Page 124 of Humility

“You realize he probably stole the egg to get back at you because of me?”

“Is that what he said,” he asked, his jaw twitching with anger.

“No, I don’t know why. As soon as I found out Angelo took it, I left. I was too hurt and angry to hear why because it didn’t matter. But it’s something he would do. He spent his entire life trying to escape the shadow you condemned him to. Papa, I should’ve had the choice. Even if I said no, it should’ve come from me, and if I said yes, then you should’ve loved and supported me.”

“Why must you always be so…difficult? Even as a little girl, you were always getting into trouble and telling everyone off like a man.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he cringed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did.” I stepped back. I would never be an equal no matter what I did or said. I walked away and picked up my wine glass, polishing it off. “You know what’s funny? Angelo, for all his ‘unworthiness,’ is the man who loved me for my fierceness, intelligence, and difficult behavior.” I pointed at him. “Let me make this clear, Papa. I may not be the son you wanted, but my heart is stronger than a dozen men, and Mama raised me to be myself, whether you agree with that or not. I will not be a piece on your chess board placed before who you think is my best suitor. I do not need a man to be powerful. I will make my own way.”

I turned around, stomping toward the door.

“Jasmine, wait.”

I stopped as Jacopo opened the door and stepped into the room with two guards behind him. He resembled a sniveling weasel, as his shifty eyes looked between Papa and me.

“So the runaway daughter returns,” he drawled, his mouth pulling up into a grin that sent shivers skipping along my skin.

“Jacopo, this is a private, family conversation,” Papa said.

“Oh good, then I’m right on time,” he said—his arrogant tone, like nails on a chalkboard.

I sucked in a shocked breath as he pulled his gun and walked around the room like he owned it.

“What are you doing? Get out.” Papa ordered, moving to stand near me.

“Why would I do that? When I need both of you. You really made this easy by being in the same room?”

“Guards,” Papa called out. “Get him out of here.” He pointed to Jacopo, but they didn’t move, and a cold trickle of fear traveled down my spine. I never trusted him, but the look on his face was pure evil. I always knew he was, but he covered it with a placid mask. The fact that he was letting us see the darkness under the false façade was not good. “Why are you just standing there? Throw him off the property.”

“Oh, I don’t think they will be doing that.” He smiled, and I wanted to hit him. “You see, they feel the same way that I do. You have let your daughter make you weak. But, I have a solution where we all live happily ever after.”

Papa looked at the guards and then Jacopo, his eyes furious. “What the hell do you want?”

“It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. I want to be the head of the family. So this is what’s going to happen. I will marry Jasmine tonight. I brought all the paperwork with me, and then you will retire and hand the family over to me. You get to live out your days anywhere you want but here.”

Bile rose in my throat as he pulled out paperwork from inside his jacket.

“You can’t be serious?” Papa glared at Jacopo. “I practically raised you like a son, and this is how you repay me? Have you lost your mind?”

“Ha! You mean I suffered all these years waiting for you to die and give me what is rightfully mine. Instead, you try to marry Jasmine off to Ciro. Like that fucking guy could ever rule the family as well as me. He doesn’t deserve it,” Jacopo yelled, his voice wavering on the edge of manic. “But I do, and I deserve her. I will turn her into a respectful woman who knows her place.”

I took a step in his direction, ready to rip his balls off, but Papa grabbed my arm. “I’ll never marry you,” I growled.

He lifted his gun and pointed it at my papa. “Oh, I think you will, or I’ll shoot your father right now in front of you. Then I’ll frame your lover Angelo and still marry you.”

Papa pulled me back and stepped in front of me. “You will do no such thing. I would never let a monster like you marry my daughter.”

“Well, in that case, I have no need for you.”

I screamed as a gun fired, and Papa slammed backward into me. “No,” I yelled, grabbing him as he fell. But, as we tumbled, confusion took over. The two guards were dead on the floor, and Jacopo was down, rolling around on the ground in pain. Dario and Enzo stood over him, but when I saw Angelo on the ground in front of my papa, terror lanced my heart.

“Angelo, oh my god.” I quickly crawled to him as Dario ran over.

“Hey, Tiger,” he said as blood pooled on the floor beneath him.

Dario pressed on the wound in his abdomen. “Call an ambulance.”

“I already have them on the phone,” Papa said as I picked up Angelo’s hand.