He sighed, sounding bored. “My dear, the only reason any of those men bid on you was because Anthony demanded they take you away from my ally. You were bait. You still are. Why else would they have kept you?”
The words hit like knives. Sure, they bought me because Anthony told them to. But they kept me because…why? Strategy? Leverage over my father?
No. No, I knew them. I knew their hands on me, their voices. Their hearts, even hidden behind steel walls and macho mafia bullshit.
They’d even given me the money, but I hadn’t needed it. They’d already cleared my mom’s debts, ensured her future, and paid for everything I needed.
Maybe keeping me at the start was part of a plan, but it didn’t stay that way.
But the doubt slid in anyway, cold and poisonous.
My father watched my face change. He looked pleased. “You see? You were never anything more than a pawn.”
“Stop,” I whispered.
More men appeared around him—thick, looming shapes. One cracked his knuckles. Another smirked at me with hungry eyes.
My pulse raced so fast it hurt.
“Why tell me all this?” I asked, voice shaking. “What—what do you want from me?”
“For you to pick a side,” he said simply. “Family or enemies.”
“I already picked?—”
“Not them,” he snapped. “Me.”
My heart thudded painfully. “Dad, please?—”
He leaned down until his face was inches from mine.
“Make yourself useful,” he said, “and I’ll keep you alive.”
Alive.
I swallowed hard. My mouth went dry.
“And if I don’t?”
He straightened again, dark amusement curling his lips. “Then I’ll have to get rid of you. Cleanly. Before you can be used against me.”
My breath left my body.
No. No, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Deep down, I’d always believed that whatever else he was, my dad wasn’t a monster.
Then I remembered his smirk. His shrug about threatening me. The coldness in his voice.
Oh god.
Words burst out of me before I could think.
“Please, you can’t. I’m—I’m pregnant.”
Silence slammed into the room.
Robert stared at me like I’d sprouted a second head. Then his brows lifted. “Is that so?”
“I—yes.” My voice trembled. “You can’t—please. I’m carrying a baby. Your grandchild.”
