Page 3 of Violent Delights

When we finally go tomy father’s office, there’s an air of excitement that radiates from him. I don’t have the heart to disappoint him. No matter what he does in this life, he’s still the man who raised me. And for all his faults, there’s still love in his heart, in his eyes when he looks at me and Mom.

“This will be your desk one day,” he tells me as he rounds the back and settles into the enormous, black leather chair. It’s a throne for the king of the Vitale family. “When my father sat me down and told me what was expected of me, I didn’t think I could do it,” he says causing me to snap my gaze to his.

The shock must be written on my face because he chuckles. It’s the last thing I ever expected him to tell me. He’s always seemed so sure of himself, confident in his demands and his decisions.

“It’s not an easy life, but being born into it only makes it more difficult, angel.” He looks at me then, directly into my eyes. “And when you learn of the enemies we have, it only causes more turmoil.” His words send dread racing through me. I’m sure he knows about Domenico, but then he continues, “But when you know the truth of how we became enemies, you’ll understand.”

I settle in, knowing this is going to be a long, drawn-out day. But then, my father sighs and pulls out a folder. A thick, ominous-looking stack of pages emerges from it, and my heart stalls.

“There are a few things I need to explain before we get into any details, angel,” he says, using the nickname he apparently gave me the moment I was born. Dad looks directly at me and says, “When you turn eighteen, I need you to do something that I haven’t thought I’d ever have to ask.”

My stomach drops to my feet, a lead weight sits in my belly, and my chest tightens. I’m not entirely sure what this is going to be, but my father’s expression is dark, foreboding.

“What is it?” I find myself whispering as if I’m too afraid to speak out loud.

“Within the organizations, there are leaders who control vast areas of the world. My power only extends so far, Lelia.” He sighs as he sets all the pages on the desk before he continues, “And I need to control more if I’m to keep your mother in her lavish lifestyle. I’ve spoken to a few of the men in my circle, and they have all offered to join our families once they have decided on the man and the age you are to marry. This is something that will be in the future, so you have no need to worry right now.”

And that’s when the whooshing sound in my ears becomes deafening. The room spins around me, and I can’t find the words to respond to what my father is asking of me.

“This is for your future and for the organization, something that will one day be yours to hold, to run, and to pass on to yourchildren. It’s not easy, I understand, but it’s something you have to do as part of your responsibility.”

If I refuse this request, I know he’ll hate me forever, but if I do it, I’ll hate myself forever.

And of the two evils, I’m not sure which is lesser.

Chapter 2

Domenico

The family sit around the table, my father already talking about violence and destruction, while I consider the delights that tonight will offer. I want nothing more than to see her again. She’s been on my mind since I woke, and she’ll be in my thoughts until I fall asleep tonight.

Since meeting Lelia, I haven’t considered just what falling for her would mean. I don’t know much about love, but my obsession with her is rather distracting.

“Isn’t that correct, Domenico?” My father’s booming tone snags me from the memory of her full lips to the boardroom where he’s sitting at the head of the table.

“I’m sorry. I missed what you said,” I tell him honestly. I know my father may hate the fact that I am not focused on him, but the truth is far better than telling him a lie.

The long sigh that falls from his lips is something I’ve gotten used to over the years. Even though I’ve been away from the organization for a long while, there’s always been disappointment in his eyes whenever my father looked at me. Perhaps it was my utterance of the words,I’m a lover not a fighter, once when I thought I’d fallen in love for the first time.

Maybe it was something else. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

“I asked you if you were ready to move in on the organization in a full-time capacity. I then said you are part of the family, you’re a Montesano.” His voice drops an octave as he murmurs our family name, the one I wear proudly and always will. But deep in my gut, the idea of hurting Lelia in any way stings. No, it doesn’t just sting, there’s a pain so acute, it’s as if someone has taken a knife and is slowly slicing through my heart.

It’s stupid.

I shouldn’t feel this.

Perhaps I’m finally losing my mind.

“Yes,” I finally give him the answer he’s looking for. If I were to say anything other than what he needs to hear, I may be the one with my head on a chopping block. The same one Father uses to end the lives of his enemies.

Just then, the image of Lelia being led to the dungeon pops into my head and I have to force it away. I have to make sure it’s gone for good because anything else would land us both in trouble.

“Of course, Father. I’m ready to make you proud.” Even as I say the words, I know they may be true, but they’ll never be because deep down, he knows who I am, and I’m not like him. “But I would like to keep as much of a low profile as I can. If they don’t know who I am, our enemies won’t know what’s coming.”

My idea causes him to pause, and I can tell there are a few hundred things racing through his mind. He wants to tell me no, but what I’m proposing is not at all a bad idea. There are men out there who would try to hurt me to get to him, which means if they don’t realize who I am, we’ll be safe. I’ve never been a part of his dealings, and this would make sense.

But there’s another reason I’m allowing him to think about it—Lelia Vitale.

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