Page 154 of Broken Mafia Prince
The car comes to a screeching halt, throwing me forward in my seat. He turns to face me, giving me his full attention. “Iamfixing it. I’m doing my fucking best to fix it, Giulia. Do you think this will all just miraculously end after a single intervention? It’s decades in the making, and it won’t stop overnight.”
“God, you’re missing the entire point,” I huff.
His jaw pulses. “What’s the point?”
“The point is that you made it look like this is a teeny, tiny issue, meanwhile world war fucking three is going on back there.” I gesticulate. “God, I could have stayed at home in my bed thinking that my father was walking into a manageable situation, and he could have died.”
“And maybe he would have deserved it.” His voice is low, and it takes me a while to snap out of the shock of his words.
“W-what?” I stammer.
“They want this war.” He shrugs. “They want this war, knowing the consequences, so why shouldn’t they bear it?”
I gape at him. “You don’t mean that.”
But the look in his eyes tells me that he does mean it. Honestly, I can’t judge him for it because a part of me thinks the same. Our gazes stay locked for what feels like an eternity, and eventually, he drags his gaze away, and I can breathe again.
“I didn’t want you to see this side of things.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “I don’t want the stain of blood and violence to be anywhere near you.”
“You’re trying to save me from something that I was born fully immersed in.” I chuckle. “It’s too late to save me from it. I’m a part of this world, whether you like it or not. The blood, violence, and destruction run in my veins. So while I get that you’re trying to be sweet, you’re fighting the wrong battle.”
“You’re right. I was just trying to protect you, I’m sorry.”
I lean back against the headrest. While my father treats me like I’m made of steel and stone, like I’m just another of his soldiers, Raffaele treats me like I’m made of glass. “Just take me home.”
I’m dryingmy hair after two rounds of shampooing to get the smell of smoke out of it when I hear the knock on my door. I drop the blow dryer and glance over at the door, waiting to see if I heard right.
The knock comes again, and this time it’s followed by a voice. “Miss Montanari, the boss wants to see you in his office. Now.”
Tossing my semi-dry hair into a bun at the top of my head, I pull on a black sweatpants and a T-shirt and head downstairs. I can hear him screaming at people even from the landing. AsI get closer, I have to slap my palms over my ears to save my eardrums.
It looks like he’s not even anywhere close to done screaming out his frustration at the men, which is my cue to get the hell out of here.
“Everybody out! Giulia, don’t you dare move an inch,” my father barks. I freeze while everybody scurries out; some of them are kind enough to shoot me small, reassuring smiles while looking relieved to be free from the dragon’s lair.
“You wanted to see me, Father?”
“Come in, shut the door, and sit down. And then explain to me what the ever-loving fuck you were doing with that Gagliardi bastard.”
My heart stutters in my chest, and I’m glad I’m facing away from him. I take my time shutting the door and gathering every bit of bravado I can find. Eventually, I face him, my expression a hard mask to match his.
“I think you know the answer to that already.”
“Of all the stupid things you’ve done in your lifetime, this has to be the stupidest,” he spits. “Is this why you refused Alessandro? Because that bastard has been whispering in your ear? You’ve defiled yourself and embarrassed this family for a taste of enemy cock.”
I flinch at the coarseness of his words. “It’s not like that!”
“How is it then? Tell me how it is, so I can understand why you’ve decided to be a little fool.” As if magnetized, his green eyes suddenly drop down to my hand and sharpen. “What is that thing?”
I curl my fingers into fists, tucking Raffaele’s ring safely into my palm. “I love him, Papa, and he loves me. Raffaele and I, it feels like we were destined. The pull?—”
“For the love of god, don’t tell me that you believe the bullshit you’re spouting.” He looks horrified. “Are you brain-dead? Fuckmy life! No, no way could fate be so cruel as to take my family and leave me with such a?—”
I hate him at that moment, absolutely despise him. “Go to hell!” I scream.
“I’m living in a reality where my daughter has been fucking around with the enemy and calling it true love. Trust me, I’m in hell already.” He laughs bitterly. “He’s probably using you for inside information while keeping you hidden like his dirty little secret.”
“You don’t understand. How could you? You’ve never loved anything in your life.”
