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)
"You're the sole remaining heir to your family's dynasty, my dear. The Cerrito name, the Cerrito legacy, the coffers, it's all yours," he says, eyeing me shrewdly. "It won't do you any good on your own. But a Cerrito-Genovese alliance?" His eyes light up. "Now that would be real power. Perhaps enough to install a new Capo dei capi once Valentino is out of the picture."
"I…" I gape at him. "You want me to marry your grandson."
"I want the power, girl," he snaps. "Valentino's had it long enough. He's done nothing with it but subjugate and crush us. We used to be gods among men. Now, we answer to him. Nothing happens without his consent or approval. There are no power struggles, no wars between families, no alliances. We're expected to behave like good little soldiers and stay in our places." His eyes gleam with hatred. "I'm not a soldier. I don't bow."
He's mad because he can't make war?
Diego was right. This man is crazy.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm going to have to decline," I say as politely as possible, wary of setting him off. "I can't marry your grandson."
"It wasn't an offer."
"You said you wanted to make me a deal."
"I lied," he snaps, no longer the solicitous old man, but the ruthless, heartless criminal. "You're marrying my grandson. Your father promised. I intend to hold him to it."
"My father…?" I gape at him in shock. "My father is dead."
"He sold you to me before you were even born," Genovese says with a wave of his hand. "The deal was struck the day he found out you were a girl. Lorenzo may have taken him out, but you're still alive. Imagine my surprise when you practically fell into my lap. The deal still stands. You're marrying my grandson."
I bite back the hot retort on the tip of my tongue, swallowing it even though it threatens to choke me. Yelling at this man isn't going to do me any favors. I need to move carefully, think this through rationally, calmly. It's the only way I'm going to find a way out of this.
Is there a way out? Even if I somehow manage to get past this man, Battista is outside. I might be a match for an elderly man. I'm no match for a freaking giant. And who knows how many men are waiting past him. I should have stayed at Rafe's. For once in my life, I should have listened.
Rafe! Of course. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
I don't need to get out. I just need to get Rafe in. If I can get him close enough to Genovese, he'll kill him. He won't lose. Rafe never loses, especially not when it comes to his family.
"I'll marry your grandson, but I want something first," I blurt, my heart racing.
Genovese eyes me oddly.
"I want to see Rafe." I curl my hands into fists, scoring my palms with my nails to steady myself. I can't mess this up. If Genovese doesn't believe me, it's over for me. It's over for all of us. And all the king's horses and all the king's men won't be able to put us back together again. "I've spent eight days listening to him tell everyone that I belong to him as if he could just make it so. I want to see the look on his face when he realizes that I belonged to someone else all along."
Before Genovese even smiles, I know I have him. I know we've won.
Genovese doesn't waste any time making the call. He can taste victory. He thinks he's won. I force myself to nibble on the fruit while we wait for Rafe. My stomach threatens to rebel, but I refuse to give in to the bile crawling up my throat. I refuse to lose to this horrible man. So I nibble, and I smile, and I pretend that this man is my savior.
Time passes so slowly I want to scream. Fifteen minutes crawl by. It takes Rafe twenty minutes to get to me. When he steps through the door, he's alone.
He looks like he's been to hell and back, but he's still my dark prince. So damn beautiful.
I nearly sob in relief at the sight of him.
His dark gaze sweeps across the room. It lands on me, cold and hard and distant. But I see a flicker and I know my Rafe is in there. The devil and the lover, the impossibly complicated man who owns me, body and soul. I haven't lost him. Not yet.
And then I see the gun in his hands.
My body sags in relief, a whimper escaping me.
It's over. It's finally over.
"What is this?" Genovese demands, spotting it at the same time. "Where's Battista?"
"Bleeding out in the gutter," Rafe says, his voice cold. His expression darkens with murderous intent as he turns it on Genovese. "You can thank her brother for that."