Page 51 of Mob Princess

15

Bonnie

I stood by the drinks,watching while Israel and that woman talked. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something was wrong. Israel looked stoic as ever, but behind his eyes was a hurt I’d only ever seen once before. I knew that look, as much as it sickened me to think about. And I wondered what in the world the two of them were discussing.

I didn’t like how close Alice kept stepping to him. I didn’t like how he didn’t back away from her. I didn’t like the fact that they both turned their backs to me, so I couldn't read their fucking lips.

Who in the world is Alice Esposito?

“You have a month.”

I turned around quickly at the sound of Israel’s father’s voice.

“Come again?” I asked.

He glared at me. “You’ve got a month to move out of my son’s place.”

I blinked. “And you really think you have that authority over me.”

He removed a piece of paper from his tuxedo pocket. “Here.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a contract. Short and sweet.”

I furrowed my brow as I plucked the contract out of his hand. And when I unfolded it to read the first page, I felt the breath of my lungs leave.

“What in the world?” I asked.

“It’s a simple contract. I know your family has cast you aside. I know you have no one and nowhere to go. This contract guarantees you twenty million dollars to be granted in your name along with a separate purchase of any house you could ever want anywhere in the world.”

I slowly looked up at him. “Are you kidding me right now?”

“No strings attached, no secrets, no funny business.”

I blinked. “You want to give me twenty million dollars and buy me some private island just so I’ll leave and let you marry Israel off to someone he’s not happy with?”

“Do you honestly think he’s happy with you?”

“He could be.”

He raised both dark eyebrows. “You’re done playing house with my son. I don’t know if you have a plan in the works or if you’re simply leeching off him until you can get back on your feet. But I won’t stand for it. That’s my final offer to you, and it’s a good one. You can start a whole new life with something like that.”

She could. She really could. “I love your son, Mr. Rossi.”

His eyes hardened. “Then, if you love him, give him a life that’s at least a little easier on him in the long run. Because the last thing my hard-working son should have to deal with is to come home and wonder if the woman on the other end of the door is still thinking about killing him.”

I shoved the contract back at him. “I would never. I love him. And he’s going to love me. You’ll see.”

“You’re no longer welcome in this family, Miss Moretti. I suggest you take this contract—”

“I won’t.”

He nodded. “Very well. Then, I’ll be in touch with your uncle shortly.”

I snarled. “For what reason?”

He slid the contract back into his tuxedo. “To let his minions know where you are, of course. You know, like I did last time.”

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