Page 22 of Ruthless Match

My jaw tightened. “I know she’s upset; that’s why I need to fix this. But I can’t let her think she can run away from me. She needs to understand that I’m not the enemy.”

She heard you ordering her father’s murder, so to her, you are Public Enemy #1.

We arrived at the DeSantis mansion, and I was out of the car before Marco could fully park. Not giving a damn about his security team, I stormed into the house.

“Where are Mr. DeSantis and his daughter?” I demanded of no one in particular. A scared maid pointed me toward Dominic’s office down the hall.

My steps quickened the closer I got to the door. This was it, the moment of truth.

Like a bull in a China closet, I burst in and found Aurora in tears and Dominic looking stoic. I wanted to slap the snide look off his face. Hell, I wanted to do a lot more than that, but I didn’t. That’s what got me into this mess.

Dominic looked me over and took out a decanter and two glasses.

“Well, hello, Matteo. I’ve been expecting you. Would you like a drink?”

Ignoring him, I turned to Aurora. “Aurora, we need to talk. Marco is waiting outside to take us home.”

“What is there to talk about, Matteo? I heard everything.”

Unable to resist throwing a jab, Dominic gets lippy. “Looks like my daughter isn’t being taken care of very well, Matteo. Why else would she run home?”

That’s when I lost control. I pulled out my handgun and pointed it at Dominic. I wasn’t planning on pulling the trigger, not in front of Aurora, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“This has gone on long enough, DeSantis. Either you hand over the tapes, or I kill you or Aurora. It’s up to you. Either way, your hotels will be mine because if I take her out, I’ll make it look like you did it. What’s it going to be?”

I had no intention of shooting Aurora, but I needed to call Dominic’s bluff. He had become too cocky and arrogant. I need Aurora to see him for what and who he is.

Dominic looked at me calmly, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He was scared shitless, exactly what I wanted.

It occurred to me that although I threatened to kill Aurora, I never pointed the gun at her. I couldn’t.

Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at Aurora. To my surprise, I didn’t see fear; I saw anger and hatred. I wasn't sure whether it was directed at me or her father. I had a feeling it was both.

I knew I couldn’t risk getting lost in her eyes, so I focused on the man who had caused all of this. The man who didn’t seem to care about his daughter at all and sold her out for greed. He made me sick.

“Time is running out, DeSantis. Make up your mind.”

Dominic hesitated and that was enough for Aurora to turn all her rage on him.

Yelling but on the verge of tears, she pleaded with him.

“Give him what he wants, Dad. Or do I mean so little to you that you would let him kill me just so you can live out some Godfather or Sopranos fantasy?”

Glaring at Aurora, Dominic sighed in defeat, stood from his desk, and walked to a safe hidden beneath the floor. “From the time you were born, all you’ve done is cause problems. You never could leave well enough alone.”

Aurora was shocked. I could see the wheels spinning in her eyes. She had come here to warn and save him, and in return, she was met with cold derision.

He returned the tapes and handed them to me.

Inside, I was relieved, but I didn’t trust the son-of-a-bitch. I knew better.

“Where are the others?”

DeSantis tried to play stupid, but he had no idea who he was messing with. Only an idiot would have one copy.

“I - I - I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stuttered as he tried to pour a glass of scotch.

The gun was still pointed at him as I seethed through gritted teeth. “I’m not stupid, Dominic. I know there is another copy. Where is it?”

---