Page 18 of Danica's Revenge

A while later there’s a knock on the door.I’m still deep in the paperwork, trying to find more answers than the numbers had to give.

“Not now!”I bark angrily, impatient.This can’t be right.But I know it is.More than $270,000 has been stolen over the past four months.It feels like I’ve been punched in the gut, betrayed in every sense of the word.It’s the deception that bothers me, the lies.Fuck the money.

The knock sounds again, more urgent.

“I saidnot now!”

The door opens anyway.It’s Danica.But evenherface can’t cheer me up today.I’m lost in the numbers, my problem-solving mind desperately trying to make sense of it all.

“I brought you coffee, I—” she starts, smiling sweetly.

“I’m busy,” I say simply, eager to get her out of my study.Having her around just makes me more stressed.She’s a liability.I can’t lose her.That’s why I need to sort this mess out before it gets any worse—if it’s not already too late.

“You’re being rude.”She looks at me accusatorially.

“Are you deaf, Danica?Not now,” I hiss, hardly looking at her.I don’t want to lose my focus.I can’t afford to.

“What’s wrong, baby?Are you okay?”she puts the coffee down on the desk.

“No,” I say simply, stacking the papers on the table together.“You should go.”

“Talk to me; what’s happening?”Danica pleads but my mind is filled with a singular rage.Nothing exists outside of it.Not even Danica.I don’t want her getting messed up in this.Transacting with the Ricci family could only mean bad news.They are the most brutal of all the families.Our on-off feud is a never-ending source of sleepless nights.

“Go, Danica.I said I’m busy.”I know she hates being dismissed but I can’t tell her what's happening.Not yet anyway.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”she shouts at me, rejected.I can hear the angry tears in her voice.But I don’t look at her.We have bigger problems than Danica’s emotions right now.

I don’t answer and just walk away from her, over to the window, staring out at the lawns.Maybe there’s a rational answer for everything.Maybe—

“Dante!”Danica demands, but I don’t turn around.“Have you forgotten who owns you?”she can’t maintain the authority in her voice, she’s too upset.It wouldn’t matter anyway.My mind is locked on trying to unravel a puzzle I don’t have enough pieces for.

“Not now.Go shopping.Leave.Please,Danica.I need to take care of something.Maybe go buy yourself something nice, hey?”

I know I sound patronizing.I’ll make it up to her later.Once I know we’re safe.

“Fuck you!You think I’m here for yourmoney?”Danica spits, furious.I forgot how angry she can get, the fire that burns inside.Almost like the day we met.I smirk at the memory.

Danica is not amused though.

I sigh.I need to get more answers but I can’t do it with Danica here.

“Emilio!”I call and within seconds he’s by my side.

“Yes,capo?”

“Please get the guys to take Danica to the shops, I—” I start but Danica interrupts me.

“I’m right here.You can’t just treat me like a child.”

I ignore her and continue my instructions to Emilio.“Please take her to the shop but make sure she has protection.”

“Yes, boss,” Emilio nods.

“No!”Danica shouts.

“That is an order, Emilio,” I say, well aware that Danica doesn’t take orders from me.

“I won’t go,” Danica insists, crossing her arms over her chest.

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