Page 49 of Cruel Existence

I lifted my head when I heard the knock on my door. “Miss Amato?”

“Yes,” I squeaked.

“Your father says dinner is at six.”

“Okay.” I couldn’t stop the hard lump in the back of my throat from forming.

“He wants you to dress up. He’s taking you out,” Tammy reported.

My ears perked, and the pit in my stomach finally bottomed out. “What?”

“Dinner at six. In the city.”

“Thank you,” I called through the closed door.

I couldn’t remember the last time my father and I had gone anywhere together in public. I knew he was pleased with the auction result. But this? It was a display of family pride I didn’t expect. I scrambled off the bed and walked straight to my closet to pick out a dress. I had to put Luka Novikov behind me. The Amatos had made their mark on the city today. It wasn’t a day that would be forgotten anytime soon. By anyone.

“Papa, how did you find this place?” I asked over my menu.

He smiled. He rarely looked happy. “Did you think your father didn’t know the good place in New Orleans?”

“Of course not.” I grinned, but it faded when a tray of oysters was presented.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. No. I like them. I just…” I didn’t want to admit that I’d had oysters once and it was a memorable night with Luka.

“Supposed to be the best in the city.” He was delighted with himself. I didn’t correct him. I knew where the best oysters were. And they weren’t in a fancy restaurant. They were in a dive outside of town I’d never be able to find again.

“I’m sure they’re wonderful.” I held one of the shells in my hand.

“You know this dinner is a celebration.” His eyebrows were high on his forehead.

“Oh?”

“You know this is about the hotel. I’m very proud of you, Amara.”

My chest warmed. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad you got the Vieux Carre, Papa.”

He tucked the linen napkin at his collar. He had to wiggle his tie to make space. “There’s something I think you should know about the arrangements. About how everything fell into place. Now that it’s official. You should see thetotal picture. You have earned the right to know what Gio and I have been planning.”

We took a second to wait while the glasses of champagne were poured by our server.

“What do you mean? You and Uncle Gio have more plans?” I pressed. This was the first time I felt my father’s attempt to draw me into this world was genuine, not merely a test to see if I could forecast budget numbers.

He smirked. “We always have plans. Long game is how we arrived in New Orleans. And the long game is how we will strip the Russians of their power and take it as ours.”

“But you won the Vieux Carre at auction, fairly.”

He chuckled. “There’s a lot for me to teach you. I had to play a little game of chess ahead of time. It paid off.” I knew how chess was played.

The bubbly happiness started to turn sour. “What did you do?”

He winked. “Amara, you know this move meant everything to me. Everything to the company. This is the home that you are going to create for the next generation of Amatos. Eventually, Gio and I hope to add a third branch in Atlanta.”

“Well, that’s not happening anytime soon.” I hated when he talked about me like I was a piece of livestock to breed.

“This is where your dynasty begins. Your legacy.” He spoke as if we were in a hobbit book. Had the medication altered his personality? This was intense, even for him.

---