Page 14 of Deception

It doesn’t shock me that Salvatori would order his men to do it. I’d probably send some guys to scare my daughter's boyfriend, too.

But as the way she says it. The way shebrags. I lean into it, egging her on. “Oh, yeah? What else does your daddy do for you?”

“Oh, he takes care of everything. He sometimes even lets me tag along on raids or hits as long as I stay in the car.” Her eyes are as wide as saucers as she says it.

“Tell me more. What's, what's the craziest thing you've ever done?”

“One time, I tagged along with Vito, Daddy’s right-hand guy. He let me hold the gun and everything. I couldn't stop bragging about it to my girlfriends.”

“I’ll bet. Your girlfriends are going to freak out when they hear you met me, huh?” I’m being so obvious that she has to know I’m fucking with her.

Instead, her eyes light up like I just asked her to tell me what she got for Christmas.

“Absolutely. They're going to shit their pants when they find out. My girlfriend Rita, she's already jealous. Bitching to everybody about how I'm going to be a don's wife. You know?”

“Very interesting,” I mutter, right before my tone shifts to ice cold. “So, your father approves of you sharing family secrets with people outside the organization?”

Beto locks up, his back straightening.

His lips twitch in a nervous smile as he looks at his daughter, warning her with his eyes. She's oblivious.

“What do you mean? I tell whoever I want whatever the fuck I want and I’ll do even more once I'm married to you. Nobody will fuck with you, right? Or your wife!”

“That's right. Nobody fucks with me. Least of all some spoiled brat rich girl who can't keep her fucking mouth shut.”

Beto breaks out in a sheen of sweat and his daughter’s smile drops, realization hitting her like a punch to the gut.

“I've heard enough. I appreciate you coming by, Salvatori. You've always been a good friend of the family, but I suggest that you send your daughter somewhere where she can get some proper training before she gets married off. Running her mouth like that will get someone killed. Probably you.”

Beto melts, fumbling over himself and kneeling before me. “I'm so sorry. Please, please give us another chance! My daughter she's—she can be careless with her words, b-but she's a good, um a good?—”

“A good what? Child?”

“Yes…” He looks confused.

“Yes, she is absolutely that. A child. See yourselves out.”

And like that, it's over. Beto begs my forgiveness and promises the moon, his unwavering loyalty.

“You know, she would have fallen in line with very little effort. Had a spectacular set of tits.” Adriano’s voice startles me.

“Fucking asshole. Don’t sneak up on me. I don't have the time or energy to put towardstraininga wife.” I pound back the shot of espresso and head to my room to finish packing.

“You’re going to have to pick one eventually.”

“Maybe once we’re not trying to prevent a war.”

“So, never?”

“Shut the fuck up. You have the tickets?”

“Flight leaves in an hour. No rush, though. We’ll drive straight onto the tarmac.”

The car is waiting out front and does just as Adriano said. He’s always spot-on with the details, making sure everyone falls in and gets their job done. He’d make one hell of a replacement for me someday. Tight ship. Our men adore him, even though he’s relatively quiet.

It’s the kind of presence that makes people underestimate him.

Until he follows through, until they see how consistent and fair he is. And deadly.

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