Page 41 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

Feigning a stunned reaction, I jumped up, mouth agape. "Oh my God! You scared me to death!"

They both rolled their eyes simultaneously. Frankie, the taller one, shoved his gun in his holster and folded his arms over his chest.

"I was just looking for—”

“Yeah, cut the shit,” Frankie snapped.

I averted my gaze to the sand and knew I was not only busted but was in an immeasurable amount of trouble. I was fuming at Nick for double-crossing me and giving my location to them. I don’t care what Gavino said, it was a breach of loyalty. I tried my best to act as nonchalant as possible. Hands perched on my hips, I grinned cheerfully. “What do you mean?”

The shorter one, whose name was unknown to me, grumbled and grabbed my arm. “Your father wants you home immediately.”

I trembled, terrified of what my father would say…or do. The man’s grip tightened painfully. My father would slaughter Gavino if he knew we had been together but there was no way I could ask without causing suspicion.

Jerking hard from the stranger’s grasp, I freed myself. “I can walk on my own.” Trekking through the sand, I ambled to the car on my own, remaining as calm as possible.

Frankie marched to the front of the car and got in while the shorter man yanked the back door open and shoved me in. He slammed it closed with a growl. Curiously, I tried to open it, but discovered the childproof lock was activated. You’ve got to be kidding me!

The ride home was silent except for general chatter from them about whatever sports game they saw earlier on television. There was no mention of Gavino or me. Leaning on the arm rest, I watched the world go by, praying Gavino was somewhere safe.

“Sofia! Get your ass in here!” My father bellowed the moment I entered the house.

Slowly, I crept through the foyer toward his office with the two men trailing closely behind. The moment I stepped through the doorway, I slapped my hand over my mouth, gasping at the sight before me. Nick was swaying in a chair near the wall, blood dribbling from his nose and mouth. His eyes, cheeks, and lips were swollen.

“What the hell happened to Nick?” I cried, about to take off running to him.

Frankie grabbed my shoulder, holding me back. I might have been upset with Nick, but he was still my brother. Did Gavino’s men hurt him?!

My father hurled his head back, guffawing in a deep, looming pitch then stopped abruptly. He narrowed his heated, dagger eyes on me, furrowing his creased brow. “That's what happens when my own flesh and blood fucks with my enemy.”

I shifted my panicked gaze to my brother then back at my father. Tossing my arm out, I pointed at Nick. “You did this to him?!”

My father showed no remorse for his actions. He marched towards me and drew his hand back, swiping it harshly across my face. I crumbled to the floor in pain, cupping my cheek as I slumped over weeping in shock. Nick flinched and tried to stand but grabbed his ribs, grimacing in pain.

As the throbbing and stinging feeling pulsated through my head, I continued to sob. Not because I was in pain, but because the man I looked up to so much, who was supposed to protect his children, just destroyed them physically. He was not the dad I knew. He was tough, yes, but this was quite different from my father. I was his princess. He hated the D'Angelo family. He hated all the other crime families, but I was always the little girl he never treated unfairly until now.

Of all the times I wanted to be in Gavino's arms, it was unquestionably now. I wanted to run away with him, but the reality of this controlled life stared us in the face every moment of every day. I tried to rationalize things. I knew Nick was involved with the family, and I knew the laws. Blood did not matter when it came to the rules. Not many people in the outside world know the commandments of the crime families around here.

Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty - even if your wife's about to give birth.

My father was not present when I was born. Instead, he was hanging a man off the side of a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean before he threw him off to face his death. How did I know this? Years later, he told Nick before he joined the family business. While we were drunk one evening, he joked about our dad’s emergency fishing trip the day I was born.

Films glamorized Mafia life. Yes, my family lived in a big house and drove nice cars. We even had the world handed to us, but no one knew the expense we paid living in this. I was born into it. My life did not come with a choice, but it did come with a hefty price. I could leave at any point and before I met Gavino, I planned to move away. He was the only thing keeping me here and he could never leave with me since he had to run his own family now. I had no idea what it meant for us now.

I stood and the need to protect my battered brother took over. Family was important to me despite my father's current state of mind. “Nick, are you o—”

“Silence!” My father roared.

I snapped my mouth closed. Nick shook his head subtly as if to warn me, but I stepped forward, rubbing my cheek. “Dad, please listen to me.”

My father’s men all watched as he began to circle me slowly like he was sizing up his prey. He could not dare show his softer side in front of them, even to his own daughter. I felt so small and helpless as I peeked over at my brother who was just as helpless as me.

I'm sorry. Nick mouthed. He averted his gaze, hanging his head in shame.

“Princess.” My father summoned my attention as he came to a stop before me and rested his hand on my shoulder. “I didn't want to believe you and Gavino were fooling around but I have all the proof I need.”

I shot Nick a glare. He shook his head as if to tell me it was not him. A deep laugh reverberated in my dad’s chest. My eyes darted around the room, and I made eye contact with the other seven men in the room, trying to figure out which of them ratted me out if it was not Nick.

Noticing, my father took a step back. He crossed his arms over his chest. “There is no use in trying to figure it out, Sofia. I have spies everywhere.”

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