Page 55 of A Promise For Tomorrow

Fuck. Me.This woman is about to have me dropping to my knees just to worship her right here.

So. Fucking. Alluring.

My hands tremble with the desire to grab her by the neck and kiss her senseless, but the stares of her family have me dowsing that lust real fast.

“What the hell are you doing?” Madison growls low through her clenched teeth.

Mikayla makes eye contact with me, her mannerisms so similar to Madison’s, it’s actually quite scary. She raises a sharp blonde eyebrow before resting a hand on Madison’s tense shoulder.

“Maddy, it’s okay. He shouldn’t have to wait in the car all night. I think Dad would like to meet your new boyfriend. You guys met in Arizona, right?”

The clever little fox tilts her head as she requests my response. Madison looks like she’s about to slap her sister, so I claim her hand in mine, stepping around my girl and over the threshold.

“Sorry to interrupt. I know it’s been an overwhelming and eventful last few days. I just wanted to make sure Madison was alright. I know she’s been so worried about you, sir.”

Maddy gives my hand a squeeze as she pulls me closer to the living room where a woman, who I’d assume is her father’s girlfriend, sits on the couch next to Madison’s younger sister. She tugs me along to the recliner where her father sits. It’s that exact moment when my heart drops to my stomach—and I must admit, it takes a lot to shock me.

I’ve seen it all.

Her father Vinny Marrone—as inVincenzo Marrone—stares at me with as shocked a face as I. This is what I fucking get for not doing my due diligence like I do any other person I’ve ever been involved with. I didn’t do it with Madison because she is different. I didn’t want to know every detail about her. Iwanted to discover those things myself. Like unwrapping a present.

One designed just for me.

Layer by fucking layer.

Of course, I had Selena give me as much detail as possible about her before kidnapping her, but I never once had my men look into her history. There’s no file in my office on Madison Marrone. How did I overlook the last name?Fuck. Fuck. Fuck… This is so bad.

Madison stops a foot away from her father, her hand slightly trembling in mine. I tighten my hold on her to reassure her, but it’s me who needs reassurance right now. To know her father wont whip out his piece and shoot me between the fucking eyes.

“Diego De La Cruz,” Vinny chuckles. Madison stiffens next to me. “Care to explain to me how you of all people are dating my daughter? I heard you were dead.”

“Wh…at?” Madison squeaks, looking at me and then to her father. “You two know each other?” There’s a bite of betrayal to her voice that I don’t like. But damn,Mariposita. A fucking heads up would have been nice.

I clear my throat before speaking. “I didn’t know your father was Vincenzo Marrone.”

“Sweetheart,girls…” Vincenzo starts, he reaches out his hand to clasp Madison’s. She quickly releases my hand to go to him. “I know you girls may have suspected over the years…that I was part of the Mafia…And you were correct. I never wanted to get you involved. The less you knew the better.” He pats the top of Madison’s hand. “Your old man is an executor for the Italian Mafia. But this has to stay between us. As you know, this kind of information could be extremely dangerous.” The warning is clearly written in his facial expressions.

Mikayla and Madison let out an incredulous laugh while her younger sister whispers, “I knew it.” Vincenzo’s girlfriend doesn’t even blink. Of course she doesn’t. She’s known.

His eyes, so similar to Madison’s, reach mine, prompting my little butterfly to swivel her head over her shoulder to look at me.

“I wasn’t stupid when she was dating Killian. We had a nice conversation at her graduation party about keeping my daughter safe. There was a mutual understanding. Man to man. But you…The Bone Breaker… Never in my lifetime did I expect to see my daughter anywhere in your vicinity. The underworld treats you like a ghost.A rumor.I thought that’s what you were until I saw a picture of you on the FBI’s most wanted list.”

I force a smile to my numb lips.What the fuck do I say?Her father isn’t me, but damn he’s got quite the reputation in his section of the underworld. The Italians treat him like a king because he is one in his own right. He may not be the leader of the syndicate, but he sure as shit holds just as much honor and respect as Lorenzo Caruso.

“So… you didn’t meet in Arizona?” Mikayla adds sarcastically. Her father shoots her a knowing look.

“No. We didn’t,” I sigh, running a shaky hand through my hair.Fuck. I’ve never ‘met the parents before’. Not only is this new to me but her father isVincenzo fucking Marrone.“Mind if we sit?” I ask him, eyeing the space on the couch next to the recliner.

He nods. “Mikayla, do your old man a favor and grab Mr. De La Cruz here a glass of my Pappy Van Winkle.” My brows raise, appreciating his taste in bourbon.

“Straight up son, or neat?”

“Neat. Who would want to water down such a beautiful bourbon?” I relax my shoulders, letting out a chuckle.

Vincenzo offers a small smile while rubbing his gray chin hair. “I still want to hear the entire story, but I’m starting to approve, Madison,” he laughs, wincing and holding a pillow to his chest. I could tell he tried to avoid showing his weakness in front of me,but fuck,his ribs were sawed open and wired shut. Any man would be wincing.

Me included.

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