Page 57 of Die for You
But I don’t budge.
Francesco isn’t troubled by a gun in his face as he stands slowly. “It’s all right, Bria.”
Bria looks between us, confused.
“Leave us,” I order, never taking my eyes or gun off Francesco.
“I will no—”
“Don’t make me ask you twice.”
I don’t have time for Bria’s antics.
She hesitates, then storms off with a huff, taking the bottle of red with her.
“Talk,” I say when Bria is gone.
“It appears you know who I am.”
“Enough with the bullshit. Why the fuck are you here?”
“The rumors are true,” he says with a smile. “Lennon Shepherd is the ruthless killer after all.”
“Nice chat,” I quip. “Now answer the fucking question.”
“You know who I am. That is why you are pointing a gun at me, no?” His thick Italian accent reminds me of Aldo’s.
Perhaps they knew one another. Aldo always had his suspicions, but he could never prove them. So why is Francesco willingly divulging this information to me now?
When I neither confirm nor deny his claims, he continues. “IamValentina’s father. Aldo knew it all along, but it was never spoken of. We arrived from Italy together as we grew up in the same village. I was the one who introduced Gianna into this world.”
“You wanted to double-cross Aldo, but Gianna double-crossed you, didn’t she?”
He nods.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out, because I know Gianna. The moment Francesco introduced Gianna to Aldo, he was always going to be the runner-up to Aldo, as Gianna saw his power and what she could steal from him.
“Aldo turned his back on me for ‘love.’ My fault for trusting either of them.”
“Did you know about Valentina?”
He shakes his head.
“She had left me by the time she was heavily pregnant. She kept hidden, even from Aldo, as she didn’t want anyone to know about her pregnancy.”
Of course, she didn’t. It was her plan to exploit Valentina all along.
“Aldo protected her. God bless him for falling in love withil diavolo. It cost him, and now, Gianna is after me. She wants to tie up ‘loose ends’ as she is coming for you, Lenny. She is merely biding her time and compiling an army that is stronger and smarter than yours.
“I come to you, asking for protection. I once worked for Aldo, so now, I offer my services to you. All I ask for is sanctuary in return.”
“How can I trust you? For all I know, Gianna sent you.”
“Over time, I can only earn your trust. But as a good gesture, I will give you what you want.”
“And what is that?”
Francesco stares me dead in the eyes, revealing he knew he would always win. “Valentina.”
