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“I funded your scholarship for a reason,” Bruno goes on. “Not because Julian’s there, but because I needed an ally to find out what happened to Leonardo.”
“Why?”
“Like I said, I believe his father killed him, and I want ammunition against him. He’s running for council in the famiglia next year and I think he’s a dangerous man to have in that position. I don’t want him involved in my business.”
“Fair enough,” I mutter. “But why not task Julian with this? Why do you need me?”
“Good question.” Bruno leans back, avoiding my gaze as another coughing fit overtakes him. “One I’m currently unwilling to answer.” “Why?” I demand.
“Because… personal reasons.”
“I want to know.” I’ve stumbled on a secret here, and now I’m curious.
“Fine,” Bruno spits out, leaning forward. “I don’t want Julian involved. But I think it’s too late already. I think he had something to do with it.”
I draw in my breath sharply. “You think Julian killed him?”
“No,” Bruno shakes his head. “But he knows more than he’s letting on, and he’ll never tell me the truth. Which is why I need you to find out exactly what fucking happened to Leonardo Brambilla.”
I swallow thickly. My heart has sped up. All of this is exciting.
“What do I get in exchange?”
Bruno smirks at me again. “Smart girl. I wasn’t wrong about you. You’re desperate for another chance, aren’t you?”
I think about denying it, but we both know it’s true, so I merely nod.
“I’ll find you a husband,” Bruno promises. “Someone worthy of you and your former status. You’ll have an easy and happy life and your parents will want for nothing.”
“You can do that?”
“I’m Bruno Bernardi,” the older man chuckles. “I can do anything I fucking want. The question is, dear Francesca… Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this mystery? Have I picked the right person for this task? Tell me now.”
I don’t hesitate before nodding firmly.
“You can trust me, signore Bernardi.”
With a confident smile, he leans back, his eyes following Brambilla across the room. “Good. Then we might as well get started.”
15
JULIAN
Past
“Do you realize what you have fucking done!?” Francesca’s father snarls at me as I fidget in the seat opposite his desk. “You have defiled my daughter and ruined her prospects of ever marrying someone worth something!”
I stare at the bastard defiantly. There’s so much on the tip of my tongue, so many things I want to throw at him to tell him exactly what I think of him. But I don’t dare speak – I know well enough
Francesca’s father is a part of the mafia, and he could have me killed easily for my transgressions. So, I force myself to keep my mouth shut, but I don’t look away, challenging Esposito with my silent glare.
Let him kill me.
Besides Francesca, I have nothing else to live for, anyway.
“Let’s let the boy speak,” the other man who saw us together mutters. “You haven’t even given him a chance to explain his side of things, Pedro.”
“I don’t want to give him that chance,” Francesca’s father snarls. “He’s fucked up and now he needs to be punished.”
I stare with newfound interest at the other man. I didn’t recognize him at first, but now I know who he is. Bruno Bernardi, one of the most influential mobsters in this city and he’s ruthless as fuck. So why the hell is he standing up for me?
While I think about how to get out of the situation alive, Pedro Esposito pulls out a drawer in his desk with force. Unceremoniously, he pulls out a gun and aims it at me.
“It’s time to say goodbye.”
“Relax, Pedro,” Bruno cuts in. “Let’s talk about this first. You don’t want a young man’s blood on your hands, do you?”
“I don’t fucking care. He ruined my daughter’s future,” Pedro snarls, clicking the safety on the gun off. “He deserves to die for what he did, and I’m happy to do the deed.”
My heart is beating faster than ever. If I die now… I deserve it. But it was worth it for her.
Just then, someone knocks on the door of Pedro’s office.
“Let me in!”
It’s Francesca, and Pedro gets up with a heavy sigh, opening the door. His daughter bursts in. I don’t even dare to look at her – a single look right now would reveal exactly how I feel about Francesca, and I don’t need to give her father any more ammunition. He’s already ready to fucking end me.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Pedro snarls, wrapping his fist in Francesca’s long brown mane. “You better have a damn good excuse for what you did, puttana.”
She cries out as he forces her to her knees and I jump up, ready to slam my fist into the prick’s face for hurting her.
