Page 53 of Say I Do

I decided to hit below the belt. “Mom was asking about you,” I said. “She wants to know why you aren’t in town yet. I told her you were still busy, that things were dangerous, but she already figured out all the charges were dropped. She’s waiting for you.”

The sound my father made, that strangled groan, was a little reward for me. It was childish and petty, but I liked making him squirm. Good. My mother drained every dime he made as much as possible, and I loved how miserable he was about it and her. It was my little way of getting back at him for all the bullshit.

“Your mother will be the death of me.”

“She will be if you don’t come into town soon,” I said as I snagged my lighter. I flicked it, flames dancing as I lit the tip of my smoke until it glowed red. I exhaled. “I tried to talk her down—”

“I’m sure you did.”

A smile curled my lips. Was it so wrong that I sicced my mother on my father? The two of them being in town together wasn’t ideal, but it was better that they went after each other than me. If anything, they would argue, hook up, and act lovey for all of five minutes, before it would all end in disaster and they would both flee to their respective countries. I was already looking forward to having no one in my hair for a while.

“Benito, do I need to remind you that I’m about to hand you the reins?” he asked. “Are you going to take this seriously?”

I nodded. “Of course, father.” I sat up a little straighter. “Let me take care of things. You have a lot to do there.”

“Yes, I do,” he sighed. “I’ll be in New York in another week. Make sure things are in order by then.”

My father hung up before I could protest. A week? He wanted me to resolve everything in a goddamnweek? The heat that rushed up my spine made me twitch. Great. Reel in Harlow and find out who was spreading bullshit rumors. That wouldn’t be hard at all. I stubbed my cigarette out violently before I stood up and frowned. I had no time to waste.

* * *

Tony supportedmy weight as we moved toward the elevator. He deposited me inside, and I sank against the wall while I stared at the buttons. Tony quickly tapped the P before the elevator started to ascend.

“You good, boss?” he asked for the hundredth time.

I grunted. “Fine.”

I was far from fine. All day I’d worked my ass off to figure out what was going on. The more I dug, the more I came up empty. I had a few clues, however. The Vitales had taken over New York, but there were other families that felt as if our territory was owed to them. So far, I had two families on my radar; the Acetos and the Cappolas. Finding out what was happening without calling a meeting was impossible.

A shiver worked its way down my spine. Meeting up with those assholes would be fun, in the I want to pluck my eyeballs out way. Even when they were all in front of me, I’d still have to find a cobra in a pit of snakes because no matter how hard you looked, these men played their cards close to their chests. It would be difficult to find a liar amidst a sea of them.

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right in there?” he asked.

I knew exactly what and who he meant. I held up a hand. “I swear you won’t have to uncuff me from a headboard again.”

Tony frowned. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

The elevator doors opened, and I leaned on Tony for support as he took me inside. As soon as the door closed, Harlow emerged from the bedroom, rage written all over his face. He was dressed in one of my T-shirts and a pair of sweats. That was the most normal I’d ever seen him. A stupid grin tugged at my lips.

Harlow punched me in the chest. “You asshole!” he snapped. “Where the hell have you been? Do you know what time it is?”

Shit, if my father and the press could see us now, they would cream themselves. It’s almost as if we’re in a real relationship.

“I didn’t know you were my wife,” I poked. “Thought you were my husband. Be a man and suck it up.”

Harlow socked me in the chest so hard my breath stopped. I dropped to the ground. Tony argued with Harlow above me. For a moment, I was sure I’d die. Instead, I involuntarily sucked in a breath of air and coughed.

“Fuck,” I groaned. “Those dainty little hands fucking hurt.”

“Who has dainty hands, asshole?” Harlow demanded as he stepped on my side and ground his foot against it. “Fucking dickhead. Do you have any idea how many times I went out there to look for you? Nowhere to be found!”

I rolled over to stare up at him. Harlow was pissed, the faint redness of his cheeks and neck giving him away. As he glared, my stomach did flip-flops.He missed me.No matter what he yelled, that was the truth. It felt damn good to be missed.

“You mad, mostricio?” I asked. “Cazzo, stai così bene con i miei vestiti,” I groaned. “Let me see your panties.”

Why did I think he looked so hot when he was mad? My eyes searched his throat, and I grinned harder as I spotted the bruises that littered his neck. We’d started off so tumultuously, but those marks were acceptance. Harlow offered his throat to me now, wanting me to choke him to within an inch of his life. I enjoyed that about him.

Harlow huffed. “Idiot,” he snapped. “Go away, Tony. I need to kill my husband.”

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