Page 55 of The Mafia's Captive

Maybe it’s the force in my voice. Maybe it’s that I’m trying my best to convince her, but something seems to seep through. She staring at me; her pretend aloofness gone. She’s stunned into silence. Right there and then I realize I would do anything for her. Before I can tell her this, however, Nico comes over. He asks to speak with me alone. I don’t want to leave her, so I move a little away from her from a spot where I can still see her and listen to what Nico has to say.

What he tells me shocks me to the bone. I turn to face Corina. She must not be here.

18

Iwas rocked by finding out that Dante’s enemy, the person he swears he hates, the person who killed his sister, is my father. I don’t know how to process it and don’t think I ever will. My mother never told me who my father was, and she died without telling me. I used to ask her about him, but she would either not respond or tell me to shut up. I was even angry at her about that for a long time. But by the time I was old enough to do something about it, I no longer cared about him. I figured if he cared about me, he would have looked for me, but he didn’t. Over time, he became just a sperm donor to me.

What shocked me more, however, is that Dante knew, and he never told me. It had to come out by accident. All the time, he knew who I was and never bothered to tell. There was something about it that bothered me more than anything. The ruthlessness, the cold calculation one has to go under in order to be with your daughter’s enemy, the progeny of the man who killed your sister and not explode. Or maybe that is his intention. Defile his enemy's daughter for his pleasure. Whatever his motives are, I am just a pawn to him and I can’t believe I had forgotten that.

With those scales removed from my eyes, I am able to see him for what he is. An opportunist. All his pleas don’t affect me. His apology, or should I say none apology, means nothing to me. I can tell that it’s just another weapon in his arsenal. When he saw that it wasn’t working, he changed tactics. Using his seduction while we were dancing, and that almost worked on my weak-willed body until his brother came over and took him away.

I watch them now as they talk. I can’t hear what they say, but Nico seems to be talking fast and making frantic hand gestures. Dante is stone-cold absorbing whatever he’s saying with a cool demeanor that betrays none of his emotions. The exact opposite of Nico. A few moments later they come towards me. Nico looks worried. Dante only slightly so. If you didn’t know him or look closely, you wouldn’t notice.

“You need to leave,” Dante says. He doesn’t give me the chance to respond. He railroads through. “Go with Nico. A helicopter is waiting for you a few minutes away from here.”

“Am I allowed to ask why?”

His features soften. “Can you do this one thing please. It’s for your sake.”

“Sure, whatever. It’s not as if you telling me will change things anyway. I’m still going to do what you tell me to do.”

“Corina.” His voice is soft and pleading, and his eyes are warm. It’s disarming and I almost give in. Almost. He’s a hard man, I remind myself. “Fine.”

“Go with Nico.” He puts a hand on Nico’s shoulder and whispers something in his ear. Nico looks at me as his brother speaks. I look away, feeling a little under the microscope. I wonder what he’s saying to him. “Make sure she doesn’t run.” Or something to that effect.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. “Let’s go,” Nico says. I follow him as we go to the parking lot with Rob trailing behind us and we enter Nico's car. A few minutes later, we are on an open airfield where a helicopter is waiting for us. He leads me in and a helicopter ride later we’re at the airport and the jet is waiting. “We’re going back?” I ask as we enter the jet.

“Yes,” Nico replies. “Something came up.” Behind him Rob is giving instructions to the pilot.

I take my seat and Nico does the same, sitting opposite me. I still can’t get over how similar he looks to his older brother. His features are a little softer, a little more boyish, but that Morelli gene that runs through all of them is distinct and present in his features. “You know you could have told me that back at the wedding and not make it into a whole cloak and dagger event.”

Nico frowns. “Dante didn’t tell you anything?”

“No.”

He shakes his head. “I’m sure he thinks it’s for the best. He received the news so sudden. He wants to protect you.”

I scoff.

“It’s true. You may not think so, but my brother cares about you.”

“Sure.”

“I’ve never seen him act the way he does with you, when he is with any other woman.”

“Doubtful.”

“The way he looks at you. I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”

“Are you sure? It’s not because he’s making sure his pawn doesn’t escape.”

“You’re the first woman he’s ever brought to a family event.”

“Then why did he lie to me, if he cares so much?”

Nico shrugs. “I hope you’re not mad at me. I’m sure you didn’t want to find out the way you did. About your father, I mean.”

I sigh. “It’s not your fault.” He was just an accidental messenger, after all. There was something about his sad eyes that made want to forgive him. Besides, it isn’t him I’m mad at after all.

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