Page 73 of Scarred Hearts

The driveway, made of white stone, wound its way through trees and shrubs for a quarter mile until it opened up into a clearing, revealing the main grounds and house. There were several vehicles parked along the driveway, some familiar to me while others I didn’t recognize. I glanced over at Luke, who was running a finger back and forth over his lips as he watched out the window.

He must’ve sensed me staring or saw my reflection in the glass because he turned to me. “It’s okay,” he muttered, “I got your back.”

“Why would you need to have my back at my own family’s house?” I hissed.

The car came to a gradual stop. The butler, Horace, stood with his hands clasped behind his back near the grand Roman fountain. My father’s Consigliere, Angelo “Alchemy” Bravetti, stood next to him. A surge of unease washed over me as I realized something was terribly wrong. I wasn’t panicking, but I was now fully alert and ready for any threat.

My first thought was of my mother. Then, my mind filled with worry for Carmine, Enzo, or Luca. Something must have happened to one of them. Horace opened the door and extended his hand, but I brushed past him and stepped out of the car.

“Good afternoon, Miss Aggio,” Horace greeted me as Luke emerged from the car and positioned himself closely at my side.

Angelo bowed his head. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“I wasn’t given much of a choice,” I snorted but he didn’t find my humor to be funny whatsoever.

Luke placed his hands on his hips. “Damn, Gia, I didn’t pay enough attention to the news to know this place was this big. Your father left you some serious money, didn’t he?”

The thought hadn’t occurred to me in a while. It was my house, not my father’s any longer. I just hadn’t taken the time to sell any of the assets left to me. I’d mentioned selling the mansion briefly right after it happened. “Fuck,” I exhaled, “of course, that’s why they wanted me here. I told them I was going to sell this place.”

“Gia, there’s something I need—” Luke murmured, but was quickly interrupted by Angelo.

“We’ll speak more in private,” he stated assertively as he led us through one of the side doors, through the home, into my father’s office.

I hadn’t been in the room since before he passed. It was overwhelming, to say the least. And heartbreaking. A rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm me, but I refused to let a single tear fall. It was the life he’d chosen, it was the life I’d been raised in, and would eventually die in as well.

Frankie “Stabby Sam” Carbone, my father’s Underboss, also bowed his head when he greeted me, “Ciao, I hope your trip went well?”

Luke stepped to the side, posting himself in the sitting area, as I came to a stop in front of Frankie. “It did.”

“Good,” he replied as Angelo positioned himself at his side. “Why don’t you sit?” He stretched his arm out, gesturing to my father’s sizable, executive black desk. No one ever sat at his desk but him.

“Sure,” I remained agreeable as I rounded the desk, taking a seat, and rolling the chair underneath.

“How does it feel?” Frankie asked.

“Weird,” I half-smiled. “Empty, maybe? Makes me miss him.”

The two men in the room exchanged glances as a third one walked in, clutching a folder tightly under his arm. He cleared his throat and bowed respectfully before addressing me. “Miss Aggio, ma’am.” His eyes darted toward Angelo and Frankie. “Do I kiss her hand? Her cheeks?”

Angelo’s voice growled warningly, “Not if you want to leave here unharmed.”

“Uh,” I waved a hand. “Hello? What the fu..heck is going on?”

Taking a deep breath, the man blinked rapidly. “My name is Bryce Lloyd. Six weeks after you appeared before the lawyers after Mr. Aggio… uh your father’s passing, there was something Angelo found in the bedroom, tucked away in the armoire.” He glimpsed them again and Angelo nodded his head. “Miss Aggio, you haven’t just inherited the estate.”

My face screwed, my nose wrinkling. “Okay?” Craning my neck, I peered at Luke, who was watching me protectively, but his expression told me he knew what was coming. Bringing my gaze back to the strange man, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“Mr. Aggio left strict orders for you to take over the family business, stating that,” he fumbled, opening the folder as my mouth fell agape in disbelief, “there is no one else who’s capable to run the empire. My only daughter is young, but she’s levelheaded. She knows the business inside and out because she used to spy on me and my men when she was little. She watched things no child should have to see. She’s fully capable of running the family. She’s strong and powerful.”

No no no no, I repeated in my brain. FUCK NO! “You got this all wrong somehow.”

With his glasses on the tip of his nose, he cleared his throat again, continuing, “With the help of my most trusted men, Angelo and Frankie, I have no doubt in my mind she’ll run a smooth business. I think it’s time for a change. Prepare the proper ceremony. If she doesn’t want to take over the Aggio Family, she may pass it on to someone she trusts who isn’t one of my sons. If my sons ask why I haven’t chosen them? Carmine will die in prison because he got caught. Lorenzo, or Enzo, as he likes to be called, is a loser who only cares about traveling the world and partying. He’ll throw it all away. Luca is too full of himself and a pop star. He only does small jobs, so he can continue to work for Giovanna should he choose. She’s the only person I feel is capable of carrying on my legacy with respect and poise.” He pointed to the paper, lifting his eyes back to mine. “Then he makes a note right here to delete the insults of his sons on the final draft.”

“WHAT?!” I leapt to my feet as the news finally sank in. “I’m not a fucking gangster! Fuck that! I’m a dancer!”

“Miss Aggio,” Bryce said calmly as he closed the folder and tucked it under his arm. “The job is now yours. What you choose to do with it is your decision.”

Mindlessly, I drew the gun from the front of my bra holster within a split second, aiming it at him and repeating, “I’m not a fucking gangster!”

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