Page 83 of Vicious Vows

“Why would I do that? They have already agreed to leave the path open for me to take Nico’s position. All I have to do is remove the two brothers in power.”

“I don’t want you to do that.”

“What do you want me to do?” He grinned. “I’m curious, Miss Mafia Heir.”

My pulse raced. My father could betray me after I told him what I knew, but I had to take the chance if I wanted a future with Marchello.

“You’ve come this far,” my father said. “You might as well present the negotiation. It’s the only way you’ll know if I’ll cooperate.”

“If I tell you why Nico left, can you help me bring him back?”

“So, I bring you the information and what do I get?” He tapped his fingers on his desk. “When approaching your enemy, you have to come from a position of strength.”

“Are you my enemy?” The crack in my voice threatened to expose my fear.

“I don’t want to be.” He pointed at me. “You are my flesh and blood. Ask me what you came here to ask me.”

“How can I ensure you won’t betray me?”

“You can’t.” A smug curve in his lips dominated his features. “But you can come from a place of control. When negotiating, make sure you have something the other side can’t resist. What would make me want to help you? What do I get out of it?”

What was it about him trying to teach me that was so enticing? Was he really looking for a protégé?

“Well.” I gazed down at the floor.

“No.” He tilted my chin. “Look me in the eye. Don’t back down.”

I straightened my posture and stared into his eyes. I could see myself in them. “There is a man named Miguel Sanchez. He is the nephew of the cartel Nico works with. He went missing. I don’t know if he’s still alive, but the cartel wants to know what happened to him.”

“So they sent Nico to find out?”

“He’s been following leads and trying to do it undercover.”

“That way no one knows who is asking, but a man as powerful as Nico can get answers that others can’t,” my father mused.

“I guess, I don’t know much.”

“The cartel sent Miguel here, and he was compromised or something else happened to him on Nico’s watch. That’s how the cartel forced Nico to take responsibility for this.”

“You know about it?” I asked.

“No, but if I were the head of the cartel, I would make Nico responsible. I would make him show his loyalty by either bringing my nephew home or finding out what happened to him.”

“Do you think you can help?”

My father looked at the ceiling for a moment, lost in thought or plotting. “This is the part of the negotiation when you offer me something that entices me to help you. Sometimes that could be a threat, but let’s be realistic, what are you going to threaten me with?”

“I don’t want to threaten you. I want you to help me as my father.”

“You’re in a tough position because you’re asking me to help bring Nico home. Why would I do that when it is far more beneficial for me to keep him out of my way?”

“If you help him, Marchello will be grateful to you. I can make sure of that.”

Shit! Why am I promising that?

The words kept coming. “I’m sure he would clear some of the ports for you to move your merchandise. He could probably work with the Argentina cartel and…”

Stop it!

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