Page 57 of Dangerous Games of Trust

Maddox comes into view, glancing down at me. “I’ve seen it, Geovani. Someone knows what you two did.”

“You thought we were alone when we got into my papa’s safety deposit box, but we weren’t,” I whisper. “It was all on tape, and somehow, someone got hold of it.”

His olive skin pales, and I know he believes me now. He thought he was smart, but someone is one step ahead of us.

The front door slams, and I know my chance has slipped through my fingers. “No!” I cry. “Don’t let him leave the property, we have the upper hand here.”

“Harley, snap out of it, you can’t just kill the don and get away with it. There is protocol that must be followed,” Maddox seethes, and I know he’s pissed with me for taking off with his gun, but fuck, someone had to do something.

“Maddox is right. You shoot him on Moretti property and you won’t live out the day, with us trying to protect you or not.”

“This mafia protocol is bullshit,” I huff. “What, like the protocol you used during fight night? Killing that man?” I spit back at him. I don’t understand what they’re all waiting for.

He gets off me, a look of disgust in his eyes, and I know I have pushed him too far.

I move to sitting up. “Don’t you all get it? Enzo is never going to back down and give anything over to you. He’s one step ahead of us every time.” My whole body shakes with anger because I feel so helpless. Why won’t they listen to me?

Ricky helps me up to standing. “You don’t have to worry about Enzo, we have him covered.” He grins, trying to reassure me. But he doesn’t know.

I turn toward Maddox. “Show them the video, maybe then they will get it,” I say to him on my way past. I need to escape them all. I’m just a girl trapped in this world, no one will hear me out or let me get the revenge I so desperately crave. I could have eliminated him today. And who cares what would have happened to me if I did. They would have been free for the first time in their lives.

When I get back upstairs, I slam my bedroom door and throw myself on my bed, feeling defeated all over again. Can’t they see what’s about to happen? Why do I feel like the only sane person in this place.

I’m not even left alone for five minutes when my door pops open and Alessandro and Ricky come into view. They let themselves in then close the door. I bury my head in my pillow again. Dramatic, I know, but right now, I don’t care. I’m feeling dramatic.

Ricky’s hand comes to my back, rubbing soothing circles. “You have to stop acting out of fear,” he says softly.

I move my head to face them. “Do you really think Enzo is going to back down and just hand Ravens Hollow over to you in the next twenty-four hours?” I don’t care if they know I was snooping.

Alessandro crosses one muscular arm over the other and stares me down. “No. I expect him to fight for the empire he’s built. But what he doesn’t know is his men have already sided with us. The casino board have drawn up the paperwork to hand Sinners’ Paradise over to us. They see his poor judgment over the last few months as weakness, and they don’t know the half of it yet. I’m prepared to spill every last one of his secrets to ensure they back us, and they will.”

I sit up, running a hand through my tangled mess of curls as I try to make sense of what he’s saying. “But won’t he just come for you?”

“He won’t have anyone siding with him. There is no power when you’re alone. Without our men backing us, we’re nothing. And he knows it.” For once Alessandro’s words fill me with a little reassurance. Maybe we’re closer to getting a little power back than I thought. As hard as it is, I have to trust them. “Geovani has Carlo’s men on our side, we are just waiting on you and Marco to talk with your men and make sure they’re on board. If they are, he will really have no one left to follow him.”

He enters my walk-in closet and returns with a black silk knee-length dress that he hangs on the door.

“Your brother and Dani will arrive tomorrow; everyone is expected at dinner at eight, and I’m sure there will be a whole lot to celebrate by then.”

“Make the call, baby doll, then this is all over,” Ricky adds, and the two of them leave me alone.

I pick up my phone, not exactly sure what to say.

“Hey, girl, how you holding up over there? Don’t fret, I will be there soon to save you from all the testosterone.”

I offer a laugh, but it’s forced. “I know you’re super busy packing stuff up over there, but I need to see you today. You and Marco if possible.”

“That bad, hey? Okay, we’ll be there in an hour.” She disconnects the call.

Chapter 29

The boys have saidI can use Alessandro’s office to meet with Dani and Marco. I have to wonder if it’s because they can hear or see everything I do in here, but at this point, what does it matter anymore. I have nothing to hide.

While I wait, I look over his space. It’s dark and moody with charcoal almost-black walls, some black-and-white photographs from what looks like the twenties framed in heavy gold frames, and a glass circular coffee table in the center of the room with four leather upholstered chairs sitting around it. The space is neat and tidy. Nothing that adds a personal touch except for one photograph of a group of boys. I collect up the frame and study the image. Their ages range from about eight to fifteen, and I recognize every one of their young faces. Ricky, Maddox, Alessandro, Marco, and Geovani. What surprises me is that Alex would be the nostalgic type.

As a soft tap resonates at the door, I gently set the photo back down. “Come in,” I call.

Marco and Dani enter the room, their hands intertwined, silently conveying their love and unity. They’re adorable, there is no denying it. She abruptly releases his grip and pivots toward me, embracing me tightly. I can see the worry in her eyes as she studies me. “Are you okay?”

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