Page 42 of Mafia Boss's Fake Fiancée

“Adriana doesn’t belong to you.”

“You’re right,” he snarls. “I’ll kill you both. Then I won’t have to worry about either of you messing up my plans.”

I stare into his eyes, but all I see is darkness. “Cesare, what are you talking about?”

“I don’t give a fuck if you all want to abandon me, but I’ll make you pay. Her for ruining my whole plan, and you for going behind my back!” He lets go of me.

“No, you can’t do that.”

“Adriana is on her way. One of my men will grab her. Unlike yours, her death will be quick.”

My heart rate speeds up. “Are you out of your fucking mind? You can’t kill her! She’s your sister! She loves you. If our friendship has ever meant anything to you, you’ll spare her life.”

“If she cared about me, she would’ve stayed with me for Christmas. She would’ve met her suitors and found herself a husband.”

“Come on. That’s not you.” I search his eyes for something.

I search for my friend.

“Cesare, please,” I say.

He cocks his head at me, his face an unreadable mask, and pulls out his gun. “Do you think that if I spare her, I’ll spare you too?” He jabs the barrel of the gun into my forehead.

“Do to me whatever you want, but let her be. Your family would never forgive you if anything happened to her, and I don’t think you’d forgive yourself either. I get that you’re mad, but this isn’t the way. If you want to punish someone, punish me. Leave her alone.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s a better person than either of us. Send her to your parents or to Enzo. Marry her off to someone. But don’t kill her. She doesn’t deserve that.”

He raises an eyebrow at me. “So if I say I’ll torture you to death but spare her life, you’ll agree?”

“Yes.” I don’t have any doubts.

If I had some before, they’re gone now. When it comes to life and death, I’ll always choose Adriana. She risked her life to help Enzo because it was the right thing to do. Now she’s doing who knows what Cesare is asking of her because she just can’t help herself.

Maybe someone like me doesn’t deserve to be with someone like her. I even planned my own father’s death. But Adriana worries about Cesare even when she shouldn’t. Even when many would’ve given up on him.

The best days of my life were the ones I spent with her. I don’t remember ever being that happy or carefree. It was all because of her.

She’s light in the middle of the darkness, and if I have to die to keep that light going, I’ll gladly do it. Before, I wanted to extinguish it. I wanted to make her as dark as I was, but now I know that’s wrong. Only death will stop her light, and I can’t let that happen.

“Why don’t you talk to her?” I ask. “If she didn’t give a damn about you, she would’ve already left a long time ago. She wouldn’t have stayed, worrying that you’d be alone. You’re the one who keeps pushing people away. Do you know how many times I tried to call you? You wouldn’t pick up.”

“That’s because I don’t fucking trust you. I don’t trust anyone. But enough about that. You say you would die for my sister. Would you give up everything you have for her too? She cost me a lot of money, and you have—”

“Take it. Take whatever you want.”

“You’ll sign it? Really?” Amusement flashes through Cesare’s eyes.

“Yes.”

He lowers the gun and scratches his chin. “I guess with your death and everything you have, it would be enough. And you’re right, my parents would be livid if I killed my sister. Enzo too. I accept your offer. But I have to get the contract ready first, so I hope you don’t mind waiting.”

“I don’t.” I meet his gaze.

What happened to my best friend? There was always some darkness clinging to him, but it never got this bad. Now, I can barely recognize him. It’s like he’s decided that the whole world is against him.

As he closes the door behind him, I look down at my wrists. I can probably get free before he returns. Zip ties are nothing for me. Then I could take out the guard in front of the door and snatch his gun. It wouldn’t be easy, but Cesare let me see everything on our way here. I could probably make it and get out of here.

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