Page 40 of Boardwalk Kings

“I made the mistake of telling him.” He forced a smile. “I’m so proud of you. Anyone who will listen, I tell them about your accomplishments.”

Because it made him seem like a father who was there for his daughter. My dad only showed up when it suited him. And now he was complimenting me, hoping I would make things right.

“What am I going to find?”

“The Blackwell Fund,” he whispered, keeping his fingers over his mouth to avoid the camera. “I couldn’t hide everything. Now, they’re watching me too closely to fix it.”

I groaned. “Dad, why are you doing this to me?”

“It wasn’t my idea to bring you here.” He stroked my cheek with his thumb, turning his head away from the cameras. “I’m sorry, Ava.” Then he pulled me into a hug and whispered in my ear. “When Dante gives you the authorization to move the money from Lucky’s and The Monella Club, I need you to transfer small amounts each week to the Blackwell Fund.”

“Dad, they’re going to find out. And then, we’re both dead.”

“Trust me, Ava. If we work together, we can do this.”

“Will this get us flagged by the SEC?”

“Not if you go through the backdoor I showed you last summer. Clear out the red flags.”

I blew out a breath of air to clear my tight lungs. “Dad, this isn’t just prison time.”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

Reaching into my purse, I grabbed my inhaler and took a puff. “They will kill us and Mom and everyone we know. Dante already threatened me this morning.”

Turning his head away from me, he stared at the coffee shop. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry wasn’t good enough.

ChapterEighteen

AVA

When I opened the front door, the scent of garlic and spices invaded my nostrils. My stomach rumbled at the delicious aroma wafting through the apartment.

“I only eat Mom’s cheese sauce.” Angelo’s voice carried from a distance. “Don’t go substituting shit.”

“Yeah, I know,” Dante shot back. “Who do you think made it for you, you little shit? Now sit down and let me finish cooking for your ungrateful ass.”

“Who the fuck are you calling little?” Angelo challenged, his voice getting louder.

“Sit down, Lo,” Dante snapped in his usual nasty tone. “Put the fucking gun away. No weapons at the table.” Then a second of silence. “You, too.” He snapped his fingers. “Now.”

I felt so uncomfortable around the Luciano brothers I tried to avoid them for the past few days. Dante wasn’t one to make conversation.

He still hadn’t given me the access codes I needed to help my dad. But I didn’t collect the money from Lucky’s and The Monella Club until Sunday night. So until I had money to launder, I had to sit around and wait.

My dad was confident Dante would give me access. Though, I still wasn’t sure what my dad wanted me to do, apart from transferring money. I had to cover up the record with another transaction. He said he would show me when the time came.

I strolled into the living room and dropped my purse on the couch, my eyes on the sexy men in my kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

“Hello to you, too,” Nico said with a cute smile.

Angelo swiveled on the barstool in front of the marble island and shook his head. “What the fuck kind of greeting is that?” He patted his thigh. “Get over here and try that again, college girl.”

I frowned at his suggestion and stood my ground. Clutching the back of the couch, I clung to it for dear life. I didn’t want to move from this spot. With all four of their eyes aimed at me, I felt like they could read my mind. That they knew I was hiding something from them.

I hadn’t seen or learned enough to know how much my dad screwed both of us. But I would soon. How would I hide my emotions from them when I had all the facts?

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