Page 98 of Savage Don

That’s how we end our call. The second we do, the first drops of rain start to tap against my windshield.

What a perfect encapsulation for how I feel. Everything in my life sits on a cliff’s edge right now. I can see a storm rolling in. And the only bit of sunshine in my life currently hates my fucking guts.

Francesca.

It’s not like I blame her. But if she ever wants her laptop back, or help finishing school, she’s going to have to suck it up.

The plan needs to move forward.

Pulling into Domenico’s driveway, I give a single honk to announce my arrival. The sooner I’m out of here, the better.

It will give the Italians less of a chance to question anything, and it will give Sonia less of a chance to plunge her hooks into me.

They can both go fuck themselves.

I’m here for one reason, and one reason only.

Francesca.

As far as Domenico knows, I’ll be taking her somewhere secure in an attempt to pull some answers out of her.

In reality, I’ve come to spoil her. My plan hasn’t changed, but my feelings towards the plan have.

It’s no longer just beneficial to have Francesca like me. I need her to like me.

She needs to crave my presence. Desire my touch. Understand our future.

I’ll explain it all to her tonight.

But first, I have to pick her up from her fucking father’s place.

It feels like I’m a teenager all over again as I exit my car and let the rain wash over me.

Domenico is already standing outside, waiting. Thankfully, Sonia is nowhere to be found.

But neither is Francesca.

“Where is she?” That’s all I bother to ask. Nothing else matters.

“In her room.”

“Well, go get her.”

“She doesn’t want to come out,” Domenico says, clearly agitated and suspicious. “Letting her go with you for questioning is already enough of a betrayal. And I’m not about to manhandle my daughter.”

“Then, I’ll do it for you,” I say, brushing past the man I’m sure is the rat I’ve been looking for.

He puts up some resistance, but for as brawny as Domenico is, he knows he doesn’t stand a chance against me. Even if I didn’t have the power to take him out, right here and now, I’d still be his superior in every way.

“She had a rough night,” Domenico grumbles, following after me.

There’s an old musky smell to the mansion that makes me want to sneeze. What kind of self-respecting don could live in this place?

One with money troubles. One who knows he’ll have to skip town the second his treachery is discovered.

This fucker.

Wiping my nose against my forearm, I purposely head in the wrong direction.