Page 114 of Sin & Secrets

“I…I love him. I can’t ask him to do this.”

Rocco’s eyes fill with unshed tears. The impact of my words has a visible effect on his entire being, tearing him apart before my very eyes.

What am I doing to him? To us?

“That’s a pity,” Giuliano purrs, closer to my ear than I was expecting. But Rocco’s expression is ruining me. I can’t look away.

“I was truly hoping you would make this easier for me.”

The next thing I know, Giuliano is holding a blade to my throat.

29

ROCCO

“Counter offer: you hand over the Guild, or I kill Miss Bellini and your unborn child.”

I can’t believe I let myself get distracted.

That I let my guard down in front of my father for even a moment.

But Cas’ confession, for the second time, had completely broken me. Her words doomed us both to a lifetime of torment.

All I ever wanted was for her to be safe. To be at peace, to sing and laugh and fuckinglive.

Now Giuliano Moretti’s knife is at her throat, and it’s my fault.

“Let her go.”

White hot fury consumes me at the sight before me. Cas is clutching desperately at my father’s arm, as if hoping by some miracle she will be able to push him away.

But I know my father, know that knife.

I know that whatever soft old man act he was pulling has now disappeared into thin air.

This is the true face of the disgraced Mafia don.

“You know the lengths I have gone to,” Giuliano growls. “If you think for one second I’m letting this opportunity slip away, you’re gravely mistaken.”

I slowly get to my feet, keeping my hands up and palms open. But my eyes are on Cas, scanning every inch of her face which is streaked with tears.

“This is between you and me,” I say slowly. “Let her go.”

“Renounce your claim to the Guild.”

Giuliano’s grip on Cas tightens, and she winces as the blade presses closer to her skin. A thin line of red appears, a whisper of blood against her neck.

My heart slams against my ribs, each beat a countdown to disaster. I can’t let this happen. I won’t.

I need more time to think.

“You think they would welcome you back when they realize you’re the one who’s been selling us out to the Cartel this whole time?”

“I’ve been cultivating a relationship with Amos Rubio far longer than you’ve been don, boy,” Giuliano sneers. “He’s been more than eager to help me out ever since you came to power and cracked down on the activity inElectrix.”

“You let the Cartel operate on Guild territory?”

Giuliano laughs. “I would let anyone operate on Guild territory for the right price. There’s no prize for taking the moral high ground, Rocco.”

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