Page 12 of Vicious Redemption

“You’re going to kill my father.”

It’s a statement, not a question, but I answer her all the same. “Don Guerra wasn’t just involved in the plan. He instigated it. He walked the mayor into the auction room to set me up. How can I possibly let that slide?”

Tia jumps out of bed, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. “How could you do otherwise if you really loved me?” she breathes, then she races to the bathroom before I can respond.

“Fuck.” Scrubbing my tired face, I fling back the bedcovers and stand. Snatching my boxer briefs from the floor, I don them as I follow her.

But the main bathroom is empty, only my reflection looking back at me from the wall-length mirror. I frown as I scan the empty space. Then, my ear catches a sniffle behind the closed door to the toilet. Sighing, I step closer and hear Tia sobbing softly inside the enclosed space.

Despite my intense ire toward her father, I don’t want to make her cry.

It tugs at my heartstrings and makes me feel like a monster.

I know it can’t be easy being torn between two feuding families, trapped in the middle with people she cares about on both sides.

“Tia, will you come out and talk to me?” I ask, keeping my voice low and calm as I lean my forehead against the door that separates us.

“I don’t want to talk to you. I hate you. Just leave me alone!” she shouts.

First, she loves me, now she hates me? I thought we were making progress, coming together, and working through our issues. But it feels like we ended up right back where we started. And the sudden whiplash from her emotions makes me question her once more. Did she only tell me she loves me to manipulate me? To get me to let down my guard? Was she hoping that would convince me to be lenient with her family?

And if her only concern is for them, how can I trust her?

I don’t know what to think, what to believe anymore. But once again, I find myself questioning her loyalty.

Beyond frustrated that she’s angry with me when her father is the one who set this whole thing in motion—and showed such little concern for her at any point along the way—I bristle. “Fine. You know what? Stay in there and pout. See if I care,” I snap.

Storming into the other room, I change quickly into fresh clothes, putting on a suit, and finger combing my hair into place. I’d intended to spend most of the day with Tia, trying to reconcile what happened and willing to blow off my meetings to mend the rift between us.

But if she’s going to act like a spoiled brat, then that’s exactly how I’ll treat her.

Glancing at her side table, I unplug her cell phone, then scan the room one last time before heading out the door.

I’m fucking spent after staying up all night, waiting for news on my father’s condition. It pisses me off further that Tia’s in there crying about her own father’s future when mine is the one who spent hours on an operating table last night, fighting for his life.

“Signor Leo,” Luigi says, falling into stride with me as I head down the hall toward the front door. He must have been waiting for me but knew better than to disturb us.

“Any word from the hospital yet?” I straighten my tie and give my suit jacket a tug.

Luigi shakes his head. “I assume no news is good news, though.”

I hope he’s right. The ICU will be my first stop, though, before I carry on with what needs to get done today. “Tell Rasco and Johnny to meet me there in an hour.”

Luigi gives a curt nod but continues to walk with me to the front door.

Digging into the front pocket of my slacks, I pull out Tia’s phone and hand it to him. “My wife is not to have access to a phone—or leave the house. Post guards at all the doors, and never let her out of your sight if she leaves our room.”

“Sir,” Luigi confirms with another nod.

His lips press into a thin line of determination, and I wonder if he doesn’t like putting Tia on house arrest. I don’t care if it bothers him, so long as he follows my orders. It’s not his place to question me. Still, I can’t just leave it there.

“She can’t be trusted, Luigi,” I explain. Since when have I ever felt the need to justify my decisions to anyone but my father? Perhaps he’s right. Tia’s making me soft. “Not until this is settled. Even if she wouldn’t want to betray me again, she’s still loyal to her family. Anything she says to them could be used against me.”

“Of course, sir,” he agrees, his tone impassive as he wipes his face clean of emotion.

Buttoning my suit coat, I pause as Luigi opens the front door for me. Then I exit, signaling my driver to bring up my Ferrari. I know I have work to get done, but I also need the opportunity to blow off some steam. And driving fast will help with that, at least a little.

Pulling out my phone before my canary-yellow car pulls up in front of me, I dial my first number. It’s time to make the calls required to put my schedule back in order. Thankfully, as the leader of my family—and most of Piovosa now—it’s not like anyone can refuse me.

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