Page 158 of Broken Mafia Prince
He’s full of restless energy and has been lashing out at everybody. I’ve done my best to avoid him since our lastconfrontation, and while that should be easy in a house this size, it’s turning out to be quite a bit of work.
“He’s everywhere.” I sigh.
“I don’t know what that means,” she drawls. “You know what? Just stay put, I’ll be there in a second.”
“Hurry,” I tell her before hanging up.
Staying cooped up in my bedroom is making me feel a little crazy. I haven’t heard from Raffaele since he dropped me off. I’m worried about him, and I miss him. I haven’t been sleeping well, and I’m a mess.
A glance in the full-length mirror across the room reveals heavy eye bags, messy hair, and a puffy face. I sigh, hurriedly looking away. After the conversation with my father, it’s clear more than ever that he’s willing to sink everything for his vengeance, and I’m clinging to a sinking ship.
Something’s bothering me about this whole thing. At first, I thought it was Papa’s guilt over everything that happened the day of the accident that was driving this revenge, but the way he talked about Mama…
Did he really love her as much as he claims he does?
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of my bedroom door flying open. My gaze snaps up to where my cousin stands at the door, panting and looking smug at the same time.
“I came as fast as I could,” she says as she steps in.
I take her in, from the pin-straight brown hair to her olive green dress and heels. She’s the perfect image of a mafia daughter, and for the first time, I find myself wondering if Papa wanted me to be more like her.
I shake the thought away. It hardly matters now anyway. I’m past trying to win his love and affection, or even his regard. I didn’t fail him as a daughter; he’s the one who failed me as a father.
“That was fast,” I comment. “Did you get airlifted or something?”
“Or something.” She winks. “Now, tell me what’s going on, because you look like an absolute mess. When did you last shower?”
I scrub a hand over my face, sighing. “I’m so tired of all this.”
Isa gingerly settles at the edge of the bed. “Uh, explain.”
“No matter how I look at it, I can’t help but think that I wasted my life sticking to this life and trying to mold myself into different things to keep his attention.” Tears sting the back of my eyes. “I should have walked away a long time ago. Who knows what my life would have been like by now?”
“He would never have forgiven you.”
I snort. “Funny thing is, he’s the one that needs my forgiveness, not the other way around.”
She grabs my hand, holding on tight. “You need to face your father and?—”
“Face him?” I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t want to face him. He’ll say anything he can to try to keep Raffaele and me apart. I can’t listen to any more of that bullshit. I need to contact Raffaele, will you help me?”
“I can try to reach him through Matteo.” She nods. “I know your father will look back one day and regret ever pushing you away just because of this soul-sucking vendetta.”
“Don’t hold your breath, love.”
Hours later, after Isa’s gone, I walk into my father’s study, interrupting his discussion with one of his men. He glances up, mouth pulling down when he sees it’s me. “I’m busy.”
“I can see that,” I say flippantly, then drop into the other free chair in front of his desk. “I’ll wait. Just pretend I’m not here. That should be easy for you. After all, you’ve been doing it for ages.”
“Leave,” he orders in a low voice.
“I’m not?—”
“Not you,” he cuts me off, flicking his stern gaze over to the other occupant of the room.
The man jumps to his feet and rushes out, Papa’s gaze shifting to me and staying there. “Well? What do you want?”
“I heard you talking about moving on with selling the products. Do you think that’s wise right now?” I ask as calmly as I can. On the inside, though, I’m burning with anger and frustration. How can he be so careless? Can’t he see how law enforcement has been sniffing around? He’s just going to end up whistleblowing himself.
