Page 41 of Ruthless Oath

Ricardo had been on our security team for years, and his father served our father before that. He wasn’t the best guard we had because he possessed a softer side and couldn’t be trusted to shoot anyone in a pinch. And he definitely didn’t want to rough someone up. So we gave him easy tasks, like shopping and picking people up from the airport.

“Yes,” Milo said. “He is exactly who you need right now.”

“You’re probably right.” I nodded when Ricardo came to the doorway.

“Hello, Marchello.” His deep voice vibrated across the room. “Milo said I might be able to help with this particular situation.”

Despite Ricardo’s gentle nature, he was an imposing figure. He was taller than I was—probably about six feet and two inches—and his shoulders were wide while his solid body boasted muscle after muscle. He was a linebacker in college, but too many concussions had sidelined him. That was when he came to work for us.

“Ricardo,” Milo said. “This is Lissia.”

“Hello, Miss Lissia,” Ricardo said.

“Hi.” Lissia’s voice was soft and unsure. “Why exactly are you here?”

“We’re going to be fast friends, Miss Lissia.” Ricardo extended his hand. “I promise.”

Lissia looked at me as she shook Ricardo’s hand.

He’s not the one you need to be afraid of.

“I’m not going to help you, and don’t give Milo those innocent eyes either.” I glanced at Ricardo. “Get her out of my sight.”

Ricardo placed his hand on Lissia’s back and ushered her out of the room. She gazed over her shoulder before disappearing down the hall.

“What is wrong with you?” Milo asked.

“Me? I’m gone for twelve hours, and you think you’re in charge of this family now?”

“I’m trying to right this fucking ship that you’ve steered so far off course.” He went to the cabinet and took out the much-needed vodka. “Word on the street is not good.”

“What are they saying?” I leaned against the desk. “How bad is it?”

“Gian is making allies fast. Men who normally would have stood with Dad are now siding with the Gallanti family.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you kidnapped his daughter.” Milo poured two glasses of vodka. “You know that goes against the code. No family members.”

“If I didn’t intervene, Collins would have taken her. She was in trouble.”

I wanted to believe I took her because I saw an opportunity, but that wasn’t true. I snatched her because I wanted her, and I couldn’t stand seeing her with Collins.

“She wasn’t in trouble,” Milo said. “She was already promised to him. He was her problem, not yours.”

“She wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“If I had known this was going to happen, I never would have introduced the two of you.” He handed me a drink. “I thought you would fuck her and that would be the end of that. A way to silently stick it to Gian while you worked out some aggression.”

“I haven’t even fucked her.”

“That’s probably a good thing considering she’s supposed to get engaged in a few days.”

“Do you think she wants that?” As much as she irritated me, I didn’t want her to be forced into a relationship. Although, that was a bit ironic considering I forced her to be my hostage.

I tried to imagine her walking down the aisle in white with another man waiting to receive her. A man who didn’t deserve her.

“It doesn’t matter what she wants. The deal was made when you intervened.” He downed his vodka. “Gian has the backing of a man who will do anything to get her back from you. Danny will take out anyone in his way because the alliance with Gian grants him access to the ports and more power than he has on his own.”

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