Page 17 of Broken Prince

He took a step back. “The famiglia? Why? I thought you didn't want to get involved anymore.”

I shook my head. “I don’t but Benny called to invite me. I think it was his way to ensure I was not coming. And for that, I need you to go.”

Dom ran his hand in his black hair and looked away. “I’m only a soldier, Luca. I don’t belong in a meeting with the famiglia.”

“You belong where I say you belong.” I might have been a wreck, but I was Gianluca Montanari—Mafia Prince, and what I said was law no matter what Benny or the others wanted. Only Matteo Genovese could and he probably wouldn’t care enough to.

Dom sighed. “Fine, I’ll go.” He jerked his head toward the computer. “Now apologize.”

I sighed and turned toward my computer. “I was going to do that anyway.”

Dom chuckled. “Yeah? I would have gone to the meeting without your apologies.” He turned around and left the room.

Asshole.

I looked at the screen again.Next time you put pineapple on a pizza you will be fired. This is a crime against nature.I pressed send before I could think better of it.

The tag that she’d seen my message appeared on the screen, but she didn’t reply right away. I reread my message and winced—I needed to work on my apologies.

Why should you? You want to be left alone to die, don’t you?My father’s voice resonated. It has been quite close to the words he’d said to me when I woke up from my five-week coma.

‘I wished you would have died along with them, so I’d never have to see your murderer face again,’he spat as soon as I had regained consciousness.

I had not been sure why then; my memory had been clouded but once I had remembered…I shuddered. I had agreed with him wholeheartedly.

A ping brought me back to reality; she’d responded, bringing a little echo of elation I was not sure had any place left in my life.

Pineapple is just misunderstood. Have you tried it?

A little smile formed at the corner of my lips. How was it possible that she could make me smile? It has been so long since it happened to me.

I don’t need to try it to know it doesn’t belong.

Agree to disagree.

I scoffed. She had fire that one, I liked it.

I’ll bring some books down for your brother later.

Why?

“Good question,” I whispered to the screen.

Thank you.She added a few seconds later.

I looked out the window, at the decrepit gazebo before turning toward the computer again.

Would you like to take care of the garden?

For real? I’d love to!

I shook my head; it took so little with her. I couldn’t imagine what it would have taken with Francesca to make her that excited. Diamonds…it would have taken diamonds.

I reached for my phone and called the company we had on retainer to ask them to come and do what the housekeeper was telling them to do.

I knew she was enjoying walking around the garden. Dom and the other security guys saw her there often. She was a flower girl, that one, that much was clear. It was also why I suspected she enjoyed the kitchen so much. It was my mother’s décor—my mother… My heart squeezed at the painful reminder.

I stood up and went to the wet bar. I’d been sober for long enough. It was time to numb the pain and the memories. After I helped myself to a triple dose of whisky, I looked up at the mirror covered by a white sheet. All the mirrors of the house had been either covered or taken down—well, except the one in the rooms I was not going in.

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