Page 228 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

I wrapped my arms around him. He gently grabbed my face.

“You know I love you, right?” He smiled. “That I would do anything for you, even kill that fucking asshole?”

I grabbed on to his hand, stroking it slowly. “It’s okay,” I said, referring to what had just happened.

But it wasn’t okay. I was counting down the damn minutes until I could kill him.

“I love you more than anything.”

“I love you too, Tommy. I love you too.”

14

chiara

Daddy gazed at me from the middle of the room, brows furrowed. “What’re you doing here this late, mio tesoro?” He sat next to me on one of the barstools and gently shook the glass in his hand.

There were only a few stragglers in his restaurant this late at night. Thankfully, none of them were any of the whores. Some of the men smiled at me behind Daddy’s back, and I had no shame in giving them the eyes and flirting back with them.

After presenting me with the most beautiful platter of cheese and crackers and filling up Daddy’s glass, the bartender was dismissed.

“Waiting for Alessandro.”

It was 9:58 p.m., and that damn man still hadn’t shown his face. If this was another trick, I was going to do far worse than draw a fucking gun on him.

“Alessandro, huh?” He shook his head and sipped his drink. “You won’t find him here. He’s on business tonight.”

“Actually, I’m going—”

He nudged me. “Why don’t you spend the night with Tommy?”

Sure, Daddy. I’ll spend the night with Tommy and his whore. Sounds great.

I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Another way he was trying to steer me away from this business. But I couldn’t see the problem with me taking on more of a leadership role. We were family by blood from the womb, not blood from a fucking gun. He should trust me more than some of the other family members.

The door opened, and Alessandro walked in.

Daddy smiled, like Alessandro was the best thing to ever happen to him, and slapped a hand on his shoulder, squeezing a little too tightly. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m going on business with him,” I said.

Alessandro nodded. Daddy sucked in a breath.

“Mio tesoro. Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Here we go again.

“Tonight is a big deal. It’s not like the last time, which you missed.”

I glared at Alessandro. Missed.

When I turned my attention back to Daddy, I forced my best smile. “Well, Alessandro kindly offered to take me. I won’t disappoint you this time.”

Daddy looked back at Alessandro, his jaw clenched slightly but enough for me to catch it. “Alessandro,” he said, “a word.”

They walked to the opposite side of the restaurant. Alessandro gazed over at me, a smirk teasing the right corner of his lip. Daddy looked over, and I turned around, not wanting to eavesdrop.

“Abbiamo un accordo,” Daddy said quietly. He could never speak quietly. I used to hate that when I was a kid and he was scolding me in front of everyone, but now, it was very beneficial.

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