Page 37 of Triplets for the Mafia Prince

14

BELLA

Isit in the living room, a book open on my lap, but my attention is focused entirely on the muffled conversation coming from the kitchen. Nic's voice, tinged with tension, carries through the thin walls. I strain to hear every word, which I know is rude, but too bad for him. My life is in his hands, hands I don’t know that I can trust. How weird to be so attracted to him when I don’t know him and he can be such a jerk.

Besides, if he didn’t want me to overhear his conversation, he shouldn’t have put it on speakerphone.

“Any idea on the hit attempt?” Nic asks his friend Max.

“Your father is blaming Rinella.”

That doesn’t make any sense to me. Do I think my father does terrible things that could hurt me? Yes. But I know he wanted this deal with Don Nardone. He wouldn’t do anything to ruin that.

“I don’t see Rinella coming after me. He wanted this deal,” Nic confirms my assessment.

"I know," Max agrees. "But Gino's convinced that Rinella double-crossed him. He's demanding the Outfit do something about it."

Don Nardone is bold and brazen to make demands of The Outfit. I’m not privy to the details of Mafia business, but I know The Outfit isn’t an organization to mess with.

“Rinella seemed genuinely shocked when Gino accused him. Apparently, the D’Amato family is demanding answers from him as well."

I roll my eyes. My father and D’Amatos are always squabbling about something.

"Has my father presented any evidence?" Nic asks.

"Nothing concrete, but you know how he is. He doesn't need evidence to start a war."

War?

“Nic, there’s something off about all this.” Max’s comment pulls my thoughts away from the idea of a war.

"What makes you say that?"

“I think the real reason Gino wanted me back in New York was to keep me close. He knows we're tight. He probably figured you'd reach out to me for help if you were in trouble."

Nic lets out a bitter laugh. "Like he really cares. He'd be happy with me dead."

There's a pause before Max speaks again, his voice low and serious. "That may be the point."

Is he saying Don Nardone wants his son dead? Is he the one who tried to kill us?

“What about Gia and the kids?” I hear tension in Nic’s voice.

"Gia's okay for now. But when I visited her, she told me Gino had also come by, asking about you.”

“But she’s okay?”

“Physically, yes, but… Christ, Nic, she said Gino threatened to take your niece, Daniella, away from her if she lied about hearing from you. He implied that he’d sell her."

My heart stops. Don Nardone was going to sell his grandchild? My mind whirls. Who is this man Nic is supposed to take me to?

The next bit of conversation I notice is Nic saying, “I don’t give a shit. He’s not selling my four-year-old niece to those fucking perverts in his Society.”

The blood drains from my face. The man I'm supposed to marry will sell a four-year old to “perverts”? His own flesh and blood.

The information about Don Nardone isn't an exaggerated rumor. It’s all true. His wives have died or disappeared, and I’m next. He might be old, but he’s still powerful and clearly a monster. I’ve been so naïve to think he’d be too old to pay me much attention, to think my life in New York would be easier than my life with my father.

Nic, the man I’ve nursed back to health… the one I kissed earlier… the one I felt safe sleeping next to… he’s going to bring me to Don Nardone. I’m such a fool.

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