Page 67 of Prince of Malice

We walk carefully down the long run ofthe upstairs hallway, the door to the study waiting for us. This single corridor has never felt so long before, each step seeming to make neither of us any closer to the end. It feels like it’s taking me an eternity to make any ground. Focusing on our destination, my vision starts to blur. Forcing myself to take a breath, I draw in a long huff of air into my lungs. My eyes manage to refocus, and everything around me becomes infinitely clearer as I take my sights off of the door ahead and aim them at Luca. The image of him walking beside me fills my entire eyeline, and he doesn’t feel overwhelming or daunting, just calming.

I can do this. We can do this.

Luca pushes through the study door, trying his best to stand assertively in the doorway with me right behind him.

Salvatore is startled by the noise, looking up from his work and seeing the pair of us standing there in front of him. “Luca? And Dominic… What brings the both of you here?”

“We have something we need to talk to you about,” Luca says as he strides into theroom and plants himself firmly into one of the chairs facing his father.

I follow in behind him and take a seat beside him, folding my arms in front of me and keeping my eyes on Salvatore. The light from the fireplace casts an intimidating shadow across his face, keeping his right half drenched in darkness and emphasizing his cold stare.

“My god,” he exclaims. “You didn’t do that to each other, did you?” he inquires as he leans across his desk to inspect our injured faces.

“No. The Grecos would be the ones to blame for this,” I explain while gesturing to my face.

Salvatore rolls his eyes at us both and returns himself back to his work. “I hope that this isn’t all another pathetic attempt to discredit them, is it? I’ve already made my decision.”

“Depending on your choice, you may want to reconsider,” Luca tells him.

Salvatore pauses again, peering up at us. “And why would that be?”

“You haven’t heard?” I ask him. I have to say I am surprised that he hasn’t, but I guessI don’t give Gianni enough credit for having his ear to the ground the way that he does.

“The Greco family is collapsing in on itself,” Luca informs him. “I don’t think they have the time to keep that deal on the table anymore, though.”

“What? How could that happen?”

Seeing him caught off guard for the first time is a total shock. He’s usually always projecting an aura of pure composure and control. This news, however, is big enough to crack that image.

“Antonio’s business partner was his son,” Luca starts to explain. “The two of them couldn’t see eye to eye anymore, and they fell apart because of infighting.”

“Even if this is true,” Salvatore begins trying to piece back together his façade, “I still don’t understand why you’re here.” His voice is as cold as ice and his eyes are just as welcoming as he zones in on me.

“I was there with the Grecos last night—” I try to answer his question, but he quickly interrupts me with a follow-up question.

“Right, so you went down there looking for a fight, didn’t you?” he jabs at me.

A week ago, I would have fallen into thistrap, but after my time with Luca, I am far too well-versed in the Valenti game of pushing someone’s buttons to slip up that easily.

“That was actually another one of their lies. I didn’t get there until after Luca,” I reply in a completely neutral tone.

“Everything that Antonio’s told you since this deal began has been nothing more than an attempt to turn you against the Rossis,” Luca fights back with his own digs. “And you fell for every part of it.”

His voice remains calm and quiet, but I can feel the heat of the fire in Luca’s throat. Right now, he is letting out every single bit of spite he has for his father. He stares down his father with the same ferocity in his eyes like a predator about to tear apart his prey.

Still, Salvatore doesn’t say a word back to him, not wanting to let Luca take control over the conversation.

“And everything that Antonio said was just him parroting the plans of his son,” Luca continues his barrage.

Salvatore sucks his teeth. “Well, now that it’s all over, I’m sure you’re glad to be happy again.”

Luca’s jaw sharpens as he grits his teeth together, his eyes narrowing as I feel him take his restraints off. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“How dare you speak to me like that,” Salvatore snaps back.

“Let him talk how he wants,” I assert with my clenched fists hidden by my side. I don’t want to fight my boyfriend’s dad, but I will if I have to.

“You’re hearing about how your son got manipulated and beaten by those assholes, and the only thing you can seem to do is be bitter about you messing up and not have an ounce of care or concern about me?” Luca yells.

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