Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Enzo and Antonio file out, followed by Mattia, who takes up a position in front of the doors. As Rafe's consigliere, he'd usually stay inside, but since Emilio hasn't chosen a consigliere yet and we killed Battista, he'll guard the doors. Enzo doesn't get to stay. Neither does Antonio.
In truth, I wouldn't have brought him at all, but Rafe wanted to remind Emilio that my position is secure. Emilio is the one on shaky ground. He has no consigliere and he's losing votes by the day. If he chooses war, he chooses death for everyone. An alliance is his best choice.
"Take a seat, Genovese," Rafe says, motioning for Emilio to slide into the booth across from me.
Emilio chafes at being told what to do but reluctantly settles onto the bench to scowl at me.
Rafe waits until he's seated to slide in next to me. "You demanded this meeting, so talk, Genovese. Why are we here?"
"I want my daughter back from this pezzo di merda," he growls, jabbing a finger in my direction. "She'll marry into your family over my dead body."
"That can be arranged," I offer.
"Despite how she's acting, she's a Genovese!"
"What the fuck does that mean?" I ask, my voice dangerously soft.
"You know exactly what I mean, Valentino," he says, his face contorting with disgust. "She's a principessa, not your plaything. God only knows what lies you filled her head with to get her to act like your little zoccola."
I slam my fist down on the tabletop. "Say whatever you want to say about me, Genovese," I snarl. "But insult her again and I'll rip your goddamn tongue out."
"Do not tell me what I can and cannot do with my own daughter!" he bellows, rising to his feet. "You two may rule this city but you have no control over my family or how I choose to run it."
"Watch your fucking tone, Genovese," Rafe snaps at him.
"Or what? You'll murder me in cold blood like you did my father?" Spittle flies from the corners of Emilio's mouth. "Nessuno mi unfungulo. Prove you have honor left and release my daughter."
"You want to talk to us about honor?" Rafe growls. "You sold your daughter into a marriage contract before she was out of diapers!"
"As is my right."
"She doesn't agree."
"She's too young to know what she wants," Emilio says. "If she did, she wouldn't be sharing his bed. She'd have a little respect for herself and this family."
"If you insult her again, I'm not going to stop him when he breaks your jaw," Rafe warns him.
"Don't pretend you care, Valentino," Emilio says. "You two may have her fooled, but we all know the only reason she's in his bed is to punish us for what my father did to your regina."
"At least you admit Tommaso Genovese was a piece of shit," Rafe growls.
"It takes one to recognize one, yes?"
"I said watch your fucking tone!" Rafe snaps, pounding his fist against the table hard enough to rattle it on the base. "I'm still the Capo dei capi, Genovese. Disrespect me again, and I'll teach you precisely what that means."
He's intentionally pushing us. He wants us to react. He wants to keep us here, screaming at each other for as long as possible. The realization hits me like a freight train.
Why? What is he trying to accomplish?
Callandria. Of course. He's trying to give Marcello time to get Callandria out of there. Except he's not nearly as smart as he thinks he is. The stench of desperation covers him. He needs Callandria back, not because she's his daughter, not because he'd rather die than see her married to a Valentino, but because his plans hinge on having her under his control.
"Enough," I growl, done wasting time with this bullshit game of his. "Cut the bullshit, Emilio. What did you do?"
"Va' a farti fottere," he spits at me, refusing to answer.
"Even if Marcello gets to her, she won't leave with him. She's where she wants to be."
He turns those cold eyes on me, smiling in a way that makes my fucking soul shrivel. "Then you don't know my daughter well, Valentino. As soon as Marcello tells her that your life depends on her leaving with him, she'll walk out of there without hesitation. She'll marry Andrea Maceo and you'll never see her again."
Figlio di puttana. He thinks he can take her from me? Give her to some other man? Is that what this is about? He needs her to wed Maceo? I roar in denial, in fury, rising to my feet so quickly I flip the table.
"Andrea Maceo will put his ring on her finger over my dead body," I growl, pacing toward Emilio. "I'll rip this goddamn city to the ground before I let that happen."
Panic lights Emilio's eyes. He scrambles backward, reaching into a planter along a low shelf, trying to get his hands on what I can only assume is a weapon.