AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Letting out a cough, I caused both men to turn their stairs to me. Only one man had my full attention, though, and it wasn’t my father. No, it was that damned Luca Moretti, and instantly I froze.
A face just like his father, only younger. More handsome. His eyes just as dark, they stared holes into me as a smirk grew on his lips. It looked as though he was happy to see me, for whatever reason, and I couldn’t help but wonder if his father had ever told him of what he’d done.
I doubted it, if he had a wife, the sick fuck.
“Ah,” my father spoke, “Giselle. There you are.” He lifted his empty hand, gesturing to the guest in the house. “Luca here was just telling me how he’s organized a little get-together for the heirs outside of town. He came here to invite you.”
Luca nodded. Today, his brown hair was not slicked back; its short length hung loose, looking a little messy. He wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged every muscle on his body. If I didn’t know who he was, I’d think he was simply an attractive male specimen, not the heir to the Moretti family—a family of liars and thieves.
“Oh,” I said, once neither man said anything else.
“He was attempting to convince me that I should allow you to go,” my father went on, turning toward me. I could see the wheels turning behind his black stare, and I knew he was thinking. Spending time with the other heirs might be good; I might be able to find things out that he could use. Information was the hottest commodity you could come across when you dealt with not-so-legal activities.
Information could lead to blackmail, and blackmail could lead to you getting whatever it was you wanted, and in my father’s case, the position on the Black Hand.
“It’ll be fun,” Luca said. “I promise. Just us heirs, hanging out, getting to know each other.” He glanced at Zander, who stood a few feet behind me. “Your boyfriend can even come.”
“Zander is not her boyfriend,” my father was the one who spoke. “He is to keep an eye on her when I’m not around. Much like your man in the front.” Ah, the big, scary-looking guy. That did explain him.
“Oh, that’s just ‘cause we were running some errands for my father,” Luca rattled off, though I could tell he stopped himself from saying something along the lines of: I don’t need a bodyguard. His eyes were on me again. “Think about it. Tomorrow night at Hyde Park, just outside city limits. I hear it’s a nice place, super creepy at night. It’ll be fun.” He didn’t wait for me or my father to say anything. He simply gave me a wink and left the study—after setting down his glass near the doors to the liquor cabinet.
I watched him go, and after I heard the front door close, Zander went to make sure they were gone. Turning toward my father, I let out a sigh. “Daddy, I don’t think going to a party with the other heirs would be a good idea.” I never, in a million years, would dream of telling my father what I should and shouldn’t do… but that’s just it.
I didn’t want to go, but I knew he would want me to. Don’t ask me why I wasted my breath.
“I actually think it’s the perfect excuse for you to get to know the others,” he said, taking a small sip from his glass. “If the Black Hand heirs go, it’s also the perfect time to start getting close to them.”
For a few seconds, I didn’t say anything.
“I’ve been thinking,” he went on, “Shay Arrowwood has a multitude of boyfriends. To be frank, she doesn’t need them all. You’re going to see which one she doesn’t need, and you’re going to take him.”
It was at that moment when Zander reappeared, but his emergence from the hall didn’t stop my father from saying what he said next.
“I do so hate the word stealing, but that’s exactly what you’re going to do.”
Zander frowned, but he said nothing. I, however, could not hide my displeasure at this new plan of my father’s, and I said, “You want me to steal one of Shay’s boyfriends? What if none of them are steal-able? They all come from the Black Hand. I’m sure they were brought up to believe loyalty above all else, just like I was.”
“They are men. Men can be loyal to their families and their businesses, to their friends, but being faithful is a completely different matter.” His lips thinned, an ugly expression on his face as he thought. “I can’t imagine they’re all truly happy sharing the same girl. I don’t think it will be too hard for you to insert yourself, provided you choose the weakest link.”
I gave my father a smile, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. “Okay. I’ll do whatever I can.” Spinning on my heel, I started to walk out of the study, pushing past Zander, who still stood there stupidly, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard my father order me to do.
When I reached the archway into the hall, I froze. Tossing a glance over my shoulder, I said, “I’m going out tonight. Going to do a little shopping.” Had to get ready for my whole stealing-a-boyfriend thing. At least, that’s the excuse I was going to say, should my father ask me for more details.
But he didn’t. He simply waved me off, as if he didn’t give a shit about what I did tonight. Tomorrow was all he could think about.
Good. Tomorrow could be all about my father and his idea, but tonight was mine for the taking.
