Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
"It seems to me like she already fucking chose," he growls.
Jesus Christ. Is he ever anything less than hostile?
"She's your sister," I say, my patience dwindling. "Have a little fucking respect. She's earned that much from you. Don't think I've forgotten that you're the reason she's in this mess to begin with. Don't think I've forgotten that you're the reason Genovese got his hands on her. Don't think I've forgotten that you let her walk into the home of your enemy to save your own life." I take a breath, trying to get my temper under control before I decide to kill him for that and ask her forgiveness later. He never should have let her walk into my house under my guard. Especially not knowing what I'd do once I knew who she really is. I want to kill him for that alone. "I don't give a flying fuck if you like me or not. If you break her heart, you'll answer to me."
"The same goes for you," he snarls. "Break her heart, and I'll spend the rest of my life making yours a living hell."
"Agreed."
He sits back in his seat. And then he laughs abruptly. "You're dumber than you look if you think anyone lets Amalia do anything," he says. "No one tells her what to do."
I chuckle because he's not lying about that. She takes orders from no one.
Mafankulo.
Diego and I stop laughing at the same time, looking at each other in the mirror. His grim, worried expression is an exact replica of mine.
'We've got to get her out of there," I mutter.
He nods silently.
Chapter Fourteen
Amalia
"You should eat something, principessa," Genovese says, pushing a plate of fruit toward me across the scarred wooden tabletop with one hand. Despite the age spots dotting his skin, he's spry, seemingly healthy. He keeps smiling at me.
"I'm not hungry," I say, turning my face away to stare at the wall. We're in some sort of deli a short drive from Rafe's. He brought me here a few hours ago. I think he has people watching the place, but I'm not sure. He and Battista haven't said much around me. What little I've been able to overhear hasn't been much use.
All I know is that Rafe is looking for Genovese, and they don't think he'll look here. Which means I'm on my own. I have to rescue myself. Somehow. There isn't much here that'll be of use. The deli is old. I don't believe it's a functioning business any longer.
Is this the place Rafe told me about? The deli where they meet for sit-downs?
Genovese makes a sound of protest in the back of his throat that sets my teeth on edge. He's been playing good cop all night, being overly solicitous. It has me ready to crawl out of my skin. This is the same man who sent Diego home covered in blood and bruises two weeks ago. The same man who sent Carmine to kidnap me. The same one who has carefully orchestrated every move of this entire nightmare, shifting us around on the board like his own personal pawns.
If there are any monsters in Chicago, it's not Rafe. It's him.
And yet he acts like a kind, caring old man.
I'm not falling for it.
"Come now, Serafina," he says. "Eat something."
"That's not my name," I growl, whipping around to glare at him. "My name is Amalia Santiago."
"Amalia," he repeats, his lips curving into the hint of a smile. "Your mother's name."
I just stare at him, not speaking. Not confirming anything. Whatever he wants from me, he's not getting it. He'll have to pry the truth from my corpse. I don't trust him or his nice guy act.
"You don't trust me," he says as if reading my mind.
Trust him? I'm pretty sure I hate him.
"You threatened to kill me. You offered a bounty for me. You tried to have me kidnapped," I remind him. "You tried to use my brother to destroy Rafe." I end my list there, though there are a thousand other things I could add to it, like the fact that he wants to destroy Rafe at all, and the fact that Rafe hates me because of him. Or the fact that I stabbed a man because of him. Or that Rafe had to kill that same man. Like I said, it's a long list.
"I see." He pushes the plate closer to me. "You were never in any danger from me, Serafina." He holds up a hand to silence me when I open my mouth. "My apologies, principessa. Amalia. I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm merely trying to offer you a…deal."
I blink at him, caught off guard. "You want to offer me a deal?"
"I want you to marry my grandson," he says bluntly.
"I…" I open my mouth and then close it. Open and then close it. Out of everything I thought might come out of his mouth, that one didn't make the list. "You want me to marry your grandson?"