Page 84 of Stolen Queen

Pain explodes across my cheek as my father's hand connects. I cry out, pressing my free hand on my cheek.

"You spiteful little brat," he snarls. "You keep your mouth shut!"

Matteo starts to advance. “I’ll kill you, you motherfucker.”

Elio grabs him by the shoulder to hold him back. “Matteo. Don’t.”

My cheek throbs, and I want nothing more than to run to Matteo's arms.

"That's the last time you'll ever touch her, Vincenzo," Matteo growls, a deadly promise shining in his eyes.

The air is thick with simmering violence. I know my father, know the depths of his rage and vindictiveness, and I can’t imagine how any of us will get out of this alive.

Elio's voice cuts through the silence. "Vincenzo, I think you're forgetting yourself. This isn't how we do business."

My father scoffs, his fingers digging painfully into my arm. "Business? You stole my daughter and you lied to me about it."

"We didn't steal anyone," Elio counters, his tone icy. "Ava is here of her own free will. She has my protection."

I flinch as my father's grip tightens further. "Protection? From what? Her own father?"

Matteo is coiled like a spring, ready to snap. I silently plead with him not to do anything rash, terrified of what my father might do to him.

“She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”

“You’re a fucking pussy letting the women in your life boss you around. That’s not how things work.” My father glances out the open door. “Where’s the Mad Dog?”

“He’s not here. We didn’t want to scare Ava,” Elio says smoothly.

“Pussy,” my father says again. “That’s good for us. We don’t have to worry about him going crazy and killing us all.”

“Let’s discuss this like reasonable men. There's no need for all this… unpleasantness,” Elio says.

“Fuck you.”

Elio seems to have a great deal of patience. "We all want what's best for Ava, don't we? Surely, we can come to an agreement that benefits everyone."

I hold my breath, hardly daring to hope. Could Elio really find a way out of this mess?

"An agreement? You can’t take what’s mine and then negotiate. You give it back. And since you haven’t, I’ll be taking her.”

“I understand your frustration. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work something out. At one point, you wanted Ava to join the D’Amato family. That can still happen.”

“You leaving your wife?” My father rolls his eyes.

“No. But I do want to avoid a war between our families. It wouldn't end well for anyone. Especially not for the Rinellas. After all… the Mad Dog has returned home, and well… truthfully, he could be anywhere. He was always difficult to control."

The implication in his words is clear, and I see my father's face pale slightly. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crosses his features.

“You’re a smart man. A reasonable man. I'm sure we can find a solution that works for everyone,” Elio tries again.

I glance at Matteo, radiating with anger. I feel like at any moment, he’ll snap and one of my father’s men will kill him, and then what? How will I go on? What will happen to our baby?

"You think I'm a fool?" my father snarls. "I don't want your pretty words or empty promises. I want justice." After a moment, my father pauses and seems to relax. “I tell you what. You hand over that bastard and we’ll call it even.”

Elio starts to speak, but Matteo steps forward. “Fine. But in exchange, you let Ava go with Elio. She’s under his protection.”

"No!" I cry out, struggling against my father's grip. "Matteo, don't do this!"

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