Page 40 of Lies like Rubies, Part One

And I’d be comfortable again.

“You need that money, Gio,” I growled. “The Russos froze you out of the port, and you’ve got to convince some poor asshole to marry your slut daughter.”

My phone buzzed, and I raised it, only for a photo of Sofia on her knees, her eyes closed as she sucked Oscuro’s cock to flash across my screen.

Oscuro

Mine.

Rage turned my vision red.Who the fuck did he think he was? Lizzie was mine, and so was her bitch of a mother. If that slut had spoken up five years ago and married me like she fucking should have instead of letting her brothers-in-law chase me out of town, I’d never be in this situation, desperate and begging to be brought back into the fold.

It wasn’t her fault, though. Sofia was innocent, sweet, and weak. The Russos had kept her in a cage her entire life, and she’d never been able to spread her wings and fly. I’d convince her that her place was by my side. As heir to the Costa empire with a Russo bride by my side, I’d fucking rule this town. Neither Gio Costa, Tony Russo, or any other fucking gang would stop me.

The image Dante sent me burned into my brain—Sofia’s gorgeous sweet lips wrapped around his cock, tears streaming down her face, her tits hanging free, nipples taut and hard, as if she were enjoying herself.

“And Oscuro needs to pay for defiling what’s mine.”

Gio raised an eyebrow. “Defiling?”

I didn’t elaborate. The old man narrowed his eyes. “Careful, Sergio. I may be considering letting you inherit the Costa empire, but you haven’t earned it yet.”

Ultimately, Costa gave me a crew of men for the job. He wasn’t happy about it, but he wanted the million euro, and he especially wanted access to the port again, access that he could only get through Sofia Russo.

One by one, we set fire to four Oscuro clubs. Revelers screamed, running outside as flames licked up the sides of the building.

As dawn peeked over the river that wound its way through the city, I smiled down at my phone.

Sergio

Give her to me, or I’ll keep burning them down.

17

SOFIA

The last fewdays of Dante’s protection had been a brutal reminder of why I’d declined my father’s security when I started college at twenty-two with a newborn on my hip.

I missed privacy. I missed not wondering if the men who kept my daughter safe were judging me for showing up with a full face of makeup after a study group, looking like the perfect princess my mother raised me to be. Or were they thinking I left my daughter in the hands of others for too long each day? Or did they wonder if I was sleeping around when I came back late? I missed not having to sneak around so I could go on a goddamned date with a kind man who respected my boundaries and made conversation easy.

Their faces revealed nothing as they stood outside my door, which was even worse than open judgment. I hated it.

Dante’s daytime security was discreet but recognizable all the same, quietly meeting Lizzie and me at her daycare and monitoring the building. I rubbed my chest, trying to be grateful for my daughter’s safety. Someone—Sergio or the Costas—set Dante’s clubs on fire. It was practically a declaration of war against the Italian mafioso.

Why?

Tommaso’s eyes flicked to me as I walked down the hall, my ballet flats thudding almost silently against the carpet. “Welcome home, Miss Russo.”

“Thanks, Tommaso,” I said as I worked my way through the layers of locks Luca installed after Sergio’s visit. “Can I get you anything to eat or drink?”

He shook his head, one corner of his mouth tilting into a slight smile. “I just got on shift. I’m good.”

Lizzie flew to me when I opened the door. “Mamma!” she cried as I lifted her and wrapped her tiny legs around my waist.

“Hey there, sweetheart,” I murmured against her cheek, holding her tight. “Did you have fun with Miss Carolina today?”

Miss Carolina smiled at me from the couch, where she sat with her embroidery, watching Lizzie and me with gentle amusement. “We just got home. I’ve already given her a snack.” Miss Carolina picked Lizzie up from daycare a few days a week, so I could go to a study group for finance.

I checked my watch. Enough time to give Lizzie a bath, shower, and get ready, but I couldn’t dawdle.

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