Page 27 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

I growled under my breath, imagining his lifeless body falling to his death. That was my plan. I would lure him to the top of a building in the city where no one would hear us. I would push him off the edge while laughing at his horrified face. Him watching my face was the last thing I wanted him to see as he fell to his death. I would force my daughter to be there. She needed to listen to him pleading for his life. It was an evil plan and a hard lesson, but it was necessary.

Disobedience in my family, both personal and business, was in no way tolerated. I would not lose the war to a family now run by a twenty-something year old kid. Just as I began to chuckle, Sofia glided past the doorway.

“Sweetheart,” I called out, “come here!”

She froze, twisting toward the open door. “Morning, daddy!” She cheerfully bounced into the room as if nothing had happened.

Her neck was marked with bruising, causing my blood to boil. I gritted my teeth, clenching my jaw. I squeezed the cross even harder as I circled the middle of the T with the ball of my thumb. Mustering a feigned smile, I offered her a tight grin.

My gaze caught her brother, Nick, tilting his head, glaring at her neck. I shot him a quick glimpse, meeting his eyes. Silently, I encouraged him to remain quiet. He lowered his gaze to the floor, waiting for me to speak first.

I cleared my throat. “You're up early, princess.” I forced a toothy grin.

She nodded. “I’m going out with some friends for breakfast.”

“Is that so?” I cocked a brow.

“Dad, I promise I’ll be okay. I thought about things, and you have my word. I’m only going to meet friends.”

I swallowed, digesting the lie. I knew she was going to see Gavino. Sofia had a very expressive face and had never been able to lie to her mother or me without getting caught.

“I’ll be right back.” I marched to the foyer and laid Gavino's cross on the sizable round table with a red floral centerpiece. I made sure it was visible to her when she left the house because I wanted her to take it back to him. Then, I would have all the reason in the world to strike. I returned to my office, hugging her, and handing her a car key fob.

“What's this?” She asked with a look of confusion.

I shrugged. “Take the Jag.”

She shook her head. “Dad, my car is just fine.” She laid the key on the desk and adjusted the bag on her shoulder. “I’ll be home later, okay?”

“Have a fun time, sweetheart.” Grinning, I nodded, waiting for her to take the bait.

She quickly scurried out of the room.

“What the hell?” Nick spun to me. “You know she's going to see him!”

“That's the plan.”

“I don’t understand.” Puzzled, he lifted a brow.

“Go check the table in the foyer.” I ordered, nodding toward the door.

“Huh?”

“The table in the foyer.” Smirking, I skewed my head. “Go look and tell me if his necklace is on it.”

8

The sight before me was outrageous. I was met with chants, screams, and incoherent shouting. Hordes of girls, women, and some men were camped outside the gates. Marriage proposals on signs, cardboard cutouts of me, and shirts with my face on them scattered through the crowd.

“What the actual fuck?”

“I told you.” Joey chuckled from close behind.

“What is going on?” I slipped my sunglasses on as I twisted toward him, muttering. “This is weird as fuck.”

“Ever since you were on TV,” he snorted, “they’ve been gathering outside the house. You just didn’t notice because you used the other entrance.”

I scanned the crowd and swallowed hard. “This is a fucking circus.” I spun to Joey once again. “You’re cool to cover for me?”

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