Page 57 of Broken Prince

“You know you can’t marry whoever you want, right? As the capo you must marry within the cinque famiglie, but I’ll help you marry her.”

My heart jumped at the idea of having Cassie. “No, she deserves better. I want to keep her out of this.”

“Do you?” He looked down at the gift box on my desk. “It’s too late, you know that, right? She knows too much—there’s no out for her. You made sure of that.”

“She doesn’t know anything.”

“Is that true, Gianluca?” He ran his forefinger back and forth on his bottom lip. “You know how I deal with liars.” He grimaced. “It would chagrin me to have to torture her just to make sure, but if it’s what you want.”

“Don’t hurt her. Everything she knows was my right to share.”

“I won’t hurt her…if you don’t make me do it.” He laughed. “I mean I could hurt her just see you bleed but I like her.”

Lord have mercy on her—being liked by Matteo Genovese almost sounded like a curse.Just like your feelings for her are one, the stupid little sadistic voice in my head taunted.

“When you come to your senses and bang her, give her a ring and have her finish her nurse training. We need more healers in the famiglia.”

I shook my head.

“They’re making the simpleton’s life a misery.”

“Enzo is not a simpleton. Why do you even care?”

He scoffed. “I don’t, but you do.”

“What is it you want?”

“You have to take your place and I don’t give a fuck about your little internal turmoil. You are the capo, and you will take it from that crazy bastard who thinks he is intelligent.”

I shrugged. “Take him out.”

He rolled his eyes. “That’s unsophisticated and I can’t—until his idiocy causes the actual war that is already looming, my hands are tied. Benny is too much, too flashy, too full of himself.” He pulled out a white envelope from his pocket. “The fat bastard is organizing a masquerade ball for his sixtieth birthday next Friday… A masquerade like a sixteen-year-old girl with a taste for theatrics.”

I had to admit I am surprised that neither Benny nor Savio informed me of their stupid party. They have been trying so well to pretend they cared, to pretend they wanted me within the famiglia instead of six feet under… So him not even sending me an invitation did ring all sorts of alarm bells.

Matteo slid the envelope toward me. “It’s a fake name. Go with your girl. Send your puppy. I really don’t care. You need to see what he is doing and you need to stop it. I’ve been more than patient with you, Gianluca. I’ve given you more leeway than I’ve ever given anyone. Don’t make me regret betting on you.” He stood up, straightening his tie and cuffs. “You better go or send someone, and I expect you to take your place back very soon, Gianluca. I’ve never been known for my patience or leniency.”

That was the understatement of the year.

“Don’t make me come back here; you won’t like it if I do…and she won’t either.”

I tightened my hands into fists on my desk, trying to rein in my rage. Standing up to Matteo was a way to have hellfire rain on me—on her—and it was not something I had wanted.

I gave him a sharp nod.

“Oh and one more thing before I go… Next time I call, you better answer or call me back straightaway because I swear you won’t like the outcome.”

“Sure thing.”

“I’m glad we understand each other. I really don’t feel like getting my hands dirty.”

That was a blatant lie; Matteo lived for chaos and pain. His name was more than fitting. Matteo meant gift of Gods and he truly thought he was our god, our king…our fuckingpsychoticking.

“Tell the girl thanks for the brownie. I’m glad to have her in the famiglia.”

I remained silent as he left me in the office. I’d screwed up in epic proportions.

I had wanted to protect Cassie, keep her just at the frontier between the normal world and mine. I wanted her close but I cared enough to not want to curse her along with me, and despite all my best efforts, despite all my attempts not to fall, I took her down with me.

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