Page 46 of Vow of Silence

No, my parties won’t change the world. But they help me to tolerate my own.

I spare Marcus a glance while he waits at a respectable distance, figuring I need to change tact to something Papa gives a shit about. “Did Gennaro tell you why Benito doesn’t speak?” I figure it best to find out how much Papa knows before I put a foot in it.

“How is this any issue of mine?” Hard, cool eyes study me. “If you’re done here, I have things to attend to.” Papa starts toward the house.

I hustle to catch up. Like fuck he’ll lead me indoors as though he’s in charge of this conversation. It’s a simple power play he probably doesn’t know he engages in. But it’s a sign of dominance all the same.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

He fixes his glare on the rear of the house. “Yes. Gennaro told me.”

I wait for Papa to say more. I’m not so naïve as to fall into the trap of sharing details the other person doesn’t know.

“He has no tongue.” Papa sneers. The bastard finds this amusing. “That was all Gennaro would say.”

“Did we do it?” I fail to hide the emotion in my voice.

“What would it matter if we had?” Papa narrows his shrewd gaze on me. “The man is our enemy.”

And yet, he’ll happily marry me off to the guy.

“If there is anything we did to spite the De Santis family—anything like that—I need to know.” I frown. “I don’t want to be caught off guard with topics I should be versed in.”

Papa stops walking, forcing me to do the same when he turns to face me. “How important do you mistake yourself to be,moya malen’kaya roza?” He chuckles, snide mirth fading as he looksme head to toe. “There aren’t any topics youneedto be versed in.”

A father shouldn’t speak to his daughter this way.

A father also shouldn’t take such pleasure in belittling his child.

“I’ll need to go to the city for my dress fitting.” I start to walk and hope like fuck he follows. “It would be easier if you lifted this ridiculous house arrest.”

It takes a beat, but he does, trailing me at a respectable distance. “The dresses can be brought here.”

“It’s far easier to be in the designer’s studio,” I press. “Much less work.” I swallow, already hating the name before I’ve said it. “Ivan can accompany me.”

Papa scoffs. “As though he wouldn’t anyway.” He passes me to reach the French doors first.Asshole.

“And then there’s the job of finding a marital home for me and Benito.” I lift one eyebrow before I pass through the opening. “I’ll need to attend viewings to ensure they’re suitable.”

Papa closes the door and stands before it, scowling at me as though I’ve lost my mind. “Why on earth would you thinkyou’rethe one who ensures the property suits?”

I flatten my features. “Because I’m the one who’ll live there.”

“And I’m the one who’ll pay for half of it.” He glowers and moves beyond where I stand. “I’ll decide what house you buy.”

I trail him to his office, angered that he keeps taking back control. “Didn’t you say you have more important things to attend to?”

“I don’t think so.” He stops behind his desk and idly opens the laptop.

“Are you sure?” Arms folded over my chest, I wait for the penny to drop.

The only thing that falls is his ass into the seat. “Very sure.”

“You don’t need to—I don’t know—find a fucking murderer?” I toss my hands out as I raise my voice.

He freezes, hard eyes on me. “Are you done?”

“Done with what?”

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