Page 36 of Beautiful Vows

But can I be what Antonio asked of me?

“She killed herself for me and I trampled on her sacrifice when I moved into this world,” I breathe. Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to chase away the icy fingers that are clutching my skin. “The least I can do for her is to be her daughter, Aurelia Moretti.”

“Lia.” His voice is low in warning.

“No Dante. She died for me, and my plan was to kill all those men who were instrumental in her death, but instead, I’m going to change everything.”

He swallows.

“I…” I hesitate as I watch his eyes to see his reaction. “I am the ring that binds.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I am the boss of all bosses. Am I not?”

He nods.

“I rule over all the other syndicate leaders.”

“Which puts your head on the block, Lia. What the fuck are you thinking?”

“But I know I have Antonio on my side. And you…”

“The Bianchi’s, the Gallo’s, the Rossi’s. They’ll all be ready to take you down.”

“You brought me into this world, Dante.”

“Not for you to take over.”

“I know. It was for your own selfish reasons. You wanted to get one over on your father.” I stroke my stomach. “These babies and Rafe’s vote topples your father, but you should never have picked the Moretti daughter to do that.”

“I could only pick you, not only because you were promised to me, but because you always felt like mine.”

I take a shaky breath. “But you must have had a plan. Tell me what it was and I might stop the divorce.”

He laughs. “You can’t stop it.”

“Try me?”

His eyes pierce into mine before he sighs.

Chapter 13

Lia

"Okay, I'll tell you." I cross my arms over my chest. “You planned it with your father. You claimed you hated him, but it was all a ruse to bring me into the fold and see the reaction of the other leaders.”

“I hated him.”

“Past tense.” I arch an eyebrow. I could wait for him to tell me the truth, instead I want this over with. “Until you found out your mother’s death was natural, and he had nothing to do with it.”

“How do you know that?” At least he doesn't lie to me.

“I have my sources.”

"Why does that not surprise me?" He laughs, “But what you've gotten wrong is the plan to protect you was with my mother, not my father.”

I am surprised, but I nod casually. “Okay. Keep talking.”

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