Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
He turns ghostly white and starts to shake. “I was just being nice. I would never talk to her, I mean, she came over and we were just talking, it was just talk, her brother was watching the whole time, I fucking swear, I never—”
“Stay away from Karah.” I stare at him for a beat. “Say you understand.”
“I understand.”
“Good.”
I leave him there and walk away.
Chapter 19
Karah
My nerves are on fire as I stand outside of Papa’s office. I hear the low murmur of him on the phone in there and I’m tempted to run away—but I’ve come this far and I can’t turn back now.
I lean against the wall to steady myself. I close my eyes and see the look on Nico’s face in the women’s bathroom all over again. It’s half rage, half betrayal, and it breaks my heart to pieces.
But I can’t rely on him and he knows it.
If I were sure he’d step up and help me when I need him the most, I wouldn’t waste my time with men like Alfonse despite how much the idea of being his wife makes my skin crawl.
Nico has to realize that, and yet he still refuses to give me what I want. It kills me, but I can’t see any other way out of this mess.
I said from the start that I’d find someone else and now it’s time to follow through.
I never expected that reaction though. I figured he’d be angry, but not angry enough to follow me into the women’s room like the rules don’t apply to him.
And that’s the problem.
He thinks the rules truly don’t apply, but they do.
Papa’s office goes silent so I knock on the door. “Come in,” he calls.
I step inside and he looks up from his laptop.
“Hello, Papa. Are you busy?”
“Not at all. I feel like we haven’t had a chance to talk in a while.”
“I feel the same way.” I drift over to the chairs, my hands trembling. “I went out with Fynn last night.”
“Where to?”
“The new restaurant. It’s really nice.”
He smiles proudly and nods. “That’s a passion project of mine. I’m extremely pleased people seem to like it.”
Which I knew already, but I need to butter him up a bit.
“They love it. I was talking with Alfonse and Freddy and Riccardo—”
Papa’s face clouds. “Who?”
“They work for you, Papa. Young guys in Tommaso’s crew. Anyway, they said all the guys love it.”
“That’s good to know.” Papa looks troubled as he frowns at me with his fingers folded under his chin. “Does Fynn know you were talking to these soldiers?”
“He was watching the whole time. Don’t worry, Papa. It wasn’t inappropriate.”
His expression softens. “I know, sweetie. You wouldn’t do anything untoward. Only I don’t trust the young men in my employ with the virtue of my daughter.”
I roll my eyes. “Papa. Stop it. I want to talk to you about Alfonse, actually.”
“What about?”
“I think I should marry him.”
His eyebrows shoot up and I’m trembling like crazy.
This was not an easy decision to make. In fact, I agonized about it, but I can’t see any other choice. Nico’s not going to help me anytime soon, and even though I love it when he gets me off and this strange, fiery thing we have going on between us feels both good and terrible, I still need to think about my future.
Rinaldo might get caught at any moment which means my chances are extremely limited.
If I don’t do something, I’ll waste all the time Nico won for me and still end up being sent to Dallas.
Papa glances away. He rumbles something in Italian under his breath that I only half hear and shakes his head slightly. “Sweetie, I should tell you something, but it won’t be easy.”
“What?” My stomach sinks as he turns to look at me again.
“There is nobody in the Famiglia that I will accept, not after what happened with Rinaldo. I understand Rinaldo was a particular case, but even still. The Russians in Dallas are important, and I want you to go there and strengthen our relationship with them. I need you to do it for me, sweetie.”
I sit back in my chair like he just punched me in the guts. My head spins and a dizzy, ugly nausea grasps at my stomach.
“There’s no other option,” I say more to myself but Papa nods sadly.
“I am sorry. I was sincere when I made the original offer, but things have changed. I love you, Karah, but it’s time for you to grow up.”
That sends a flare of anger down to my fingertips.
I sit up straight and stare at him with a tight jaw. He looks back, doing his best to remain calm, but I know what he’s thinking.
That night. That night is the center of my whole world but it’s like a black pit, impossible and inaccessible.