Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
His demeanor controlled.
His voice composed.
His presence known.
I stood there watching and waiting for I don’t know what as he ordered in a harsh, demanding tone, “Stop the video right there and turn up the audio.”
“Congratulations, princesa.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Our voices echoed off the walls and my eyes quickly shifted to the screen. What couldn’t have been more than a few minutes, felt like an eternity filled with my regret and shame. There was no denying what I’d done, not when the irrefutable evidence smacked me right in the fucking face.
“I was wrong. I do know who you are. That crown on your head is fitting, considering you’re Sienna Luciano. Principessa mafiosa. Mafia princess, right?”
“If I believed everything I heard on the news then El Diablo would be dead, right?”
I couldn’t help but try to find forgiveness through my father’s presence. To say I was used to his blatant ability to not show any emotion would be an understatement. Even now, when I needed him the most, he remained calm and collected. Unfazed. Standing tall with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t acknowledge me at all.
Although, as soon as my sister’s voice filled the room his body tensed.
“You know you want to go to her,” she said.
“I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Ummm…I won’t exactly be by myself with all these people here.”
“You know what I mean.”
“So you’re just going to let her have the last word? That’s not the brother I know and love.”
“Who said that was the last word? She may have walked away but I’m the one who decides when we’re done.”
“Then prove it.”
“Ari—”
“Come on, Cruz. Just go! I’ll stay right here. I won’t move. I promise.”
She. Baited. Me.
Plain and simple.
Clear as day.
I fell right into her trap. Shaking my head in disappointment, I could no longer stare at the screen in front of me. Instead, I dropped my gaze to the floor in contempt. The room was closing in on me and the more I watched and listened, the more the guilt of what I’d done tore me down.
I. Failed. Her.
I fucking failed her.
“You don’t move from this spot. Do you understand me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“I’m serious, Adriana. You don’t move.”
“As a heart attack.”
“Ari, I mean it. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, I promise I’ll be right here waiting for you. Relax, Cruz. They’re over there by the bar. Can’t you see them? They’re the ones acting like they’re not watching my every move. Cruz, what did you do with Papás gun?”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
I should have known.
Expected it.
Felt it.
Something. Anything.
However, nothing prepared me for what happened next.
Not all the articles I read.
All the videos I watched.
All the rumors I heard.
Nothing.
“Papá—”
In an instant, my father snapped around and gripped onto my throat. “You left your sister to chase pussy!” he roared, tightening his hold.
Mercilessly, he slammed my body into the concrete wall behind me as hard as he could, crashing my head against the brick, making me see stars instantly. His disappointment came in the form of his fury, pummeling the wind right out of my lungs from the impact of his blow.
With a death grip now around my neck, he pinned me up against the wall. Not allowing me to breathe for one second. My chest heaved and my eyes watered. I gasped for air that wasn’t available for the taking. All the blood felt like it was draining from my face, down to my lips that trembled with the instinctual desire and need to breathe.
Survive.
“Papá…Papá…” I pleaded, clawing at his vicious hold.
The sound of my voice only further served to piss him off, savagely choking me harder until my words were cut off.
“Alejandro—”
“Mind your fucking business,” he snarled, callously interrupting Luciano’s attempt at helping me. “Leave. Now.”
“He’s your son.”
“I know who he is and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of this and leave me alone with him. This is family business.”
“Alejandro,” Lorenzo coaxed. “Think before you do something you will regret.”
His chokehold loosened a bit, and I silently thanked Luciano for that. My father ordered his guards to stay as Lorenzo excused himself from the room.
“You think you can meet The Devil and not be burned by the flames of his Hell?”
“I’m…sorry…”
“You’re sorry?” he mocked in a condescending tone. Cocking his head to the side, his grip strengthened on my windpipe, locking me in a death clutch.
I opened my mouth to speak, however only ragged gasps escaped my lips.
“Sorry doesn’t bring back my daughter.”
“Papá…”
“I thought you wanted to know who I was, who I am, Crucifixio? Isn’t that what you’ve always been searching for? Wanting me to show you the man beneath the fucking suits? I’m a bad man, son. I’ve done unforgivable things. But I’ve never, ever, betrayed my family to chase fucking pussy!”
At the sound of his harsh demeanor, I shuddered.