Page 63 of Sins of the Son

Never saw their faces.

But I would never forget their voices.

And this was one of them.

One of the boys who'd attacked me seven years ago.

One of the boys who'd attacked me at Cesare’s bidding.

To teach me a lesson.

I couldn’t look up.

I froze.

Bitter bile burned the back of my throat.

“The cap rate appraisal regarding the potential of the property in question is troubling. I’m not sure if it’s an investment worth the Cavalieri name. Follow me into the conference room so we can discuss it in private,” said Cesare.

Romolo laughed. “Same old Cesare. Just like back in school. Always worried about the Cavalieri name.”

Cesare slapped him on the back again as he threw his head back and laughed. “Of course. I have to protect the Cavalieri name at all costs. You know that.”

As they crossed into the glass-walled conference room, I fell into my desk chair and bent below my desk to dry heave into my wastebasket. I opened my desk drawer and grabbed my purse, heading straight for the door.

Luigi stepped in front of me.

I tried to move around him.

He held up his hand. “Where are you going? Cesare wants us in the conference room. Do you have the files?”

I tried again to step around him. “I have to go.”

“What? You can’t. We have the meeting. Are you okay?”

Fuck. He was drawing attention to us. I looked in the direction of the conference room, where Cesare was staring at us with a frown on his face. The walls wobbled and swayed. I needed to get out of here.

I licked my lips. “The files are on my desk. I just need to go to the powder room. I’ll be right in.”

Luigi laughed. “Milana, your lipstick looks perfect. Come on, Cesare’s waiting.” He tried to take my elbow to escort me into the conference room.

I pulled away and shouted louder than I intended. “Get off me!” This time the entire office stopped as if there actually was a record-scratch moment. I laughed, the sound high-pitched and hollow. “Sorry, I just really need to pee.”

Without waiting to see his reaction, or checking to see if Cesare noticed the drama, I practically ran out of the office and down the building stairs. I didn’t take a full breath until I reached the piazza.

In a panic, I looked from left to right, uncertain of what to do next or where to go.

As if drawn by a hidden thread, I looked up in time to see Cesare at the window of the conference room, staring down at me. Even from that great height, I could feel his anger.

Fuck him.

He lied to me.

It was all just a big con.

And I had almost fallen for it.

Loud blasts of a train whistle filled the air.

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