“Aagghh,” Papa hissed and pushed me away.
I put as much space between us as possible, brushing my hand over my side. There was going to be a bruise on my hip. That at least I could say was from running into a desk, which wasn’t even a lie.
Rubbing his hands together, my father stared at me. “What are you doing here?”
“Having lunch.” I kept my chin tipped up. I had leverage. For now.
“You haven’t been home to visit your mother.” Papa went to the desk chair and sat. “She misses you.”
That was code; he’d tried to summon me and found he couldn’t because of the broken phone. I was both glad and angry that I’d destroyed it. He’d no doubt taken his fury out on my mother for that act of rebellion.
But she was the one who chose to stay. To lie for him. If she wouldn’t fight, there wasn’t much I could do to help her. Bringing in the law wouldn’t work because of my father’s connections. And Mama would lie to the don himself if I tattled. Speaking up would only make it worse.
I need to find a way to kill him.
Maybe that was why fate had shackled me to my devil of a husband. Not only did I have the money to escape, but there was time to fix things here before I left for good.
“I have a job for you.” Papa’s voice broke my tangle of thoughts. He reached into his pocket, and I tensed.
But it wasn’t a gun.
Pull yourself together.
I took a deep, shaky breath.
“What is it?” I ground out, working hard to keep my outright refusal at bay. It was better to know what he wanted. Right?
Papa pulled out a slim battery, the kind used in watches, out of his wallet and placed it on the table. “I might not be able to hurt you, but I will hurt your mother. Your sisters.”
I blanched. My stomach heaved, and I was glad there wasn’t food in it or I might have puked.
Papa tapped the battery. “Put this in the Irish scum’s shoe. Tonight, Gabriella.”
I wanted to yell. My guards would make short work of this pusillanimous excuse for a human. But then I would have started a war….
Maybe that’s what Papa is trying to do.
My movements were mechanical as I crept to the desk and plucked the battery. It probably wasn’t a battery, but some kind of tracking device.
“Peel up the sole and slip it under,” Papa instructed. “Tonight, Gabriella. Do it tonight.”
“I don’t know when Liam is coming home,” I countered, meeting his stare and letting him know I couldn’t be bullied. Not completely.
“Tonight. When he’s fucking asleep,” Papa hissed.
His insistence that it had to be done immediately was another clue. I didn’t know what it meant, but I would bet money it was important.
My fingers curled around the slim, metal disc. “I’ll do it, but don’t you dare lay a finger on my mother.”
“That bitch isn’t your concern.” Papa pushed to his feet.
I took a healthy step back but didn’t lower my gaze.
“Now, get out of here. And take your pack of dogs with you.”
Vowing to find a way to disobey him, I fled.
Chapter 27 – Gabriella
