Page 50 of Heartless Union

“Speaking of fathers, can I see mine? He doesn’t even know what happened to me.”

I hesitate. “It’s not safe right now. I need you where I can see you. And who’s to say Carlo and Dante haven’t gotten to him.”

She gasps, pulling her hand away. Already, I feel a wall settling back between us. “My father would never betray you or me. He wouldn’t.”

“We can’t take that chance. So, I’m sorry, Lara, but for right now, you can’t see your father. Let me handle Carlo and Dante, and then afterward, you can see him.”

“How long will that take?”

“I’m not sure. It could be days. It could be weeks.”

“I don’t have weeks.” She stands up, moving even farther away from me.

“What’s the big deal? You’ll see your father when this is all over. Until then, you must remain here.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes, you will.” I stand up, too, towering over her.

“You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Bossing me around. What happened to a fresh start?”

I sigh, backing away from her. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I admit. “Can’t you understand that?”

She deflates slightly. “I do understand. But I need to see my father, Rocco. Please.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t let you. Just wait until things calm down. I need to make sure I know who I can trust. And right now, that isn’t your father. Be patient, Lara. That’s something I’ve had to learn.”

I walk away before she can argue more.

My father calls me over to his house to discuss business. Which means I’ll have to spend an hour and a half listening to my father fuck things up, and I can’t do anything about it.

“Where are Massimo and Emilio?” I ask once we walk into his office.

“I wanted to have a talk with you. One to one.” He settles behind his desk. “I have to say, Rocco, I don’t like what happened with Carlo and Dante.”

I remain standing. “Well, neither do I. I really didn’t appreciate them breaking into my house and kidnapping my wife and sister.”

He holds up his hands. “No need to be snappy. I’m just saying. I don’t like what happened. But I have to say, I don’t like how you handled it.”

“What?”

“Carlo and Dante should be dead for what happened, but you let them get away.”

“Because if I tried to stop them, either Gabriella or Lara would have been killed.”

Father shrugs. “Then you should’ve made a choice. But they should’ve been stopped either way. And you didn’t do it.”

My anger is bubbling to the surface. “I will not apologize for not getting Lara or Gabriella killed. They’re alive because of me.”

“From where I’m standing, they’re alive because Lara managed to escape and led us to Gabriella. You should me impressed with your wife for that. I know I am. But a man should never be upstaged by his wife. And Lara upstaged you, son. We can’t have that. You need to go and put her in her place.”

“Put her in her place?”

“Yes. However means necessary. And once you do, I’ll consider you ready to take over after me once I’m gone.”

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