“I know he’s involved in the mafia. Mom and Serena confirmed it.” Although they didn’t explainhowinvolved he is, and I’m newly mad at them all over again.
She laughs. “That’s not the secret. Maybe I shouldn’t say it, but who cares? You will be out of the country in a few weeks.” Her hands ball into fists at her sides as she realizes she just revealed another part of the puzzle.
For someone supposedly smart, she sure fucks up a lot.
“Daddy is Giuseppe DeLuca. Don of The Outfit.”
I can only stare at her. This has got to be another one of her delusions. Or is it? I remember everything Ben told me about the mysterious Sicilian boss. The pieces start slotting into place in my head, and it all makes sense. Holy shit. My father isn’t just connected to the mafia—heisthe mafia.
“Didn’t you ever wonder why he hates you so much?” She continues goading me.
I brace myself because I know she’s preparing to sucker punch me before she leaves.
“You’re not his flesh and blood! You’re not the only slut in the family. Mom had an affair and she got pregnant with you.”
“You’re lying,” I spit, through gritted teeth. “If that was the truth, Father would have killed Mom when she was pregnant.”
“That’s what he should’ve done, but he didn’t because the sap loves her for reasons I have never quite understood. She has paid for it though, in other ways. He covered it up and took responsibility for you, but he loathes you with the intensity of a thousand suns.”
My heart pounds in my chest, and I’m not sure I can take any more. The weight of everything she has said presses down on me like a ton of bricks, and I slump against the wall, unable to disguise the effect of her revelations.
She gloats, practically purring like a cat. “Don’t take it too personally. You’re the daughter of a lowly soldier after all. You are just the sum of your DNA, and you were never going to amount to anything.” She grabs her purse, palming a hand over her hair to fix it back into place. “Consider yourself lucky you are allowed to live out the rest of your pitiful existence.” She straightens her skirt, smoothing out a few wrinkles. “And count your blessings that I’m not in charge, because if it were up to me, I’d riddle you with bullets.”
She stalks toward the door, spinning on her heel one final time to leave a parting shot. “Aren’t you going to wish me congratulations for my pending nuptials?”
“The next time I see you, you are going to die,” I promise. “Even if I have to sacrifice myself to do it.”
“I’ll tell Ben you wished us well,” she says. “Try not to think of him sliding that big cock of his inside me every night. Bennett Mazzone definitely knows how to please a woman. I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m pregnant with his baby, and this time, I know fate will ensure I carry full-term.”
My heart cracks and splinters down the middle at the thought of Ben fucking Saskia, and I have nothing left to retaliate with. She exits the room, laughing hysterically, and her wicked cackles penetrate my eardrums long after she is gone.
I cry silent tears as I lean against the wall, my arms aching, and my hand throbbing. Saskia is a crazy bitch, and I can’t let her get to me. I don’t know what, if anything, is fact and what is a lie.
There is one truth I know, and I cling to it like a life jacket—Ben loves me, and he is going to come for me. Whatever he is being forced to do, he is doing to save me, and I won’t hold it against him.
I refuse to give up hope.
Not while there is still air in my lungs and blood flowing through my veins.
52
BEN
Standing in the shadows of the library, I watch Mr. Spielberg explain a math problem to Rowan. His little dark head is bent over the desk, his brow furrowed in concentration, as he listens. Purple shadows linger in the curves under his eyes, highlighting his trouble sleeping.
It’s been four days since Sierra was taken, and he’s not the only one finding it difficult to sleep or the only one missing her. I have been working from my home office since Sierra was kidnapped because I need to stay close to my son and it gives me an excuse to avoid physical contact with that bitch Saskia.
I don’t trust DeLuca to keep his word, and I refuse to let Rowan out of my sight. I replaced all the men at the house because I can’t be sure Ian didn’t have a partner or partners. Leo has taken them to the city to interrogate them while Alessandro and Frank are guarding my son around the clock. They even take shifts in my bedroom at night. Not that it’s necessary. I barely grab more than a couple of hours sleep. Sierra’s delicate floral scent still clings to the sheets, and I crawl into bed with a constant tight pain in my chest. Rowan sleeps curled up beside me in our bed, and I need his little body comforting me as much as he needs my comfort.
He misses his mommy, and he cries every night for her. Every anguished sob tears a new strip off my heart, and I want to murder DeLuca and Saskia in cold blood for inflicting this torture on my son. I hate lying to Rowan, but I can’t tell him the truth. He thinks Sierra is on vacation with Pen and Esme, but he struggles to understand why she doesn’t even call him. I said there was no cell service at the spa, but I’m not convinced he bought that lie. For five years old, he’s sharp as a tack.
Natalia is here, playing with him after his daily lessons have ended, because I have work to do. If I’m to rescue Sierra, to bring her home safely, as soon as possible, I need to work every angle, and that takes time. Natalia also wants to be close to Angelo because his days on this Earth are drawing to a close.
He’s been in a coma since the kidnapping, and a machine is breathing for him now. His lungs gave up when the sleeping gas infiltrated his system. It’s a miracle his heart didn’t give out, but he’s a stubborn fucker, and he’ll fight to the bitter end. I don’t even have time to think about the fact he’s on his death bed or how I feel about it because I’m too worried about Firefly.
“Boss.” Ciro approaches from behind, making an effort to lower his tone. I’m glad he wasn’t seriously injured and he’s back on the job because I need every man available for duty. “Call for you in your office.”
Nodding at Alessandro, I slip out of the library. My dress shoes tap against the hardwood floor as I stride to my office with Ciro on my tail.
