Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Sure did.”
“That hurt!”
“Should’ve.”
“You fu—” Dad stops himself, cringing back. “Okay, okay, I’ll watch my mouth.”
“Damn fucking right you will.” Stefano gestures at me politely. “You have the floor again, darling.”
“Thank you, dear.” I walk to the foot of the bed where Dad can see me without having to turn his head. “Here’s the deal I’m offering, and it’s better than anything else you might get. Are you paying attention?”
He tugs at his wrist chains. “Not much choice here.”
“Good. Say one thing for Emily, at least she isn’t stupid enough to fuck a snake without chaining him up first.”
“The handcuffs were his idea,” she mutters, arms crossed and pouting.
I rub the bridge of my nose. “God, you’re disgusting. Okay, I don’t care, just listen to me.” I meet my father’s gaze again. “I want you to catch Grandfather admitting that he’s been moving against the Marino Famiglia this whole time. I want all his plans on tape.”
Dad scoffs. “That won’t happen. You know Papa doesn’t put anything in writing, and he won’t speak of anything important over the phone. He’s paranoid.”
“That’s why you’ll have to try twice as hard.”
“Why? So you’ll spare my life?” He sneers, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t kill me anyway.”
My eyebrows raise. “I wouldn’t?” I step closer to him, barely keeping myself restrained. “You’ve done nothing but hurt me for a long time. You bullied me into marrying Stefano, although I should thank you for that. You’ve blackmailed me, insulted me, undermined me, and embarrassed me at every turn. You haven’t been a father to me for a very long time.”
“You’re just not a killer.” His chin tilts up. “Besides, I’m too important. If I went missing, the police would come sniffing around you and your husband.”
“Sorry, I think you’re misunderstanding here.” I hold up a hand. “I’m not the one who’s going to do the killing.” I point at Stefano. “He’ll do the killing, and from what I hear, he’s very good at getting away with it.”
“The rumors are true,” Stefano adds helpfully.
“You’re playing a different game now, Dad. This isn’t family power politics anymore. This is life or death. And it’s your life hanging in the balance.” I wave a hand at Emily as if she’s an afterthought. “Your mistress’s life too.”
“Hey! I didn’t do anything!” Emily shrinks back when I stare at her. “I mean, nothing worth murdering me for.”
Dad seethes. He looks furious. I doubt he’s ever been in a position like this. Well, no, he’s definitely been like this before, chained up to his bed, which is an extremely gross and disorienting thought, but not actually weak and vulnerable. Even chained, he’s still always been the one in charge. That’s probably why he fucks girls like Emily. Weak, vain, vampiric assholes he can use and toss aside at a whim.
Now though, he’s playing with fire.
He’s playing with my husband.
“Let’s say I do it.” He tilts his head to the side. I know that look. He’s doing the calculations. “What do I get?”
“Continued life,” Stefano offers.
“Overrated,” Dad says flippantly. Which is obviously a bluff.
“I have something better. Something you very much want.” I put my fists on my hips and stare him down. “If you pull this off, I’ll step aside as heir to the Westbrook family. Grandfather hasn’t changed the will yet. I’ll make sure everything goes to you.”
Dad’s eyes widen. I knew the selfish prick would like that. Stefano turns to stare at me, his expression hardening, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. Probably nothing good. I don’t care though.
This is my decision.
“You’re serious,” Dad says softly. “You really will give it up, won’t you?”
“I never wanted it to begin with. I think you’d be better at running that nest of vipers anyway. What do you say, Dad? Stab your own father in the back to get what you want?”
“Gladly,” he says quickly, not even thinking about it. “You have a deal.” His fingers waggle. “Should we shake?”
“Stefano, hit him one more time.”
“Wait, what the—”
Stefano slams a fist into his mouth. He groans, coughing, and spits blood to the side.
“That’s a reminder of the stakes. You can either end up getting everything you want, or—” I gesture at my husband. “Your call.”
Dad shows me bloody teeth in a big smile. “Maybe your grandfather chose right when he picked you.”
“Fuck that.” I turn my back on the bed. “Come on, Stefano. Let’s leave these two to figure out how they’re going to pull this off.”
He grunts and follows me to the door. But before I can go, Emily hurries over, holding her kimono closed with one hand.
“Charlie, hold on.” She glances over her shoulder, voice lowering. “I’m so sorry. It was all his idea. I know you won’t believe me, but I really did—”
I whip my fist back before smashing it right into her nose. I twist my hip and lean my shoulder into it, punching just like Stefano told me to.