Page 16 of Mafia Darling

Enzo spat on the ground at Fausto’s feet.

Giulio shook his head, like he knew this would only make things worse. Fausto lifted his chin toward his son. “Get him on the boat.”

Enzo was dragged out of the beach house by Giulio and the two soldiers. I went to the D’Agostino family and knelt in front of the children first. “I know you’re scared,” I whispered in my best Italian. “But your mamma is here to protect you. Always.”

They didn’t respond, just huddled closer to their mother, so I stood to face Enzo’s wife. Reaching for the duct tape, I told her, “This will hurt. I’m sorry.”

She nodded and I ripped the heavy tape off her mouth as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, she didn’t make a sound, though I knew from experience it hurt like holy hell. “Grazie,” she said. Somehow I knew she meant for not forcing her children to watch their father being brutally murdered.

I squeezed her bound hands. “Prego.”

Fausto ordered Marco to take the D’Agostino family outside, which left me alone with him. He tucked his pistol into his waistband at the small of his back and crossed his arms over his chest. “You are angry with me.”

I wanted to rail at him for asking such a stupid question, but honestly I was tired. “Actually, I’m over it. Just like I’m over you. Put me on a plane and send me back to Toronto. Now.”

“Never. I will not let you go.”

“Again, you mean. You will not let me go again. Because you did let me go, Fausto, and you can’t decide you want your toy back just because someone else now has it. You gave your toy away, you selfish asshole.”

The lines of his face sharpened, his cheekbones harsh slashes in the dim lighting. “You are the mother of my child and my mantenuta, therefore I can decide whatever the fuck I want when it comes to you. I know you are angry but you will forgive me in time.”

He said this with such confidence, such arrogance, that I barked a laugh. “You are unbelievable. I’m not your mantenuta any more, and you lost all rights to this child when you kicked me out!”

“I apologize for my temper. I should not have reacted so harshly when we argued. If I could go back, I would handle things differently.”

“That is what you said about the previous two times you sent me away. No more, Fausto. I’m done with you.”

His right eye twitched. “I waged a war to rescue you, Francesca. I made a deal with the Cosa Nostra to help me extricate you from D’Agostino.”

As flattering as he made it sound, I knew the real story. “Bullshit. You hated Enzo from that meeting on the yacht. He insulted you by refusing to allow you in on his computer fraud scheme.” I hadn’t picked up all the details, but my limited Italian had let me glean at least that much. Surprise flashed in his expression, so I gave him a smug smile. “I’m very good at eavesdropping. You should remember that.”

Out of the depths of the house, a soldier appeared, a petrified Mariella at his side. “Don Ravazzani, what should we do with her?”

Mariella’s gaze met mine and I could see her begging for help. Bitch, please. She had helped Enzo at every turn. “Leave her,” I told Fausto. “Without his money she’ll wither and die like an old prune.”

Fausto turned to the soldier. “You heard my woman. Leave her.”

My woman. I rolled my eyes. What a joke.

“Now,” he said, giving me his full attention. “Let’s return to the castello. The plane is waiting.”

“Fuck off, Fausto. I’m not your woman and I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Oh, he didn’t like that one bit. His body seemed to swell, anger coming off him waves. “I cannot drug you this time because of the child, but I can tie you up, Francesca. I can force you to come with me.”

“Why would you bother? I’ll never sleep with you again and I’ll try to escape at every turn. It’s a waste of your time.”

“Never is a long time, dolcezza. Would you care to bet on that?”

Based on the way my heart was pounding right now, absolutely not. “If you don’t let me go, I will do everything I can to make your life a living hell.”

He closed the distance between us and wrapped a large hand around my arm. “No need because I am already there. I have been since the moment I ordered you to leave.”

While I was trying to make sense of that statement, he procured a pair of handcuffs from the pocket of his pants. Too late I realized what he was doing. In a flash he had a metal bracelet locked around my wrist, and he clapped the other around his own.

Great. Handcuffed to Fausto. Again.

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