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“No. She is mine to protect.” I rebut.
Raphael joins us at the round table. He pays no attention to the work we are doing. His only concern is his daughter in the moment. I can appreciate that. Even if it does piss me off. “She’s my daughter.”
“And she’s in this situation because of you.” I spit back at him. I’m standing now and rounding the table. He takes a step back before remembering he should stand his ground. Good he has a backbone. I would hate to think one of our top enforcers is a weak pussy who won’t fight for his daughter. Not that he will win. Not when it is against me.
“You have her chained to your bed.” He’s been in my room? That thought enrages me. No one goes in my room. I have nothing to hide. It’s scarcely furnished, but it’s mine.
I sense the frustration rolling off of Luca. He clearly doesn’t agree with my methods but isn’t saying anything. Smart man. I’m sure the idea of having a woman chained to my bed and not in the act of performing a carnal activity is enraging to him. If he were to say something, I would counter that I have seen him handcuff Elena to him a half a dozen times. The only reason I haven’t done that with Livianna is because she is still healing.
“I am protecting her. She wants to run away. She doesn’t understand the danger you put her in.”
“She knows how to protect herself.”
“From three families and a street gang? Come on Raphael, you cannot be this stupid. You set your daughter up. You put her on everyone’s radar. She embarrassed countless men, learned secrets she had no business knowing, and you beat them to hell during your interrogations. Those offenses are punishable by war. Do you understand? You could have cause us all to go to war?”
“We were only discovered after your whore, Rachel, stormed the compound and freed Ramirez. So who’s really at fault here?”
My fists clench. I can feel my body shaking with the desire to punch him. To rain my fist down on him until he can no longer raise his voice to me.
Thankfully I am stopped by Luca. He grabs my shoulder and pushes me to step back. Hurting Livianna’s father would just cause a bigger headache for me. She is being stubborn. Still resisting my efforts. I’m not giving up though. She’ll be staying with me until she forgives me, until she falls in love with me, and then I’ll put my baby in her belly and a ring on her finger so she can’t leave me. Ever.
“Massimo is right Raphael. You started this. You put your daughter out there knowing there would be consequences.” Luca reprimands him. Then he turns on me. “Him being wrong, doesn’t make you innocent Mass. None of us saw Rachel being a decoy. You didn’t spill any secrets to her, and her getting into the compound was the fault of the guards. They should know better.” I smile. They do now. My fists made the message very clear. “But you did kidnap Livianna from a popular bar. People saw you walk out with her, and she hasn’t been seen since. And now you are holding her prisoner, again.”
“I’m keeping her safe. She’s smart. She’d find a way to leave.” I retort. Why can’t he see my reasoning? He knows me. I am not cruel to women. Especially not my woman. Well, to be fair, I’ve never claimed a woman before.
“Then give her a reason to stay.” He replies calmly.
Fucker. “I’m trying. You don’t think I want her to choose me? To love me back?”
Raphael and Luca’s jaws both drop at the same time. They speak at the same time too. “You love her?”
“Yes. I love her. I’m going to marry her.” I see Raphael start to open his mouth. “I’m not asking permission. When the time comes, when she’s ready. She is getting my ring.” He closes his mouth and nods.
Then he sighs. “Fuck. Do not break her heart. Do you hear me? She’s my baby girl. The only thing I have left.”
“I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. Trust me. I won’t do that to her. I’d rather rip out my own heart.” Raphael nods, shakes my hand and leaves.
“You have a heart?” Laughs Luca. “When the fuck did that happen?”
I give a little chuckle. “When that woman ripped the gun from my hand and kneed me in the balls.”
Luca howls with laughter. “Shit. She got you too? I thought it was just my woman.”
“You better keep your women away from mine when I meet her. Don’t need her getting any funny ideas.” Laughs Val as he joins us at the table.
Fuck when did he get here?
Luca laughs and replies. “No promises. Knowing Elena, she’ll just kick you in the balls herself.” Yeah, I don’t doubt she would.
When our laughter dies down, we go back to work.
“What do we know?” Asks Luca.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Livianna
THREE WEEKS. THAT’Show long I’ve been stuck at the compound.
