AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My chest tightened and my eyes stung. I’d never been so glad to see that icy wasteland in my life.
“Stop right there,” Riccardo said.
Lucien halted about five yards from us, his palms still spread. It was so strange seeing him in a submissive position like this and a wave of guilt washed over me. He was so fucking scared. Even if he wasn’t showing it in his iron mask of a face or his cold eyes, he wouldn’t be here obeying Riccardo if he wasn’t petrified.
“Liv,” he said, his lips barely moving.
I swallowed, forcing my chin to stay up. “Lucien.”
“Touching,” Riccardo said. “Now, unless you want to watch your wife sink to the bottom of the river, let’s negotiate.”
Lucien’s jaw twitched as he dragged his gaze to Riccardo. “I thought you were dead.”
“Not dead, I just moved,” Riccardo said, shrugging. “But I’ve been back in the States for a while. How do you think your father-in-law retained his fortune and attempted a run for mayor? He was never intelligent enough to mastermind that.”
Lucien’s head cocked, just a tiny bit.
“I’ll admit, I did underestimate you,” Riccardo said thoughtfully. “Killing your father was cold-blooded, but killing your wife’s father was another level. Is there anyone you won’t kill, Luci?”
Lucien’s jaw twitched hard.
“What? You don’t like me using your nickname? I feel I have a right to it, I saw you grow up. At least most of it. I witnessed the poisonous teenage years where I saw what you were and your father was too slow to act,” Riccardo said. “He wasn’t the snake you are, he wasn’t willing to draw a blade on his kin.”
“My father received justice,” Lucien said quietly. “As did you.”
Riccardo’s eyes flared, anger sparking. “I was robbed of my inheritance, my due. Perhaps by a son who wasn’t even legitimate.”
I froze, my heart pumping. Glancing back and forth between them.
“Unfortunately, I am the Esposito heir,” Lucien said coldly. “Not even my father believed that lie.”
Riccardo shrugged once. “Your mother was a whore who opened her legs for other men. Who knows what could have happened.”
My mind reeled. From listening to Lucien and Duran talk about their mother, she could have been a saint. The suggestion that she was unfaithful shocked me, but it didn’t lessen my opinion of her. The moment their father put his hands on her, in my eyes she was free to fuck whomever she pleased.
At the mention of his mother, a poisonous gleam started in my husband’s gaze.
“What the fuck do you want?” he said flatly. “It’s time to spell it out.”
“So glad you asked. I want you to resign everything to me,” Riccardo said. “I want your assets, your position. I want you to announce you won’t seek reelection. You’re fucking lucky I don’t demand your wife too.”
My heart beat in an odd rhythm. Revulsion pushed up my throat and I swallowed hard to keep it down. The thought of Riccardo putting his hands on me and touching me was too much like what Romano had done. Panic bubbled in my stomach.
“Done,” Lucien said.
My jaw dropped. Everyone went silent. Riccardo had clearly expected Lucien to negotiate and it took him a second to gather himself.
“Lucien, you can’t do this,” I whispered.
“Quiet, baby,” Lucien said, not looking at me. “You can have it all if you give me my wife back and let my family and I leave the city.”
“Well,” said Riccardo, turning to his guards. “That was a lot easier than expected. Hold her while we negotiate. The other two of you, come with us.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the first guard slipped a rag into my mouth and hauled me back. Securing my arms behind my back this time and holding me against his body by my restraints. I shuddered, panicking silently as I watched Lucien step away from me with Riccardo a few feet away.
They spoke, too far away for me to hear. I’d witnessed Lucien negotiate before and his body language was familiar. He stood with his head down, his hands on his hips. Nodding here and there as Riccardo spoke. They both made several phone calls. In the distance, a motorboat sped down the river and silence fell yet again.
So loud it pounded in my ears like a drum.
