“Myhostage,” I grit out.
“See what I mean,” Elio states looking towards our elder brother.
I feel the sudden urge to rip off the bandage I placed on his wound. Instead, I step back, trying to inhale calming breaths.
“She’s Ignacio Navarro’s daughter,” Matteo reminds me. “She’s not your anything.”
I glare at him in reply.
“Fine. Explain it to me then. How exactly did you meet her?”
It’s not a particularly long story. It was just one night. One night of my life left me with an open wound that hurts till this day. Her disappearance hurt more than I’ll ever admit. I blamed her, but I blamed myself even more.
“Rafaelle, I understand that you care about your one night stand from over a year ago,” Matteo starts when I’m done. “But I can’t let that fact compromise my plan. The existence of that woman upstairs could very well start a war. She’s Liliana Navarro.”
“Zaccari,” I correct through gritted teeth. “Her name is Liliana Zaccari. Not only is she not aware of her true roots. But her father doesn’t know either.”
Matteo frowns, “What are you saying? You want us to pull back? Throw away our plans for revenge against Navarro for her?”
“No,” I say tightly.
Yes, my mind whispers.
But it’s a ridiculous sentiment. I sound insane right now. My brother is right. Liliana’s nothing but a one night stand from over a year ago. And while her voice and that night might have haunted me ever since, she should mean nothing to me.
“Alright. So we’re in agreement. I’ll set up a meeting with Ignacio once I’ve talked things over with Sal. After that, we’ll discuss the terms of agreement. I’m sure he’ll want his daughter back. In about a week or two, she’ll be out of your hands. Or I could take her with me now,” he suggests.
“I can handle her,” I snap.
“Okay then. I’m going back home. Behave Rafaelle,” he warns.
Once he’s gone, I collapse into the couch, my gaze meeting Elio’s.
“I want the files you’ve got on her. Everything you were able to dig up.”
“It’s not much,” he informs me.
“Doesn’t matter. I want to know exactly how she’s lived all this while.”
Elio nods and eventually he leaves as well. Everything in me itches to head back to that room and force her to talk to me.Instead, I head over to my bedroom and throw knives at a board while my mind whirs trying to come up with a plan of action.
One week. I have one week with her until she’s thrust into a life she’s had no clue about until now.
Perhaps I can get her to start looking at me like I mean something before I have to let her go once again.
The next day comes with a ton of responsibilities and things I have to do when I’d rather just stay at home and talk to Liliana. I have a meeting with some of my men who do the enforcing for me when I can’t be present to do it myself.
I can’t be everywhere at once. And I also can’t oversee every fuck up that needs punishing within our empire.
“There’s a kid that’s been causing trouble on our turf, boss,” my direct subordinate informs me. “15 years old but he doesn’t hesitate to point a gun and shoot. We’re not sure who he’s working for, but he’s got the bust on some of our deals, and he’s pretty bold. The only reason he’s still alive is that he’s young and because he hasn’t managed to actually kill anyone yet.”
I nod. Although that’s always been a general rule, I have made exceptions in the past. Bold kids are the best assets for cowardly groups looking to stir up trouble. I hate it. But I learned the hard way that the problematic ones have to go.
“Find out who he’s working for first, and after that, send his ass to Juvenile detention, get him into a program or something.” “If he doesn’t play ball?” “We can’t save ‘em all. Take care of it.” I order. “How’s Rinaldi holding up?”
“Drying out in the warehouse out of town like you ordered.”
“I should pay him a visit, put him out of his misery. We’ll leave in twenty minutes. Matteo also wants us present to oversee a deal later this evening.”
