Page 47 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

“Do not kill her,” I glared at her, “yet. However, feel free to torture her a bit until I finish it.”

“What?!” She shrieked. “Who the hell are you and what have you done wi—”

Joey snatched her arm and shook her before shoving her aggressively into Bellagio’s body. “Shut the fuck up.”

Bellagio sneered in her face. “We’ll get the info you need, boss.” He flickered his gaze to mine. “I have a good track record with extracting information.”

I nodded silently.

As they turned to leave, Federico appeared from the exit. The metal door made a thud as it closed behind him. He sauntered toward me, holding out a binder.

I shook my head. “You know how I feel about binders.”

“This has nothing to do with that, but you might want to take a look at this.”

Shaking my head, I pushed it back toward him. “Hang on to it until after the meeting.”

“That's the thing.” Shrugging, he gently pressed it into my stomach. “It's all the accounts we have with people who owe us so this will give you a breakdown of everything.”

“So, my meeting tonight is a legit one?”

He nodded. “This is our first time dealing with them, but they seem legit.”

“Fair enough.” I spun to Joey who had stayed behind with me. “Are you ready to go?”

13

Moonlight shone through the pastel purple curtains in my bedroom. Despite the turmoil in my family, the peaceful glow on my bed somehow offered me a sense of safety. I laid there in the middle of the mattress, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. I was missing Gavino like crazy as my heart ached to be with him. I just wanted to be where I belonged. The more everyone told me we did not belong together, the more I craved a future with him. I wanted it all, but I also wanted to have it while living in peace. I tried my best to imagine a peaceful future with him but soon a tear dripped from my eye as I cried for the reality of the nightmare I was living.

My father had let his anger control him. Earlier he stormed into my bedroom after Nick left. He shoved me against the wall and hit me several more times. The physical pain I endured was nothing compared to the emotional hell my dad was putting me through. As he delivered painful blows to my body, feelings of guilt overshadowed my sadness as I found myself wishing he was dead.

The door creaked open, and a tall profile appeared in my doorway. I immediately recognized him and rolled over to face the other way. I did not want Nick to see what our father had done to me while he was not here. He would blame himself for not offering me protection. I felt the edge of the bed shift as he sat down.

Instead of his voice, I heard rustling papers and felt something slide off my side and onto the bed in front of me. I sniffled as I picked them up, trying to focus my eyes in the limited light. “What is this?”

“I have a few secret properties I’ve been investing in. In America and Belize.” He muttered barely above a whisper.

I rolled over, covering my face with the blankets. “Nicky, why are you doing this?”

“I’m just looking out for you.”

“Dad almost killed you.” I hissed.

He patted the top of my head twice. “Yeah well, he didn’t.”

I winced at the surge of pain but tried not to move.

“If there is one thing Gavino and I have in common it’s caring about you.”

He placed a quick kiss on the top of my head, and I could not take the pain any longer. I let out a small painful squeak.

“What’s wrong?” He sat up.

I held the blanket against my face tightly. He reached over, ripping it off me and flipped on the flashlight on his phone. “What the hell?!”

“I’m fine.”

“Bullshit!” He almost shouted. “Did dad do this?”

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