Page 56 of Gilded Princess

Her head jerks back at the mention of biker dudes. “No, I . . . must've missed that somehow. I'll call her after we hang up."

"Don't bother. Her cell reception is nonexistent where she is. But I talked to her earlier, and she was okay. Told me about that creep she met online. Honestly, it's probably a good thing that none of us are in our usual routines right now." I shudder. The thought of another man following one of us freaks me out more than I let on. "That Max guy sounds like a creep."

“Oh, okay. I’ll have Wolf look into it.”

“Call me later, okay? Don’t leave me hanging or I’ll worry!”

“Always,” she says with a smile. “Be safe, Maddie.”

The two words we’ve uttered to one another more times than I can remember suddenly take on new meaning after both of us have had our run-ins with the evil and deranged men of this world.

“You too, Lainey. You too.”

She smiles at me one more time before ending the video call. I stare at my phone for a moment before I decide against calling my sister. If she wanted to talk to me, she’d pick up the phone or call me back. Maybe she really does have bad service. Or maybe she’s ignoring me.

I lock my phone and toss it on the coffee table before leaning back to settle into the cushions and mindlessly watch the next movie.

Chapter Twenty-One

MATTEO

Five days.

She’s been in my apartment for five goddamn days.

And the world hasn’t exploded.

Yet.

I’m not positive that the rug isn’t going to get pulled out from underneath me and murder me and everyone I care about.

It’s not a matter of if but when.

That’s why I have contingency plans all over the city. Like a garden, I’ve planted seeds all over this city and a few others, watering them appropriately with alliances, rumors, and money among other things.

We have enough enemies as it is without total dissension within our family. The cracks are widening, sides are being taken, and anyone who doesn’t end up on the right one won’t be here soon enough.

That’s one thing my father and I agree on: If a man’s loyalty can be bought, then he’s a liability. And liabilities are dangerous in my life.

If the heads of the five families really knew how bad it was, they’d cut their losses and wipe our line from the board. It’s a delicate dance, overthrowing your father to take his place. If I push too hard, one of his little rats will scurry to him and inform him of my plans, fucking everything up.

Brute force won’t work simply because we don’t have the soldiers for it, not when I don’t know where allegiances of the other families lie.

That leaves subtly, patience, and duplicity.

Something my father doesn’t seem to understand. His arrogance is going to be his downfall.

My chair creaks as I lean forward to pull up the security footage of my house, settling on a video from a few days ago.

I watch in fascination as Dante follows Madison all over my house. She’s like a little butterfly, always floating around from one room and one thing to the next. She never sits still for too long unless it’s to binge-watch a movie or two.

Eighties adventures and action movies seem to be her favorite. But I already knew that. I remembered that from our time together years ago, and even if I didn’t, I’ve had tabs on her for longer than even Dante knows.

They’re at the table playing some card game. Dante’s mouth moves, but I don’t have the volume on, so I have no idea what they’re talking about. The need to hear their conversation is nearly overwhelming. Especially when Madison tips her head back and laughs. Dante smiles at her, and even from this tiny screen on my computer, I can see it in his eyes.

He’s into her.

The urge to wrap my hand around her throat and take her lips as a reminder to her—to everyone—that she’s mine rides me hard, and I clench my fists on my lap.

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