Page 136 of Say I Do

A knock at the door was my only warning before my father and three of his guards walked into the small changing room. I turned around to face him, locking everything away the moment my father and I came face to face.

“Harlow,” Denji checked me over. “This spectacle was your doing, but it is beneficial. Stock prices for all our businesses are up.”

I nodded. If he thought my sacrifice was worth it, then so be it. I couldn’t find it in me to care anymore.

“I had my doubts, son, but you pulled through. I couldn’t be more proud.”

None of my achievements before seemed to matter to my father. Not the perfect grades, not when I’d beaten a rival gang with just a handful of guys. Not even when I’d secured him a portion of the drug trade in Chinatown. Nothing. And now that I was getting his praise, it felt meaningless. I had chased after his acceptance my entire life only to have it and want nothing to do with it.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Is that really a question?”

Denji’s eyes lowered, and fear skirted down my spine.Step back, be quiet, and obey.It was ground into every single one of his children, and it was hard as hell to ignore.

“Where’s Lorelei?”

He huffed. “She is safe. You worry too much for your sister.”

If I didn’t, who would? “She’s free right?”

My father sighed. “She ruined everything by having a baby. She can’t even keep up with her own shoes.”

He wasn’t wrong but that was for Lorelei to figure out.

“Lorelei has opted to live a poor life. I have no use for a whore.” He waved his hand as if dismissing the whole thing.

“You’re cutting her off?” Fuck, Lorelei had no idea how to live like that.

“She messed up, and it was my last warning to her. You could be out there doing what you do best. Instead, you’re here dressed up for some man.” Denji shook his head. “They hold too much power in this city. Italians. You’re not even with the head. That boy is nothing but a puppet—”

I moved before I thought better of it and found three guns pointed my way. I had my knife drawn and aimed at my father. The tip pressed against his gray suit. Our eyes were locked, and for the first time in my life, I stared into Denji Hayashi’s eyes and didn’t feel an ounce of fear.

“Never speak ill of my husband in front of me again.”

Denji looked unfazed as he glanced down at the knife I held against his body and back up to my face. “You were always stupid, but I never knew you were stupid enough to fall in love. Have you learned nothing? Your loyalty is to your family.”

My chest constricted, making air scarce. I showed nothing to him as I steadied my hand. “I’m a Vitale.”

“????,” (Traitor) one of the guards standing near my father spat.

“Say what you want. But disrespect my husband or our family again, and I will show you why having me as an enemy would be the worst outcome.”

Denji raised his hand and the guards surrounding us lowered their guns. I stepped back, and before any of them knew what was happening, I slammed my knife into the guard to my right’s neck. He was the one I’d promised to kill ages ago.Now who’s laughing, bitch? I left it there and stepped back further, staying clear of the blood. Gabriela would burst out in tears if I messed up the outfit.

“Fuck, Chiaki,” another guard said. He raised his gun, but Denji pushed it down.

“Happy?” He gave the man on the ground a bored look. “Clean him up.” He faced me once more. “Consider it a wedding gift.”

If he expected a thank you, he wasn’t going to get it. Denji turned away from me and headed for the door. He stopped, and I had half a mind to push him out. Luckily, he said nothing as he left. The moment I was alone again, I sucked in a breath.

“Fuck.” I kicked the table. I couldn’t even text my sister to see if she was okay. He’d gone and cut her off. Lorelei was too much like our mother, weak in all the wrong ways. She had her strengths, but they weren’t enough to survive on her own.

“Hey you good?” Quincy’s voice broke through the momentary panic.

“Lorelei, where is she?”

“Calm down, Har. You need to be more worried about yourself right now,” Quincy said.

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