Page 26 of The Sicilian Princess
Nick
"What are you going to do, baby girl?" I was worried about her putting herself in danger. This whole situation was fucked. She was precious to me. I couldn't let the New York mafia get their hands on her. I needed to come up with a plan. Unfortunately, I didn't think straight when it came to my little thorn.
"I'm going to call my older brother Vito for help. He gave me a number for emergencies. I'm going to use it now."
Her face brokered no argument. She was resolute in her decision. There was a war going on within me. One part wanted to protect my sweet girl, the other was begging me to tell her the truth. I put it off. For now, I would play this by ear. If she needed to know, I would tell her. She didn't need to know right now, so I herded her into my truck. She would be safer at the ranch. I could protect her better there. I raced to the ranch and all but dragged Rose inside.
"How are you going to call him?" She couldn't just pick up a phone and call. What if they were tracking her?
"I'm not sure. Do you have any ideas?"
I brought her to the kitchen and sat her down. "Wait here," I said and then rushed up the stairs. I knew time was of the essence. Eunji's life was at stake. They would probably auction her off to some horrible rich man who would use and abuse her body. I went into the back of the master closet and grabbed my box of unused prepaid phones. I never knew when I would need one.
Rose was exactly where I left her, sitting down on a stool, her leg bouncing anxiously.
"I have a prepaid phone you can use. Keep him on speaker and make sure it's short."
She nodded her agreement and started to dial. I held my breath as it rang. Maybe he wasn't going to pick up. If not, I could always sneak to New York and kidnap Eunji back.
"Picone," a gruff voice barked.
"Vito?" Rose hesitated.
"Rose?" The voice softened and lowered to a whisper.
"What's wrong?" This was clearly a number for emergencies. At least he hadn't lied about that.
"Thomas Romano stole a friend of mine, mistaking her for me," Rose blurted out. Silence followed her confession.
"What does that have to do with you, Rose?" Vito's harsh voice asked.
I wanted to punch him in the face, but if I was honest, I would say the same thing to my sister. He wanted to keep Rose safe at all costs, and I could get behind that.
"She's my friend, Vito," Rose cried into the phone.
I winced, knowing just what that did to me. I'd give her the world to keep her from crying.
"You have to stop her from being sold," I stated.
Silence again, and then, "Who the fuck is that, Rose?"
I almost snapped at him for talking to my baby girl like that.
"Nick Greer, he's a friend." Rose hesitated on the friend part, filling me with masculine satisfaction.
"I was asking him, Rosalina." Vito wasn't stupid. He wanted me to put my trust in him and I guess now was probably the best time to rip off the Band-Aid.
"Nicolo Falcone to you, Vittorio."
The call dropped, and my precious girl snapped her glare my way. "What the fuck? Who are you?" She jumped off the stool and moved away from me.
I stalked across the room and grabbed her by her tiny waist. I forced closeness on her because I knew without a shadow of a doubt if I didn't, she would leave right now and never look back. I soothed her like she was an animal until she started breathing a little clearer. "I'll tell you my story, little thorn, but you are going to sit on my lap and listen. There is no leaving. Understood?" She hesitated, so I squeezed her until she nodded yes. Then I carried her bratty ass to the sofa so I could explain myself, something I should've done before I dropped the bomb on her brother.
"My father was going to have me killed or at least I suspected he was." I figured the best place to start would be the reason I really ran. Rose was sitting stiffly in my lap, her big doe eyes watching me with distrust. I went on. "I was happy doing wet work. I became a 'made man' at an incredibly young age, but Father wanted me to be capo. I argued and told him I wanted nothing to do with it. Then Thomas Romano came along. He got in my father's ear, convinced him that I had broken code and ran to the Feds. Father put a hit out on me and I ran. I stayed gone. I didn't care if they thought I lived or died. I just got out. Something no other member could speak about, because no one ever gets out unless it's in death."
Rose let out a frustrated sigh. "Then why did you tell my brother who you were?"
I loved how smart my little thorn was.
