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I grab an empty chair and sit in front of her. "Let's talk about your father, Giovanni Fiori.” I note a subtle twitch in her jaw suggesting he brought as much pain to her as he had to me. Well, not as much, but suffering, nonetheless.
"Let's not," she snaps. "I'm here for Elena, not to discuss that man."
“You will not see Elena until you answer my questions.” While I can see her contempt for her father, I can’t dismiss that this is a ruse. Perhaps she’s helping Giovanni. Maybe he’ll bring her back into the fold if she helps him get to me. I can’t rule anything out.
"Fine. What do you want to know? That he's an asshole? He’s weak-minded?”
“Does he know you’ve come to New York?”
She purses her lips at me like I’m an idiot. “No. Surely, you know my situation. You’re a fucking Don against my family.”
I hear a snicker from Donovan. It has the effect of my wanting to slap Lucia for her disrespect but also for Donovan’s finding humor in it.
I lean closer to her, making sure she understands the situation she’s in. “I am more than a Don, Lucia. I’mIl Soldato Della Morte. I could end this all for you right here, right now, and no one would know. Elena will believe you’re living in quiet solitude in Italy. Conti is so old, his dementia probably means he doesn’t know you anyway. He won’t miss you.” I glance at Donovan, whose jaw tightens. He doesn’t like me threatening her like that. Interesting.
“I was wrong. It’s not caveman DNA, it’s asshole DNA.” She talks a big talk, but I see the fear in her eyes. “What do you want to know?”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“No. Telling my dear old dad I was in New York would be my death sentence.”
I sit back. “And yet, you’re here.”
“I told you. I’ve come for my sister.” Her eyes soften slightly. “Please, Don Leone. Let me take her to Italy and keep her safe from my father and the Abates.”
“Your father is a pussy, yet he’s raised two women with grit and a little too much mouth.”
She smirks.
“It must scare the shit out of him.” I lean forward again. “I bet you could run the family better than him.”
Her eyes flicker with surprise. “Whatever he feels, he has power. Power to get even.”
“Is that why he sent you away? Was he getting even with you or someone else?”
She looks down again, and this time I see sadness. “What does this matter now?”
“Why did he try to give Elena to Romeo Abate?”
She shrugs. “Business, I imagine.”
“He sells his daughter to keep his empire afloat?"
"Empire," she scoffs. "That's generous."
I glance at Donovan who, like me, is intrigued by her response. I know something is up with the Fiori Family, but not quite sure what. “Not an empire, then?”
“My father likes money and power and giving pain, but he sucks at managing it.” She looks pointedly at me. “I have no qualms about your killing him. All I want is my sister. She’s not made for this world. She’s made for better.”
My heart twists in my chest at her words. She’s right. Elena is too good, too pure for the darkness of this world, and yet, I hate hearing that. Hearing that I’m not good enough for her. That my world, my life, what I can give her isn’t enough. I can see that this life has made Lucia smarter, harder, and the same could happen to Elena. That would be a fucking shame.
“Please.” Her voice shows the reverence and desperation that I usually demand. "Give her to me. Let me take Elena back to Italy."
I sit back and cross my arms, pretending to think about it. Would Elena rather go with Lucia? Of course. Would Elena be better off with Lucia? Probably. Would Elena be safer? That’s debatable and the reason I decide to keep her with me.
“How much do you want for her?” She turns to Donovan. “Give me my purse, toadie.”
Donovan's chuckle reverberates off the walls, the sound rich with mockery. "Sure thing, Princess."
