Page 84 of Triplets for the Mafia Prince

“I want to stay?—”

“Please.”

Her eyes are soft, sweet. “Okay.” It makes me wonder about all the times we butted heads when I tried to get her safe. Maybe I should have just said please.

I turn to Leo and Eddie. "Make sure she gets to Gia's safely. And for Christ’s sake, put a coat on her." I know Gia will find her something else to wear, but until then, I don’t want Bella to be forced to leave in such revealing clothes.

"You got it, Boss." Leo gently guides Bella toward the door.

She looks back at me once more. "I love you."

God, how I want to hold her, to let her words, her love, wrap around me. But I can’t. Not until this is over.

“I’ll see you soon.”

I watch until the door closes behind them, knowing she's in good hands. Max and Gia will keep her safe while I deal with the monster who tried to destroy everything I hold dear.

"Love?" Gino spits out. "You don't know shit about love."

"There was a time I believed that. But I have loved. Mom. Gia's mom." I shake my head. "Did you think I wouldn't figure it out? About Mom?" My voice comes out as a growl. "I was twelve, not stupid. Those treatments she never got…" I hit him with the gun, letting my anger fly.

His head snaps, but he quickly brings it back to me, sneering. "Your mother was weak?—”

I hit him again. “What were you saying?”

“You won’t survive this.”

I shrug. “Gia and the kids will. Bella will. That’s all that matters.” I shake my head. “You’re the one who’s weak and stupid. Gia’s mother loved you.” She loved me too. I’ll never forget her kindness, how she looked after me when my mother died. She didn’t deserve what happened to her, and taking care of Gia is the only way I can pay back her support.

“What is wrong with you?” I ask, genuinely curious. Sure, men in my world can be heartless. But my father’s depravity, his level of cruelty, knows no bounds. He has no values. No honor. He’s led by his baser impulses, all of which are violent.

“Fuck you?—”

I grip him by the throat, pushing him back into the wall. "Did you enjoy it? Watching us suffer? Or were you too busy breaking in your next victim?"

"Everything I did…" He wheezes. "Was to build our empire."

Did he sayour? "No." I squeeze my fingers tighter. "Everything you did was to feed your sick desires. The business was just your cover for being a monster."

"You think you've won?" Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth. "Everything you are, I made you. The strength, the ruthlessness—that's my blood in your veins."

I lean in close, letting him see the darkness he’s bragging about creating. "You didn't make me. You just showed me what true evil looks like. And now?" My lips curl into a cold smile. "Now I'm going to become the monster you always wanted me to be."

I press the barrel of my gun under his chin. "What I’d really like is to make you experience every torture, every humiliation you’ve inflicted on others. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the stomach for it. You should thank me that you won’t have to endure too much pain.”

His eyes widen slightly. It’s the first genuine fear I've seen from him. He knows I'm not bluffing.

"You wanted a son who could be as cruel as you?" My voice drops to a whisper. "Congratulations. You're about to meet him."

I tighten my grip on my father's throat, feeling the full weight of what I'm about to do. His façade finally cracks and real fear bleeds through as he realizes I’m capable of murder.

“You do this, you’re no better than me,” he says.

I stare him straight in his dark, soulless eyes. “I’ll take my chances.” I bring the gun to his forehead. My hand trembles slightly, not from doubt but from the magnitude of crossing this line. Killing in business is one thing. Killing your own father…

But this isn't murder. This is justice, self-defense against a lifetime of abuse and loss. Protection for those I love, Bella, our unborn child, Gia and her twins.

He tries to speak again, but I cut off his air. No more words. No more manipulation. No more chances to hurt anyone else.

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