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Shit.
I’m pregnant with the child of a mafia boss and living miles away from his stronghold. No wonder Roman had to drive over to watch over me and insisted that I returned to New Alderney. I was an easy target.
Mom was right. No matter how far I try to run from my past, I will always be a burden. My mind runs through all the ways she taught me to survive an abduction, and the backs of my eyes sting with tears. I held Mom up as a cautionary tale and swore I wouldn’t fall prey to paranoia when all the time, she was right.
“Focus.” I curl my hands into fists. “This isn’t helping.”
Several minutes later, the van slows before coming to a stop. I sit up, my heart bursting into action.
“Stay calm, don’t fight, stay calm,” I whisper over and over until the words blur.
The doors burst open, bringing in a burst of light. My body flinches forward before I catch myself. Resisting my instincts to bolt, I stay seated and blink away the brightness.
“There she is,” Tommy says with a dry chuckle. “My pretty little cousin.”
He reaches in and offers me his hand. It takes every effort not to slap it away.
“Thanks,” I say through clenched teeth and let him haul me to my feet.
Tommy helps me step down into a large driveway surrounded by manicured gardens. Beyond the lawn stands tall hedges that block out the view of the outside world. We could be anywhere, and I wouldn’t know, since I can’t see a single landmark.
I turn around and stare up at a sprawling mansion of brown bricks with tall white windows. It’s twice the size of where Tommy lives in New Jersey, twice as ostentatious, yet it looks vaguely familiar.
“What is this place?” I whisper.
Tommy wraps an arm around my waist. “Your home.”
“What?” My voice trembles.
“Cousin Freddy left this place to you in his will.”
I try not to shudder as he marches me up the steps, leading to a set of double doors. Now I remember where I first saw this place. It was all over the news when the entire Capello family was murdered the night of my bio father’s sixtieth birthday.
“This is where they all died,” I whisper.
He snickers. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of ghosts.”
“I’m more afraid of you,” I murmur.
Tommy throws his head back and laughs. The huge man who threw me in the truck also chortles. They all think my terror is a joke.
Fuck these assholes.
Tommy kicks the front door. “Hey, it’s me.”
Another man, as large as the one behind us, opens it. The gun in his hand lowers as soon as he spots his boss.
We enter a marbled interior that reminds me of the Montesano mansion but gaudier. Its chandelier is so enormous that I could reach some of its crystals. Marble tiles cover the floors, but the uniformed patterns suggest that they’re fake.
A huge portrait hangs on the mezzanine of a round-faced man dressed like Al Capone, complete with a fat cigar. He stares down at me through vibrant green eyes tinged with malice.
Tommy marches me up a grand staircase and says, “You see it too?”
“What?”
“Cousin Freddy was jealous as fuck of Enzo Montesano. Enzo had a better house, better wife, better sons, better reputation. Freddy wanted to take everything from that clit-sucker.”
I turn to meet Tommy’s green eyes.
