AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Excuse me?” For the first time in my life, I didn’t believe my ears.
“Ariana and I are not done for the night.” He declared, like this was just another conversation.
“Is this a joke to you?”
“Grazia, I am your father and this is my house. My guest can stay in my house if I say so.”
My throat was too sore to yell anymore. “Father, if she’s not leaving, I am.”
“No, you’re not. I forbid it. It’s about damn time you start acting like an adult.” So now I was an adult, not his little girl. “Ariana, let’s go upstairs.”
She rose to her feet and approached me with a twisted smile on her face.
“Looks like I finally found something I can do and you can’t.” Her voice was intoxicatingly sweet, like poison.
“Why would you do this?”
“You’re always in my way. I had to get to the top somehow. Now, I have to go take care of Fabiano. Move over, little girl.”
The nausea returned, only this time it wasn’t just a wave. I was overwhelmed and my stomach was convulsing.
Garon jumped forward and caught Dad by the arm. “You’re going to let your mistress talk to your daughter like that?”
“Listen to me, Garon Caputo…”
And the yelling started again, but I was done. I said all I had to say. If Ariana wasinvitedto stay, then I was out. My father’s words were law – or so I was taught – and he dictated that his pleasure was above the pain and sheer humiliation it was causing me.
I turned on my heel and started running because I was done being caught in the middle of a circus. I was done being my father’s afterthought.
So I went to the only place I knew it was safe.
To the only person I wanted to see.
Chapter 17
“The new study turned out nice.”
“It did.”
The designer I brought in did a good job. White marble and clean-cut dark furniture opened up the room, and the enlarged window finally let some light in here. No more books, no more darkness, no more feeling like I was walking into a cemetery. I was rebuilding my life starting with this fucking room.
Pietro stretched in the leather armchair. “You’re making big waves,Don. Once this sale is closed, our numbers are going to spike really high.”
“And when would that be? I’m tired of the fucking lawyers and their delays.”
“You wanted this power-plant to be completely legit. The paperwork takes time,” he scratched his chin and made a grimace. “Are you sure this is the right move for us?”
“You sound like my father. He didn’t believe in this idea either.”
“I’m just asking. Adrian was anything but stupid. Did he have any reason not to believe?”
“He was an old school guy. What’s your excuse?”
Pietro’s face hardened. “When you get in the energy business, you get in bed with the government. Is this wise? Energy is regulated and controlled and everyone from the minister all the way to the top will be looking at you.”
“Let them regulate. I’m not looking to cheat the law with this business, cousin. My plan is to use it to my advantage.”
“I can see the potential.”
