Page 75 of Deceptive Union

“No,” I say before Nina can answer. “She was just leaving.”

Nina’s head whips up to stare at me. I look away before I can talk myself out of it. I may love Nina, but I can’t forgive her betrayal.

“Are you sure?” Mom asks.

“I’m sure,” I say. “Nina was leaving. Weren’t you?”

Nina opens her mouth to … what? Object. But then, after giving me a sad look, she nods and stumbles to the door.

Once she’s gone, I instantly regret it. I can’t turn back now, though. I’ve made my decision.

“You do know Franco kidnapped her?” Mom asks. “Why would you turn her away? She’s your wife.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know,” I say through tight lips. “But I need to get rid of Franco’s body. We can talk later.”

I grab Franco’s arms and start dragging him toward the back door before Mom can object.

* * *

Franco’s bodyfalls into the water with a splash. The rocks tied around him help sink him to the bottom of the Hudson River. His head is the last thing to go under. The moment it’s gone, I feel relief for the first time in years.

My uncle put my family through hell for twelve years, all because he decided to kill his brother. I’m glad he’s gone. He can rot in hell like my mom said.

I don’t go back to my apartment. I’m afraid Nina will be there, and I can’t face her after I told her to leave. So, I go to my childhood home.

It’s nice to be back and not be afraid for my life.

When I step through the front doors, I’m greeted by the sight of my sister, Cecilia. She doesn’t say anything as she hugs me, silently telling me I’ll be all right.

I hug her back.

CHAPTER19

Antonio

Ican’t deny the flicker of nerves that pass through me as I enter the high-rise office building. It belonged to my father before Franco took over. Now, it’s mine.

And it’s where I assembled all my father’s men to meet me.

With Killian’s help, we spread the news about Franco’s death and that I’m the one who did it. I can only hope it makes these men respect me. The last time some of them saw me, I was just a kid.

When I enter the conference room, I’m confronted by the twenty most important men in my father’s business. From my spying on Franco, I know they did the most work for him.

Some of them look happy to see me while others look worried. And one—one looks like they don’t respect me at all.

The one who doesn’t is a man named Oliver Martin. He took over as Franco’s second-in-command after I killed Alfonso. His feet are on the table, and the smirk on his face says a lot. He doesn’t think I’ll make a good leader. To a lot of these men, I’m just a kid.

I need to show them I’m a man now, more than capable of being a leader.

All the men have the decency to at least be quiet as I enter the room and take my place at the front. Oliver is there, and I have to subtly nudge him out of the way.

“Looks like the new boss is here,” he mocks. A couple other men laugh while the rest look on in respect.

“You’re right,” I say, standing up tall with Killian at my side. “I am. I killed Franco. And he killed my father. So, if he gets to take over, then so do I.”

“Scary,” Oliver says sarcastically. As a short man, I think he’s compensating for something.

With my eyes on him, I take off my father’s pendant and …

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