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I frown, feeling Miles’s and Conner’s eyes on me. “Heard what?”
He hesitates for a minute. “Vigo is dead.”
I reach out and grab the counter for balance. “What?” I’ll admit I don’t know how I feel about the news. I mean, I knew he was dying and that we’d never have the father-and-daughter relationship he’d hoped for.
But that doesn’t mean I’m immune to it. If anything, I’m morehurt by the waste of it all. We could have had more,been more, but he let the past dictate everything,only to find he didn’t have a future to make things right. People think they have time when it’s the one thing none of us are guaranteed, especially in this world.
“Okay, thanks for letting me know.”
“Nova, you, okay?”
“I’m not sure. He was never my dad. He could have lived another twenty years, and he’d never have been anything more than a stranger. But it still feels…” I trail off, not knowing how to put it into words.
“It’s alright, I get it. And to be fair, it would be different if he passed peacefully in his sleep. It hits differently, knowing he was killed in a fire.”
I suck in a shocked breath. “Say that again.”
He curses quietly. “I’m coming over?—”
“Just tell me.”
“There was a fire. None of the staff survived.”
I laugh then, shock probably making me react because what are the fucking odds?
Wait, what are the odds?
I look at Conner and Miles, who both look away. “I’ve gotta go, Alessio. I’ll call you back.”
“Nova—”
I hang up before he can say anything else. I walk past Conner and Miles and head down the hallway to Vice’s large office, which overlooks the back deck and pool. I don’t bother knocking and just open the door.
Vice sits behind his desk, talking to a man sitting opposite him. They both turn to look at me as I enter. Vice keeps his gaze neutral,but the other man, who I recognize as one of thecaposof the Gallo family, stands and frowns at me. I walk past him, stopping just in front of Vice. My chest heaves up and down as I try to gather my words.
“Who the fuck are you?” thecaposnaps, grabbing my arm.
As soon as he touches me, Vice is out of his chair, grabs thecapo’s wrist, and twists it until it snaps. “Nobody touches my wife but me,” he all but snarls.
“Your wife?”
“Did I fucking stutter?”
Thecapowisely says nothing. He sits back down in his chair as Vice focuses on me.
“Come here, Nova,” he says, sitting.
I walk back over to him, and when I’m close enough, he yanks me onto his lap. He wraps a possessive arm around my waist, the other he throws over my shoulder, his fingertips lightly stroking my breast.
“As you can see, Bosco, I won’t be accepting your sister’s hand in marriage to strengthen the relationship between our families because I already have a wife. I’m sure if you want to tighten bonds, we can find another way to do it.”
“Your reputation?—”
“Is well-earned. As long as you don’t cross me, Bosco, we won’t have a problem. If you do, then there won’t be a hole big enough for you to hide in.”
He nods and swallows. “I’ll let Leone know. Thank you for seeing me.” He stands and heads toward the door, his wrist hanging limply at his side. As he opens it, Conner is standing on the other side, waiting to escort him out.
Once the door closes, I jump out of Vice’s lap and start pacing.He says nothing, leaning back in his chair with an infuriating smile on his face.
