Page 14 of Savage Prince

“Nothing will happen to Isabella, trust me. Antonio Ferrara will have enough to worry about without going after his brother’s girl.”

“I hope you’re right,Papà, or I’ll be the one ripping you a new one.” I give him a sweet smile before finishing off my gelato and licking the last remnants offragolafrom the spoon. Bella’s always been a chocolate girl, but for me, there’s nothing like strawberry ice cream. In fact, I’m kind of addicted to the scent and practically bathe in it between my hair products, bath gels and body moisturizers.

Besides, it’s better if people think I’m sweet when they first meet me. The scent is innocent yet alluring, and it hides the tougher side of me just long enough to get the upper hand. In the world I grew up in, you must have an edge if you want to survive, and if mine comes wrapped in a strawberry scent, so be it.

CHAPTER 8

HOW TO CATCH A MAFIA PRINCESS

Antonio

“It’s impossible,capo.” My righthand man and quite possibly my closest friend, Pietro, cowers behind the chair across my—no,Papà’s desk as he breaks the news. I still don’t feel quite comfortable in this seat, as if I haven’t earned my place here. I stiffen, playing the part ofcapoas I have been for the past month.

“Raffaele’s security team is impenetrable,” he continues. “There are zero chances we’ll be able to get to Isabella Valentino before her return to Manhattan tomorrow.”

A flood of anger surges across my insides as I glare across the mahogany desk at my enforcer. After my own failed attempt in Milano, I passed the mission onto Pietro. Perhaps it was cowardice, or something else entirely, but I wanted to wash my hands of the whole situation.

I wanted my brother to pay for what he did to our father, to our family. But every single attempt at retribution was thwarted.

Diois punishing you for your cowardice. Shame on you, Antonio Ferrara, for targeting a woman. Mamma’s voice sails through my thoughts, her disappointment like a shot to the heart.

“I’m doing this for our family,” I shout out loud, my voice echoing across sophisticated space my father created. Everything about his office was designed to impress and intimidate in equal measure.

Pietro’s eyes narrow as he regards me. “I know that,capo.”

Perfetto, now he’s going to think I’ve lost my goddamned mind.

“I’m sorry, we tried everything. There is simply no way around Raffaele and his team. Maybe in Manhattan?—”

“No,” I hiss. “If you think getting to Isabella Valentino was difficult in Rome, you’ll have zero chance once she’s home. Not only will she have my brother and his team, but the entire force of the Kings.”

I drag my hand through my hair, pulling at the dark strands. I’m on the brink of losing everything my father built. Fucking Dante Valentino brokered a deal with our long-time enemy, Enrico Sartori and now, half of the Ferrara territory has been taken over by the Kings. As if it wasn’t bad enough before… The other half is about to fall at the hands of the Sartoris and whatever they don’t take, the Salernos are more than happy to pick off. It wasn’t enough to kill my father, his enemies want to see his entire empire crumble. My gaze flickers over my shoulder to the backdrop of floor-to-ceiling windows that frame a panoramic view of the bustling city below. My city. Or at least it should have been untilPapàwas killed and his dreams of grandeur destroyed.

And now, I’ll go with it.

Swinging around to face Pietro once again, I bark, “What’s the status with the new restaurant deal?”

“The owner is refusing to sell to us. No doubt the Salernos got to him first. The capo has been requesting a meeting with you for weeks. Why do you keep blowing him off?”

“Because I can’t deal with another fucking rival family, Pietro!”

“You know how this works,capo. When the others scent blood, they’ll be circling like sharks.”

I heave out a frustrated breath, cursingPapàfor leaving me with this disaster. “How the fuck am I supposed to launder our money without legitimate businesses to run it through?” I growl.

“I—I don’t know.”

“Well, you better fucking figure it out. You’re alldeficienti, one more worthless than the other.”Cazzo, I can’t believe this is happening. In a matter of a few months, everything my father built over the past two decades is teetering on a knife’s edge.

First, it was the Salernos, then Enrico and now Dante. They’re like bloodthirsty vultures, scavenging for the Ferrara’s carcasses.Your father never should have gone after Enrico’s daughter…Mamma’s voice echoes through my mind.

She’s not wrong, but there is nothing I can do about the past. Now, I’m forced to pay for my father’s sins.

“What about Enrico’s son, Federico? Isn’t he poised to take over?”

Pietro nods. “That’s the rumor.”

“Maybe he’ll be more reasonable than his old man. See if you can arrange a meeting.”

---