Page 82 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

My chest constricts as panic sets in. I reach for the door handle as he moves around the car toward the driver’s side. But the door doesn’t open. I tug and tug the handle, push and push on the door, but the child safety locks must be on.

He gets into the driver’s seat and whips away from the curb, merging into traffic.

This can't be happening. Not after everything with the stalker, not when I thought we were finally safe. Is that why we’re home? Because Max caught Benny?

My mind races to the twins, grateful they're secure at school, even as terror grips me about what this man might want with me.

I fumble in my coat pocket for my phone, fingers trembling as I try to unlock the screen. I need to call Nic.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the man says, his tone deceptively calm. "Unless you want something unfortunate to happen to those beautiful children of yours."

My hand freezes over the keypad. "You stay away from my kids."

"That depends entirely on you, Mrs. Cantore." He holds out his hand. "The phone, please. For their sake."

The threat in his voice is unmistakable. With shaking fingers, I place my phone in his palm, feeling another piece of my security slip away.

He opens the window and tosses the phone out with a cold smile.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

"Ricardo Avila. Your brother and I have some… unfinished business to discuss."

The name is familiar but I can’t place why. “What do you want with me?”

"Your brother has been quite busy since taking over from your father.” Ricardo looks through the rearview mirror, frowns, and then makes a quick right that has me nearly falling over. “He’s dismantled decades of profitable arrangements. It's time someone reminded him how things really work in this business."

"And kidnapping me is supposed to accomplish that?"

"You're just the beginning, Mrs. Cantore." His eyes glitter with malice. "By the time I'm done, Niccolo Nardone will understand exactly how much he has to lose."

My blood turns to ice when I remember where I’ve heard this name. Ricardo, or Ricky Avila, was on Nic’s list of possible stalkers, according to Max.

The texts, the cryptic messages, the feeling of being watched, it was all him.

"You're the one who's been stalking me." My words are a whisper, more to myself than him.

Ricardo's smile widens. "Did you miss me while you were gone?”

"All those months… you were watching me and my children? What kind of sick game are you playing?"

The sick, amused expression evaporates, replaced with a menacing rage. "This isn't a game. Your brother killed my father, took apart everything your father spent generations building. Don Gino was a great man and my father was a loyal soldier, until Nic decided to play king."

"Your father chose the wrong side," I say, fighting to keep my voice steady. "He knew the consequences."

"And now your brother will learn about consequences too." Ricardo sneers. "Starting with his precious baby sister. Then maybe those sweet children of his. What are their names? Mary Anne? Eleanor? Brandon. Old-fashioned names. Not even Italian.”

It’s Marianne, but I don’t correct him. Nor do I mention they’re special names between my brother and Bella during a time when Ricky’s revered Don Gino was trying to kill them.

"You're insane," I breathe. "Nic will hunt you down."

"That's exactly what I'm counting on." Ricardo checks his rearview mirror again. "By the time I'm finished, he'll understand exactly how it feels to watch his family suffer while he's powerless to stop it."

“I’d be careful underestimating my brother. Gino did that, and look what it got him.”

His jaw tics, like he doesn’t like me talking about my father’s failures. "Nic is the one who shouldn’t be underestimating me. When this is all said and done, I’ll be in charge and he’ll be dead.”

"You clearly don't know my brother as well as you think." I meet Ricardo's gaze steadily through the rearview mirror. The fear is still there, but it's being replaced by something stronger. Determination.

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