone’s gotta keep the money coming in while you deal with this family shit.Let me know what you need,” Leandro says.
I walk down the stairs as he closes the door and Massimo comes around the corner.His dark eyes meet mine.“You going to run again or let me explain the conversation?”He looks tired and dark, and exhausted, like he didn’t sleep all night.
I glance at the clock.It’s almost eleven and I’m starving having missed breakfast.“I’m going to grab something to eat, make us a coffee, and then we’re going to sit on the veranda and look out at this fantastic ocean view, and you can tell me everything that’s happening and together we’re going to figure it out.”
Massimo’s dark intense eyes don’t leave mine, keeping them captured as he reaches me at the last step, lifting me by the waist before bringing me down to meet him, kissing my lips before settling my feet onto the marble floor.“I love you more and more every fucking day, kitten.”
It’s a good thing Massimo agreed to discuss the situation because I am not at all inclined to stay in the dark, not if there’s something going on with Barcelo that I need to know.I may not have ever liked him, but Anna loves him, and that was enough for me.My jaw tightens with angst though thinking about all the things that could potentially be happening after what I heard.
Good as his word, Massimo gives me time to get a plate ready while Layna scrambles some fresh eggs and makes a piece of toast, and he pours us a coffee.“Bring it outside.”He opens the door to the veranda right off the dining room and lets me pass through it before setting the cups on the table and closing the door.White sailboats and a couple large yachts in the distance dot the sea, but the coast seems uninhabited below with the exception of the breeze and shifting of the sand.“Is it always this quiet here?”I ask, settling in at the little round wrought iron table, looking out far above the sea.
Massimo sits down and takes a sip of his drink.“Usually, there are weekends that become a little crowded, farther down the beach for the most part, sometimes spilling onto the land, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.”
“Usually,” I say, sipping some coffee to wash down my eggs.“Tell me about the Gallinis.”
He runs a hand through his hair.“How much did you hear?”
“That’s not how this conversation is going to go.You once asked me to trust you, I expect it in return Massimo Roselli.I heard enough to be worried about the Gallinis and my sister.”
He sighs heavily.“I don’t have all the pieces yet, but I do now have proof, although not as solid as I want or need, that the Gallinis, through Barcelo, ordered the hijacking of our trucks.They’ve been wanting more territory for quite some time but have been somewhat aligned with us in the past.At least, let’s say a neutral party.We knew they were going to merge with the Cassones after the announcement of Barcelo’s engagement to your sister and expected a short time after that for the relationship and reciprocation to cool, given our relationship with the Cassones over the years but certainly didn’t expect him to make a play like he did.He almost succeeded in burning down the family of the woman he’s engaged to.”
My head spins with the reality of what he’s saying.“I have to get Anna out.”
Massimo’s large hand grasps mine across the table.“Listen to me, Sophia.Your sister is safe.She’s safe because the Gallinis have no idea that the Rosellis know they’re behind the hijacking.They believe their ploys worked and they will take over the Cassone territory and be stronger, make more plays and go head-to-head with us in the not-too-distant future.”
