Page 31 of Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss

“Oh, but it can. You just didn’t read the whole thing, did you? You wanted money. And I’m all for putting money first, but you have to be careful with your contracts and deals you make.”

“But that’s illegal—” Chiara’s mother says.

“Your daughter said the same thing, but you see, the loan wasn’t exactly legal either. And I have your daughter.” I get my phone and turn the screen with the camera feed to them. “She’s mine now. See?”

The mother bursts into tears. Paradossi gapes at me like a fish.

“I’ll give you everything!” he says. “Take the house! Take the restaurant! Take everything, but not my daughter! Please! I’m begging you!”

“I like the way you’re thinking.” I grin and wave over one of my men, who offers a new contract and a pen to Paradossi. “Sign this, and it’s all over.”

“No,” he says. “I only sign once Chiara and my wife are free, or you’ll just kill us all.”

Paradossi isn’t as stupid as he looks. But the more time passes, the more people will be suspicious. Nico also knows the Paradossis were on their way home, and he’ll surely check to make sure everything’s fine.

“All right. You’ll get what you want, but first, you’ll make a lot of calls, and if you utter one wrong word, your precious daughter will suffer. Do you understand?” I need to keep suspicious people at bay.

Paradossi better have excellent acting skills because I don’t want his voice to tremble or give away that something’s wrong.

He bobs his head. “I’ll do it.”

“Give me your wedding ring.” I have a little plan with Chiara.

Releasing her immediately might get me the signatures I want and the Paradossis’ silence, but I’m not willing to let her go just yet.

“Why?”

“Just give it to me.” I need it, and the reason why is none of his business.

Domenico will hate my plan, but that only makes me happier. He should’ve confided in me instead of going behind my back.

Paradossi takes off his ring and gives it to me. Perfect. With a little bit of deception, Chiara will do anything I want her to and she won’t try to run away. That’s exactly what I need for my plan.

CHAPTER 16

Chiara

It’sRocco who brings me some water and a sandwich and lets me go to the bathroom. He just stands at the door, watching me. It’s unnerving. I don’t have anything to do. There’s nothing I can occupy my mind with.

Maybe I should ask Rocco to give me a book or something. But where is Adriano? I haven’t seen him in a while. What is he doing? What is he up to?

I don’t even know if my mom and dad are still at Nico’s or if they returned home. Either way, they must be worried sick. Unless Adriano is sending them texts from my phone. But my parents would never believe I just disappeared without telling them anything about it in person or at least over the phone.

I stare at the ceiling. No matter how much I try to think of something to escape, I don’t come up with anything. And how can I? I’m on my own in a huge building full of armed men.

My only option is to run for the window once I’m untied and jump through it to my death, and I don’t like that idea at all. I don’t want to die, but I don’t know if Adriano will let me live, even after he gets what he wants.

After I don’t know how long, the door opens and Adriano strides in. The corners of his lips are quirked up. He’s happyabout something, and I have no clue if that’s good or bad for me. Probably bad.

“You can go,” Adriano says to Rocco, and his gaze lands on me. “Missed me?”

I don’t respond.

He pulls his shirt over his head, revealing his strong muscles. I don’t look away, even though I should. Why is someone so evil so good-looking? Why did my path have to cross with his?

He disappears in the bathroom, and I glance up at the cameras that Rocco set up in the corners of the room. There was a small red light that was on while the cameras were filming. I don’t see that light anymore.

My pulse speeds up. What does that mean? Maybe it’s just because Adriano wants some privacy or he doesn’t have the need for the cameras any longer. I have no idea why they were even installed.

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