Page 6 of Little Mouse

“On it.”

“And what’s the status on the woman?” I ask.

“Still nothing,” he replies with a frown, even as my temper flares. With who I am, the money I have, and the fear I impose, I should know anything I want and here I am chasing my tail. “Whoever this girl is, she’s a damn ghost.”

“It would seem so.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Though perhaps you are not being forceful enough with your team to make sure it’s getting done.”

He doesn’t react to my insult. “Would you have me kill another member of the team to make that point?”

I know he’s trying to bait me, to make some kind of insinuation that I wouldn’t want to kill someone on my team, but we both know that’s not true. “Yes,” I reply simply. “They are easily replaced, so perhaps it’s time they are reminded of that.”

He chuckles. “Perhaps,” he agrees easily. “I’ll get on them. And I have your permission to get the point across?”

I wave my hand at him impatiently. The fact that he even bothers to ask is damn annoying. I don’t know why I put up with his insolence, family or not. Still, the man is gifted at what he does, and the men fear him as much as me, knowing that he has far more authority and control than anyone else in my organization. “I want answers, Dante,” I tell him darkly.

He sobers and stands. “Yes, sir, and I aim to get them.”

“Well, while your team is searching for answers, I want a back up plan in place.” He arches a brow at that, and then listens as I explain my plan. His face doesn’t show any emotion, but his eyes widen ever so slightly, and there’s a spark of surprise in them, and possibly concern. Not that I care.

When I finish, he nods and says, “I’ll get to work on that right away. And I’ll push the men harder to figure out who she is.” Then he heads out the door, leaving me alone.

I turn and look out the window behind me, looking out over the large expanse of my property. I can see my guards patrolling, dogs on leashes with them. No one would be stupid enough to come here unannounced, or leave without my knowing. Which means that once I set my plan in motion, my little mouse won’t be leaving.

Anticipation fills me at the thought, and I turn away from the window and back to the many things I still need to see to before I can stop for the night. I glance at the open file folder beside me on the desk and see the picture of her. It was the clearest shot that my men could get of her. I see the dark look in her eyes, but also a glint of something else. Something that tells me she’s not as meek or mild as she appears.

Either way, I’ll be finding out one way or another. Because my little mouse has no idea what’s coming, but I plan on ending this little game and nothing will stand in my way.

CHAPTER4

Gia

One Week Later

“Daughter,”my father says coldly as he lets himself into my apartment.

“Father,” I say meekly, shutting the door quietly behind him and my eldest brother. “Marco.”

“Gia,” Marco says dismissively. Marco is the spitting image of my father, with black hair, hazel eyes, a well maintained beard, and an air of darkness and danger that makes me wary. Out of all of my brothers, he’s the one I worry about the most. He has our father’s temper, and he also is trying to prove himself to Father so that he leaves the empire to him when he dies. A terrifying thought, but one for another day.

My father hands me his coat and I dutifully hang it before I head to the bar to make their drinks. It’s much like when Giovanni and Lorenzo were here a few weeks ago, though I doubt my father would enjoy that comparison. Despite being brothers, they look nothing alike. My father is six-one, with hair a dark silver color, and his eyes the same hazel as my brothers. He wears his hair thick and wavy, slicked back and a hard set to his mouth at all times. At least around me. I’ve learned that my father sees me as an annoyance, nothing more.

“I take it you know why I’m here,” Father says briskly.

I shake my head. “No, Father,” I say softly. “Though you know I always enjoy your visits.” A complete lie, but one that slips easily off the tongue after having used it so many times. I turn and bring him and Marco their drinks, inwardly shaking at the thought I got it wrong. I’ve had more than one glass thrown at me for that mistake, and I’m still healing from the bruises Giovanni and Lorenzo left.

He assesses me, but clearly accepts my lie for what it is. Instead he indicates for me to sit, which I do, keeping myself on the edge of the seat. He doesn’t appear upset, but that can change in the blink of an eye. He sips his drink, watching me, and I keep my face serene as he sets it down. A small part of me relaxes when he finds no fault with it, but I’m still far from out of the woods yet.

Finally, he says, “I’m here because rumors are starting to circulate about your existence.”

I freeze at that, dread sinking into my stomach. One of the things my father has done is keep me hidden. My birth happened at home, the doctor merely handing me to my exhausted mother, and cleaning us up before leaving. No official paperwork was filed, and I was never allowed to leave home until I was eighteen. And even then, it was minute amounts of times. The only reason I’m in my own place is because my father’s third wife didn’t want the reminder of his second wife walking around. Considering he wants nothing to do with me most of the time he was fine with it. I had to work very hard, and be extremely patient, to get the freedoms I have now. It’s why I have such a strict schedule. I know his men watch me, reporting back. I want to make sure they have nothing to report. It’s this small taste of freedom that keeps me sane.

“I have kept strictly to your rules, Father,” I say carefully. “I haven’t spoken to anyone, and I follow the schedule to the letter as instructed.”

He says nothing, watching me, as if trying to intimidate me into confessing some grave sin, like admitting that I’m alive to anyone. My heart pounds in my chest, terror gripping me. If he doesn’t believe me, will he kill me? Will he sell me off to the highest bidder like Marco threatened for years until my Father told him the only person with that power is him. Finally, he says, “Yes, I’ve been told. A good thing for you, Giulia.” The thinly veiled threat weighs heavy in the air. “Which means we have a rat, and I’ll be looking into who they are shortly.”

“Yes, Father,” I say softly.

“Has Giovanni or his sons been here?” Marco suddenly asks, making me turn to look at him. He’s watching me intensely, and I have to force myself not to swallow hard at the look. I hate it, and I want nothing more than to turn and run. Far, far away.

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