Page 12 of Power
I look at the woman, who is still trying to figure out what is going on. If they get a hint that I have her, it thwarts my plans. The moment they think I’m holding her as leverage, they’ll start considering their own moves—whether they can profit off it, or how they can insert themselves into the situation. I don’t need that kind of interference.
Enzo must not see me coming.
Raffaele watches me carefully. “Want me to make them disappear?”
I smirk and shake my head. “Tempting. But no.”
He exhales, clearly not thrilled about entertaining them. “Then what’s the play?”
I push off the desk and roll my sleeves up. “Keep them away from this room. Make it clear that whatever they think they know, they don’t.”
Raffaele nods once. “And if they push?”
I meet his eyes. “Then we remind them whose house they’re in.”
A ghost of a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Understood.”
He turns to leave, but before he’s fully out the door, I call after him. “And Raffaele?”
He pauses and looks over his shoulder.
“If any of them so much as hint that they know about her, you shut it down. Immediately.”
His eyes darken just a little. “Got it.”
The door swings shut behind him, and I look back at the woman. She has no idea what kind of fire she’s been thrown into.
But soon, she will.
Calling for Dannika outside, I order, “Get her out of here.”
She nods and motions for two of my men to approach. “You heard him,” she says, not bothering to elaborate. “Move her.”
Vittoria’s eyes widen. She jerks against their grip. “What’s happening?” she demands. “You can’t do this!”
She twists and tries to fight, but it’s pointless. They’re too strong, too practiced at handling struggling captives.
Not long after, Raffaele returns.
“Lead me to them.”
He doesn’t move right away. Just looks at me, searching my face like he’s trying to read something I don’t want him to. It irritates the hell out of me.
Finally, he nods. “You got it, boss.”
I adjust my cuffs as Raffaele disappears down the hall. I hear the low murmur of voices as he steps outside, the unmistakable weight of men who think they have the right to stand in my house, waiting for my attention.
I take a deep breath and school my features to remain impassive. When I step into that room, I can’t let them see anything but control. No room for weakness.
Because in my world, the second someone senses an opening, they don’t hesitate to sink their teeth in.
And I’ll be damned if I let them think I’m bleeding.
Chapter 4
Vittoria
I wake up to cold concrete pressing against my cheek, the scent of damp wood, and something metallic clogging my nose. My head pounds like someone took a bat to it, and when I try to move, my body protests, stiff and sore.
