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“Enough,” Silvio growled, his patience frayed to the breaking point.
Before I could react, he grabbed me firmly by the arm, his grip unyielding as he steered me through the throngs of masked guests smoking or drinking outside. Their blurred faces turned into a sea of judgment and curiosity, but all I could focus on was the steel in my father’s eyes—a cold reminder of the world I was born into.
“Let go of me!” I protested, trying to wrench my arm free from his grasp, but it was like fighting against iron chains.
“Adriana, you’re causing a scene,” he hissed, leading me toward the grand entrance of the garden, away from prying eyes and curious ears.
“Good! Maybe then someone will see the truth behind all this!” My voice echoed off the marble walls, drawing more attention than I had intended.
We burst through the wrought garden gates, the cool night air hitting my face. The valet looked startled as Silvio practically threw me into the backseat of the sleek black car, its engine purring quietly in the background.
I went for the handle, but the door was child locked. He was too fast and I was stuck.
“Daddy, please,” I pleaded, my anger dissolving into desperation as he slid into the driver’s seat. “Don’t do this.”
“Once you understand, you’ll see that I’m right,” he said, not meeting my gaze.
“Understand what? That you don’t trust me? That I’m just a pawn to you?” Tears stung my eyes, blurring the opulent facade of the hotel as we pulled away.
“Baby, one day you’ll thank me,” he said, his voice a mixture of conviction and something else—was it regret?
Great. Another prison within the gilded cage of my life.
“Please,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I realized the futility of my situation. “We can talk. We can just…Daddy, don’t do this.”
He didn’t answer, driving through the Boston streets with purpose. And as the city lights streaked by in a blur of color and shadow, I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, a silent vow forming in my heart.
No matter what it took, I would find a way out. I would take back my life, even if it meant defying the kingpin who was my father.
“Please,” I pleaded. “Daddy.”
“I’m doing this for my grandchildren,” he said, then turned the radio up so he wouldn’t hear me.
And just like that, I’d been kidnapped again. And I had no idea how I was going to get out.
Chapter Fifteen: Tristan
The moment I saw Adriana wasn’t at her table, a cold dread washed over me. My heart raced as I scanned the crowd of the ritzy hotel venue, my eyes sifting through the sea of glittering dresses and tailored suits for any sign of her. Nothing.
I knew that she was dancing with an acquaintance but I’d gotten caught up talking about a deal with one of my guys…who was supposed to be watching her.
And now she was just gone, disappeared into the night somewhere.
“Have you seen Ade?” I asked Ray, who stood next to me having his…I don’t know, twelfth beer.
“Nope,” he replied. “Sorry, boss. You want me to go looking for her?”
“No, it’s okay,” I said, though it was definitely not okay. They were supposed to be watching her. I would deal with them later.
As I looked around and couldn’t find her, the knot in my throat tightened.
“Adriana!” I called out, my voice barely a ripple in the noise of the bustling event. With each second she remained hidden from view, I felt more and more nauseous.
She wouldn’t have wandered this far away from me. She knew exactly what was at stake.
My fists clenched by my side, I made my way out of the ballroom and toward the hallway.
As I walked to the exit, pushing past the guests with hurried apologies, my mind pictured her face—those sharp, observant eyes that missed nothing, that mouth quick to quip a witty comeback. The thought of her in trouble set my nerves on edge.
