Page 31 of Brutal Princess (Valentino Empire 4)

“Well, obviously, because she can see a good thing when it comes along,” I direct the statement to Angelica. “She said that if I was her dad, I could protect her from the man. When I asked herwhat man, she told me someone had been in her room at night at the hotel.”

“How do we know this isn’t like when Helena was having nightmares about someone watching her when she was little?” T asks.

“Because I hacked the hotel security system on the drive here. I saw a man enter the penthouse and leave ten minutes later.”

“Who?” T growls. The guy really needs to stop fucking growling like a rabid dog all the damn time.

“Do you honestly think I’d be sitting here with Tweedledee and Tweedledum if I knew?” Angelica’s brows furrow and she walks behind my desk, peering over my shoulder at my laptop. “Move,” she says, attempting to push me out of the way.

“Make me.” I smirk.

“How much would you miss him if I killed him?” She turns to Theo.

The fucker shrugs. “Probably not as much as you would. Now, how about we stop fucking around and find the asshole who’s been spying on my fucking eight-year-old niece?”

“My daughter,” Angelica and I say at the same time. She scowls, but doesn’t correct me.

“Riiiiight.” T looks between the two of us.

“Here.” I click on the email I was looking for and open the attachment. It’s a recording of Izzy’s hotel room. Then, skipping until the time stamp reads three in the morning, we all stare at the screen.

The fucking ass is wearing a mask. There’s no way to identify him. My blood boils as I watch him standing there, just staring down at Izzy.

Who the hell is this fucker?He’s about to be a dead fucking asshole, that’s who. His days are numbered.

“Think he’s connected to The Clover’s bullshit?” T questions.

“Why else would someone be showing an interest in Izzy? After we blew up Gio’s plan to take her back in Italy last month… someone, somewhere, must still have a vested interest. Someone’s looking to finish what he started.”

“Then why leave her there? They could have taken her last night. But they didn’t. What game are they playing?”

I pause the screen as the guy lifts his hand to scratch at his face. “Stop. There. Zoom in,” Angelica says, pointing to a faded tattoo on the man’s wrist. “What? No…” She shakes her head.

“You recognize him, Angel? Who is it?” She looks like she’s seen a ghost.

“That’s a dead man. My father killed him nine years ago,” she says quietly.

“Angelica, did he know you were pregnant?” T asks, obviously knowing something I don’t.

“Sì.”Yes, Angelica says.

“Fuck. Okay, I’m going to need you to tell me everything you know about him. I’m not going to let him anywhere near Izzy again.”

“Either of you two want to fill me in on who this fucker is?” I ask, annoyed.

“Izzy’s father,” Angelica whispers.

It’s like I’ve just been thrown in front of a firing squad. Her words penetrate my chest like an automatic rifle set to burst. I don’t know why it never crossed my mind to find out about Izzy’s paternity. Actually, I didn’t care. As far as I’m concerned, Angelica and Izzy are mine.

“He’s nothing more than a sperm donor,” T directs the comment to me.

“Why would you think your father killed him?” I ask Angelica, watching for a reaction. Did she love this guy? Does she still?

“I was sixteen when I got pregnant with Izzy. When my father found out, he went off the rails a little. Then he discovered the guy’s identity... I thought my boyfriend didn’t know me. Who I was. Who my father was. But he knew… everything. The entire time. And he used me to get information on a deal my father’s associates were involved in.”

“You were sixteen. What would you know about your father’s business dealings back then?”

“I’ve never been the mafia princess people believe me to be, Neo. Since I can remember, I’ve been trained to kill. When my father figured out I was decent with a rifle, he had me practice the art. For hours each day. I am the best damn shot in the family.”

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