Page 13 of Brutal Heir

As far as he knew, she and the unborn child were six feet under.

Too bad for him, I’d gone digging.

The Badalamenti family hid their disgraced daughter in New York and severed all ties.

Their old money followed her—enough to buy silence, safety, and a polished future for the girl.

Sabrina grew up sheltered. Privileged. Invisible.

The perfect pawn.

Learning his daughter was alive—and mine to command—would be a nasty surprise for the judge.

But telling him wouldn’t be enough.

He’d try to finish what he started.

Delluci only respected force.

He needed a daily reminder that I held his precious career—and his daughter—in my hands.

Sabrina, as my wife, would deliver that beautifully.

She was leverage, nothing more.

And yet…

Her defiance could ruin everything.

My phone lit up. A message from an unknown number.

Benedict Cavalieri. He only used burners.

Careful. Judge knows you’re in Paris. Having you watched.

I replied: Already clocked one of his men.

If the judge found her before I secured her, all of this was for nothing.

I’d tried to give Sabrina the illusion of a choice.

But I was out of time.

Rafaello threw his arm over his eyes with a long, groaning sigh, interrupting the dangerous direction of my thoughts.

“I hate Paris. French women are too skinny.”

“No one told you to come.”

He gestured toward the museum. “Ma dai! Your plan’s dead in the water. She walked off with another man.”

As usual, my younger brother was annoyingly correct.

Dammit.

I rubbed my knuckle beneath my lower lip.

I needed her soft. Submissive.