Page 9 of Masked Hearts

A click followed by something cool being pressed against my head shuts up all those thoughts.

“You had an engagement party without me?” I ask, my voice cool and stable.

“It’s not what you think—”

“After everything?!” I cut him off, my voice cracking towards the end.

The grin on Gabriel’s face tells me I’ve played right into the trap he’s set for me, but I couldn’t care less.

“I can explain…” Ambrose trails off.

“How do you explain something like this?”

Gabriel clears his throat and both Ambrose and I fall silent. “As much as I love watching sibling rivalry, that’s not what we’re here for today.”

“Okay, and what do you–” He cuts the call with Ambrose and slips the phone into his back pocket.

“What are you doing? Why did you end the call? I thought you’d want to negotiate.” I think about rising to my feet again, but the gun pressed to my head makes me stay seated.

“I do, but I’m done negotiating with Ambrose. He irritates me. You’ll have plenty of time to discuss the terms with your brothers, but this initial discussion will be between us.”

“Yeah. Us and whatever lackey has a gun to my head,” I quip.

Gabriel looks behind me and the gun is briefly pushed further into my head before it’s removed. I hear footsteps and then a door shuts.

“As I was saying, between us.” He walks to the edge of his desk and sits down, facing me. “Your little shoot-out has made my entire family look incapable in the eyes of the other cartel members, and you understand that I can’t have that.”

“Obviously,” I say sarcastically, but Gabriel seems less than impressed.

“I can’t have a few little boys in suits shooting major members of the cartel without any repercussions.”

“Obviously,” I repeat, shrugging. I can’t figure out why I’m choosing right now to test my sarcasm skills, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering him too much, either.

“Do I have to remind you that your entire family’s safety is in your hands right now? I’d shut up if I was you.”

I swallow and nod. Maybe it does bother him.

“The only logical way to fix this is to send a message to the rest of the world.”

I open my mouth, tempted to say it again, but bite my tongue when he shoots me a glare.

“You’ll be marrying my eldest daughter.”

Like a record scratch, my mind stills and every ounce of sarcasm leaves my body. “No,” I say without hesitation.

I don’t even consider it for a second. That’s way too big. Not only would it send waves running through every avenue the Vitale name has a foot in, but all things considered, with the Valerie situation, a relationship, forced or not, is not something I want nor need right now. Knowing we’d be publicly tied to the French cartel would surely ruffle feathers in Italy, and since we’re still dealing with the aftermath of Enzo and Vitale Insurance, this is the last thing we need.

“I know that you’re fond of rash decisions, but I urge you to think this over,” he tosses something in my direction, and I just barely manage to catch it.

My phone.

“Consider it a peace offering. Call your brother,” he says, and stalks towards the door of the study.

“Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness, Antonio. I am watching your every move.” With that, he exits the room.

Without hesitation, I dial Adriano’s number.

“Are you okay? Why did that son of a bitch hang up—”

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