Page 52 of Wretched Choices

“Almost all of it. There are a few that are stubborn. He wants to earn their respect and not force it, so they stay loyal.”

“That’s impressive. But why do you want this? Dante can also do it.”

Dante’s eyes darken as he looks at us.

“I’m afraid he would kill a poor woman if she does something he doesn’t approve of.”

“That’s not an answer to my question.”

“There is no motive other than us gaining friends.”

I need to tell Gabriel and Dante what I know. I lean back in my seat and exhale, raising my head to the ceiling. I look back at Gabriel and Dante with the warning.

“What I’m going to tell both of you now will never leave these walls, because if it does it will cause me problems with the Commission, and we don’t want that. But one that may seek justice will be Camorra.”

Both men share a look before they nod in agreement. “What makes me want to consider this is that it was my wife who put Nico’s father and his men in prison.”

“What?” Both men look at me, questions all over their faces.

“She is a journalist, as you know. She has beef with all mafiosi. She wanted to put me behind bars. Unfortunately for her, I found out who she is. Di Angelo Senior wasn’t careful enough.”

Gabriel runs a hand over his face. “This changes things.”

“No, it doesn’t. He will never know. You answer to me, like we said. this stays between these walls. Set up a meeting with him. Let’s discuss this offer.”

“I will.”

I look at Dante. “We need to make sure other organizations stay away from our business. If it comes to war, they should stay on the sidelines.” He pockets his knife. “The offer stands by max 20 million each. You can handle negotiations. We start with money. It can buy anyone and anything. I’ll handle commission.”

This is about my family, and I will do anything to make things right.

twenty-two

Isabella

I wake up alone in a cold bed. There’s no sign of him being in there. Like I imagined him lying next to me before I fell asleep.

But he was real. He was there.

Is it wrong that I wanted to wake up beside him? Maybe. Except for the fact that this life is what I ran from, he is almost everything I searched for in a man, which is making me doubt everything.

His wanting to escort me is making me even more confused.

As soon as I entered the living room, Salvatore announced he would drive me to work. He didn’t even look at me, not even to say good morning like normal people do. He just kept lookingthrough the window over Manhattan with his hands in the pockets of his slacks.

I pout. “You can’t be serious. I have interviews, and I need to avoid any attention.” His mood and actions are maddening me.

“Too bad. You can either agree or you can stay here and work from here. Better yet, take a vacation until an alliance with your father is agreed on.”

I take a step toward him, my hands balling into fists. “I can’t. I have a deadline and since I can’t investigate you or write about you, I took another story.”

His back stiffens and his demeanor changes. He takes a few breaths before he exhales loudly and shakes his head. “Take the offer, Bella, while you can. It will expire in the next minute.”

“What about your work?”

“I have people working for me. Family comes first. Thirty seconds.”

Family? Am I part of that family? Or am I the problem? I put that thought aside because I know his ultimatums, and his offer will expire. So, when he turns around and before he says something else, I agree. I know where this is going. This is how I got where I am today.

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