Page 94 of Heartless Mafia Prince 2: Rocco & Ryah

“Look who’s awake.” He flipped on the lights. I squinted, turning my head to the side, avoiding the bright bulbs.

He leaned over and gripped my hair. “You’re in deep shit, Rocco.”

“Fuck you,” I gritted out through bared teeth.

Luciano slammed my head against the wall.

“You said you’d protect my daughter,” he roared.

“I did everything in my power to keep her safe,” I shouted.

“You can’t pin this on me,” I snapped.

“The fuck I can’t.” Luciano pointed, standing over me.

“I told you she was not to pull any jobs. But you’re so fucking whipped you couldn’t put your foot down and tell her no. You’d rather let her die. I know everything, you slimy bastard. You let my daughter dangle from a truck at sixteen. And you were just willing to die for her, huh?”

I yanked my hands against the chains. “Yes! Yes!” I roared.

“Ryah, is her own person. I don’t control her. She’s not my fucking puppet. I love her because she’s strong, independent, and fearless.”

Almost fearless. She hated the thought of being on this earth without me. Same here.

“How’s Ryah?”

“You have no right to ask about her.”

“I do. We have a home together.”

“Not anymore. You killed her.”

My heart plummeted. “What?” The devastation in my voice was evident.

I searched Luciano’s, Duran’s, and Ugo’s stone-cold faces. None of them threw me a bone.

“Ryah’s dead?” I felt sick to my stomach.

His simmering gaze roved over me like I was roadkill. “She didn’t make it to surgery?” I asked again in disbelief.

He stood, staring at me, foaming at the mouth.

“Just get on with it. Kill me.” Tears burned the backs of my eyes. Clenching my eyes shut, I held them at bay.

Don’t let him break you, Rocco.

Sitting up straight as I could, I squared my jaw. “Let’s go.”

He laughed. “You see this, fellas? Young stupid love.”

His fist met my face, pounding into my flesh. Blood poured from my nose and mouth.

Laughter erupted from within. Deep, sick, hysterical chuckling was unleashed.

Lose yourself, Rocco.

I thought back on a memory. “Ryah, we don’t have to work on the project outside in the middle of the night.”

She held my arm as we left my dorm room, walking toward the middle of campus. “This is the best way to stay awake. No coffee needed. The freezing cold will keep you awake.”

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