Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Correct. Which is why I would like to know why you claim to be my daughter.”
“My mother was forced to leave the States after she got pregnant with me and married my father—stepfather.”
“What are you getting at?” He continues cutting his steak but doesn’t bring anything to his mouth. “Is Adrian aware of what you’re doing? If he does know—”
“He won’t know, because he’s in danger.” I approach him in fast steps, but if my sudden movements alarm Lazlo, he doesn’t act on it. Instead, he observes me closely when I’m a step in front of him. “I’m not sure what else to tell you to make you believe me, and I’m probably wasting my time, but know this, my mother was happy in Italy and with my stepfather, but sometimes, I saw her crying alone. Sometimes, she would hug me and tell me she wished it was different. The day those men came and killed her and Papa, I wished it was different, too. I know someone hid me and smuggled me to the States, but I have no idea who it was or why they did it. All I’m certain of is that it had something to do with you and the Rozettis and that Luca could’ve been working with them…”
I trail off when he releases the utensils and reaches a hand toward me. I’m about to flinch back when Lazlo wraps his fingers around the pendant that’s peeking out from my coat.
His eyes widen as he runs the pads of his fingers across the surface with infinite caution. “How did you get this?”
“Mom gave it to me.”
“I gave it to Rachel. She said it was a precious gift and she’d hand it down to our child if we had one.” He stares at me with what seems like awe. “You…are my daughter.”
“I believe so, yes.”
“And I never knew you existed.”
“I think someone tried hard to make it so you wouldn’t.”
“Or some people.” His expression tightens. “Did you mention a Luca?”
“You know him?”
“Luca Rozetti.”
“His last name is Brown.”
“It’s fucking Rozetti. He and his family have tried every trick under the sun to destroy me, but I never thought they would go so low as to hide you from me.” He stands and strokes my face. “My daughter. My blood.”
I swallow at the tone of his voice, at the way his eyes soften as if he’s finding a long-lost treasure.
“I should’ve found you sooner. If I had known Rachel had you, I would’ve followed her.” He taps the scar on his cheek. “I should’ve sensed something was wrong when she gave me this.”
“Mom did?”
“Yes, though it was a bit of an accident. She didn’t take my engagement to my current wife well and held a knife so I’d leave her alone. I was trying to disarm her when she cut me. That was the last time I saw her.”
“How come you…didn’t hurt her for it?”
“I hurt her enough by choosing another woman over her. You, however, I didn’t know about. If I had, it would’ve been different.”
“Would you have married my mother?”
“No. But I would’ve raised you.”
“That must be why she chose to stay away.”
I can tell he doesn’t like my response, but he doesn’t press the issue.
“How did you know?” He pauses, narrowing his eyes. “Did Adrian figure it out and kept you from me?”
“No, no he didn’t.”
“Then who told you?”
“Luca.”
“Filthy Rozetti.” He curses under his breath in Italian.
“What’s your problem with them, anyway?”
“We always have territory wars. However, they made the mistake of killing my father, so, in turn, we’re killing all of them.”
Typical.
His expression softens as he tightens his hold on my hand. “I’m happy you came, Lia. You are a gift that I’ve finally received.”
“If I’m a gift, then please help me.”
“Anything.”
“My husband, Adrian. He was taken by Sergei because they believe he killed Richard Green in order to help you and betray the Bratva. You’re the only one who can rectify the misunderstanding.”
“I do not get involved in the Bratva’s internal affairs and they do not allow outsiders in.”
“You said you’d help me with anything.”
“Not when it comes to Bratva business. Besides, I don’t believe it was by mere chance that Adrian ended up marrying you. He knew about your relation to me for years yet chose to keep it a secret, and for that alone, I will not help him.”
“He’s my husband and the father of my son. If you don’t help him, then you can forget you ever had a daughter.”
“Are you threatening me, Lia?”
“If that’s what it takes. I don’t want to threaten you, and I really want us to be different and for me to get to know you, so please, please help him. Help me.”
“You will allow me a chance to get to know you?”
“Yes, I will.”
He grunts. “I will try, though don’t get your hopes up. Sergei doesn’t like it when anyone gets involved in his internal affairs.”