Page 85 of Triplets for the Mafia Prince

“Say hello to Lucifer for me.”

My father's eyes widen, a final plea forming on his lips. I don't let him speak.

I pull the trigger.

The gun bucks in my hand. Blood and brain matter spray across my face, hot and sticky. His body goes limp in my grip. I let him fall.

The sound of the gunshot still rings in my ears as I stare at what remains of the monster who shaped my life. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him and not had a moment to fear him.

I wipe his blood from my face .

“Want me to take care of the trash?” Eddie asks from the doorway.

I shake my head. “Leave him. Let’s burn it down.”

His eyes widen. “The room?”

I shake my head. “The whole thing.” I look over at him. “Any leads on who betrayed me?”

“Max says he talked to Mickey who has since dispatched Carlo.”

“Are we sure Mickey?—”

“Carlo was one of your dad’s.”

“Good. Work with Mickey to pin this on Carlo and whoever else wants to stay loyal to my father.”

“Will do.”

If Carlo is already dead, we’ll need to be creative to pin this on him, but I trust my men to manipulate and pay off anyone we need to.

I move to exit the room. “Bella got off okay?”

“Leo delivered her personally. Max has extra men around your sister’s place in case there’s any retaliation. Oh… and Mickey has sent some of his old friends to help. He wants to make sure you don’t think he had anything to do with Carlo and your father.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” I’ll be sure to reward him and Leo handsomely for their loyalty.

I leave the room and head to my penthouse. I haven’t been there in forever. It almost doesn’t feel like home. I know when I get Bella there, she’ll turn it into a home, a thought that makes me smile.

Before I can bring her here, though, I need to change my clothes and shower my father off me. A ceremonial washing away of his vile filth. Then I can go to Bella, clean and ready to be the man she needs.

32

BELLA

Ipace back and forth across Gia's elegant living room, worry for Nic consuming me.

"Sit down, please. You're making me dizzy," Gia says from her perch on the sofa. Her twins play in the corner, oblivious to my anxiety.

I shake my head, continuing my path across the floor. "I can't. What if something went wrong? What if Gino's men…" The words catch in my throat.

Max stands guard by the window, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. The fact that Nic needed to station his most trusted man here speaks volumes about the danger we're in. Even with Gino potentially dead, his loyal soldiers could seek revenge.

"Nic knows what he's doing," Max says, but his eyes never leave the street outside.

"The power vacuum this creates…" Gia's voice trails off. She doesn't need to finish the thought. If Nic succeeds in killing Gino, he'll need to move fast to secure his position. He’ll be at risk from within the organization as well as outside it. Theother families will be circling like sharks, ready to challenge his authority. And if he fails…

Max glances at her. For a moment, something flashes in his eyes, something I can’t quite name. It makes me think of unrequited love. “Nic has been planning for this since your mother… well… you know. He’s ready. His men are ready.”

---