AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right.” Sansone drains his glass and gets up for a refill. “Dear old Dad is plotting to remove you from your seat. I don’t know all the details, but he plans on using some low-level DeLuca associates to frame and turn public opinion against you.”
“Frame me for what? All of Douglas knows I’m covered in DeLuca filth. They continue to vote for me.”
“If Giulio has his way, they’ll impeach you before the next election.” Instead of retaking his seat, Sansone sits at the edge of my desk as he swirls his third glass of bourbon. “There’s a new player in town and Giulio doesn’t want you swaying your support their way.”
“He’s never understood that I’m particular about the dirt I let in my life. He and the organization benefit from our connection. I have no desire to court new evils.”
“Big brother, I didn’t know you cared that much.” Sansone’s sardonic smirk belies the truth of our relationship and what I will do to safeguard him.
“Regardless, the only way Giulio can achieve his goal to destroy me is if he’s got powerful backers. He’d need my political rivals on board.” I stare out the darkened window, compiling a mental list of my opponents who would benefit the most from unseating me.
“Knowing Giulio, he put the fear of God in them with some blackmail or other.”
“Makes sense.” I nod and turn back to my brother. “There’s only one crime he could fabricate that would make everyone turn against me.”
“Murder,” we say together.
My mind swirls with the possibilities and my most recent trip. Impossible. No one can trace things back to me. I’m very fastidious and clean up after myself.
“I just don’t know if he is looking to kill someone now or if he will manufacture evidence from when you were within the organization.”
I glare up at Sansone, preferring to show him anger over my very real concern that my father will fuck me over this much because he can’t stand losing his power over me. If my brother knows how much of a threat I consider Giulio’s actions, he will try to protect me and possibly sabotage my plans.
“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll watch my back.”
Sansone sighs and stands. “You’re only saying that so I don’t worry, but that’s not how this works.” He glances at his watch. “Shit. I have to go, but I can’t. Not until you agree to only discuss DeLuca business with me. I can’t promise it will stop Dad, but it will limit his access.”
My brother’s suggestion makes sense. “I don’t like you putting yourself between us.”
“And I don’t like my older brother taking everything on his shoulders. I’m going to look out for you whether you want me to. It’s in your best interest to let me be the big brother for once. Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done all these years.”
“How did—” I clamp my mouth shut. Whenever he found out all the ways I foiled Giulio’s attempts to pit us against each other isn’t important. “Fine. But the minute I feel Giulio’s breath on my neck, you stay out of it.”
“We’ll see.” He swings around and whistles as he exits, leaving me to shake my head. The older he gets, the more taciturn he becomes.
With Giulio throwing another potential bomb in my lap, I turn to ways I can counter his efforts on my end. I’d rather keep Sloane company if she is awake or watch over her as she sleeps, but the night ahead doesn’t look promising.
I glance toward her room. “Soon, principessa.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sloane
Cielo purrs as she cuddles on my lap. The soothing vibrations don’t override the frustration welling up inside me. Neither do the new set of walls with the cozy decorations and custom bed large enough for four people. Nothing but pure liberation will ease the pressure building within me.
Valentino hasn’t rescinded his decree about tying me up, although my binds provide enough freedom of movement to use the bathroom and navigate the room whenever I need activity. If he would just let me broach the rules he handed down, we could settle things. But no…
Every time I find an opening to discuss his and Tácito’s preposterous demands, he says, “You need more time to consider things,” shutting me down before I get a full sentence out.
I know he doesn’t want to hear my objections, but I haven’t come up with a compromise that can work without completely ruining our lives and putting him and Tácito in danger. I wish I could tell him about the one conversation I’d had with Giulio and the subsequent photos documenting our time together before we found ways around his surveillance. The truth will remain behind my sealed lips.
However, Giulio’s current knowledge about my whereabouts is a concern. He continues to endanger Tácito, Valentino, and my life. Why can’t Valentino understand that letting me go is the only solution?
I sigh. The truth is, Giulio is only one danger. Another threat looms over my head. One that I’ve hidden from Tácito and Valentino, but I can no longer hide my head beneath the ground.
Someone else wants me dead.
My last contract was supposed to be an easy snipe. My client came with the usual recommendations, otherwise I would never have accepted a job from the new source. I’d let my guard down and didn’t notice the ambush waiting for me. I barely survived the ten men attacking me with their fists, knives, and guns.
