Page 14 of Forever

“Or maybe you want something stronger than water? Maybe some banana juice?”

I just stared at him.

“Or we could play a game? There’s ping pong on the roof.”

What kind of kidnappee wanted to get drunk and play ping pong? Seriously, who was this guy? “The only thing I want is for you to let me go.”

“Brooklyn, I’m sorry, but there is no going forward from this. The Locatellis and Pruitts have been butting heads for years. It was always going to come to this.”

That would have been nice to know. My father had mentioned unrest in the families before. I’d had no idea what that entailed. “But there doesn’t have to be any animosity. If you let me go, I’ll forget this ever happened. I’ll tell my dad not to retaliate. And we’re cool, right?”

“You’re not in charge yet.”

And I never will be.“But my father will listen…”Shit. No.

“What?”

“My father said he stepped down.”Maybe.

“No he hasn’t.”

“He says he has. Which means my cousin Poppy is in charge.” And we didn’t exactly have a great relationship. I couldn’t negotiate anything on her behalf. She was crazy.

Magnus lowered his eyebrows. “I would have heard if that was true. And you’re the one taking over. Not your cousin.”

“I want nothing to do with any of this. And I told my father that if he wanted to be part of my life and my son’s life that he had to step down. And…he did.” But did I really believe that? Did I believe anything that man ever said?

“Locatelli would have told me.” He frowned and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

“Unless your boss was just using this feud between him and my father to get you to do what he wanted.”

He didn’t respond. He was busy texting someone.

Fuck this.I looked around the room again. There was seriously nothing helpful. “Actually, about that last meal. I could eat.”

Magnus looked up from his phone. “Yeah? What would you like? Lobster? Or we have a great signature steak dish.”

A steakknifewould be perfect. “I’d love to try the steak.”

He nodded and kept texting.

The door opened.

I half expected it to be the fastest room service order ever. But it was just a man with gray hair and a hardened face and no steak knife to help me escape. He gave me a quick glance and then sat down behind the white and black marble desk. He propped his feet up on top of it.

Magnus did not look particularly pleased. This seemed like it was his office.

“Brooklyn Pruitt,” the old man said without looking at me. But he said my last name with such disdain. “Do you know who I am?”

I certainly had a guess. “Luigi Locatelli.”

“Good. So you’re all caught up. How long do you think it’ll take for your father to come to your rescue? Half an hour? More?” He glanced at his watch. “I really want to get this over with as fast as possible.”

Magnus stepped in front of me. “Poppy Cannavaro took over,” he said. “Did you know?”

“Yes. And it doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters. Richard Pruitt has single-handedly kept the Cannavaros in line for decades. You know the Cannavaros are fucking nuts. Without him they’ll…”

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