Page 21 of Forbidden Property
Gino looks like he wants to kill me, but he stays quiet rather than getting emotionally riled up. He’s infuriating with the way he completely refuses to rise to my bait. But I appreciate him staying on the line. I take the phone away to Renzo’s prison.
“There’s an amendment.”
“What is it?” he asks.
I read it out loud.
Gino waits a beat after I read Renzo and Geralynn’s separate amendments out loud. “Give in,” Gino says to them.
My heart pounds with the realization that they’re close to signing. The amendments are more than I want to give, but it’s hard to beat the pure rush of knowing that I’ll get exactly what I want. My best friend will receive a downpayment of $65,000 to cover her first year of graduate school and the costs of living outside of that.
She won’t ever have to mop floors again or put up with anyone treating her like she’s lesser because of her job or her background. I don’t have access to my own money the way Geralynn does. Because of my sex, my father will control every dollar of my inheritance and after he dies, a trust of elderly men will control the money. I can’t help the woman I grew up with without sacrifice.
She might hate me, but once this is all over, she’ll have her dream – law school.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I ask Gino, although I don’t know why the hell I’m asking him for advice since he thinks I’m such a bad person for doing this.
“Is now really the time to ask yourself that question?”
“You agreed to help me, Gino. You’re no angel.”
Men hate it when you enter “male dominated fields”. Like gaslighting.
“Nicki, if you want to stay in control here, give them this amendment. Trust me.”
“Fine. But we’re going to get what we want, Gino.”
My brother becomes deeply uncomfortable again, like he didn’t help me draft these contracts. He’s involved with this, whether he “wants to” be involved with the situation or not.
“Please, Nicki. Don’t involve me in this. I wantnothingto do with this.”
“If I get my baby, you get what you want, Gino. Remember that.”
“And what is that exactly?” Gino grumbles.
“Your identical twin brother who is somehow hotter than you gets to be off the market.”
Playing on Gino and Renzo’s insecurities doesn’t make me a good person, but it’s definitely hilarious. He scowls and pretends not to be affected.
“You idiot. Iamthe hotter twin.”
“Plus, I have blackmail.”
“What kind?”
“Lots.”
Gino scowls. He can’t tell if I’m bluffing or not and I love keeping up the air of mystery. I do have blackmail, by the way. I’m a Taviani. The men in my life think they control everythingabout my life and in some ways, they do. I have to havecollateralandassurances.
This baby is my collateral. My assurance that Renzo will keep my best friend with this familyforeverand never hurt her. My assurance that my brothers will soften their perspective over time.
When I’m old and grey, nobody will remember how they got together. Iknowthey’re going to fall in love. Renzo – and most of the guys in Buffalo – are stupid for not seeing what I see in Geralynn.
She’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I’m not even that good of a friend, honestly. I try to be a better person, but I come from a family of criminals. Geralynn has never judged me for that and she’s always given me room to grow.
This time, I want to do something to change her life and I know it will change my brother too and break through his icy heart if he would justlet it happen.Not like I’ll betray my true motives to Gino. He would just find some way to ruin my plan like all the men in my family do.
“Owing you was a mistake.”
