Page 78 of The Gangster King

“The fuck did he just say?”Connor growls in my ear.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ADELINA

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The thing about being the daughter of a mob boss is that you hear a lot of things.

I know more than most people think I do. I suppose it’s a mixture of survival and curiosity.

Right now, as Jono leads me through the party, I know if I started screaming that I’d been kidnapped and asked for help, not a single person would help me.

The civilians know who I am and wouldn’t dare touch me. Their nervous and confused laughter would be met with a wink by a nearby crime family member.

By then, I’d be silenced.

My own father wouldn’t get close by the time Dante’s men moved in on me.

The man himself would make me pay.

I might like it. I might not.

No one is going to come to my rescue. Not tonight.

And when I’m back inside the Baldassare mansion, it’s just that much harder, if not impossible.

“Keep moving,” Jono says but doesn’t dare touch me.

I didn’t realize I’d slowed, but as I look around the room and tell my brain to think faster—harder—I’m no more clued up by the time we’re halfway to the restroom.

Think.

How am I going to get out of here? It feels like now or never.

During my incarceration, I’ve been either locked up or beside Dante with no hope of escape. This is the most freedom I’ve had.

But I know this venue.

The ball is held here each year without fail. The bathrooms are in the middle of the building and have no windows to climb out of, and even if I could create a weapon from something, Jono is twice my size.

It’d take a lot of noise and way more strength than I have to take him down.

Surprise would help, but I suspect the dick will stand outside the bathroom door like the good little guard he is.

My heart starts to sink.

“Adelina,” Jessica Rossi turns as we walk past.

I give her a friendly smile, but I’m not in the mood to talk. I haven’t seen her to ages, so I slow to say a quick hello, and as I do, I take in the half Italian woman who’s near my age and...

Size.

“Hi, Jess. It’s been months. How are you?” I place my hand on her arm. “My god, I so need to pee.”

“Oh, go, we can talk later.” She smiles.

“Join me. I want to hear how your honeymoon was,” I say eagerly.

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