Page 5 of Virtuous Lies

“Thanks.”

“I’m trying here, Bianca. I’m scared.”

I grab her shoulders. “I know. I’m sorry. What dress did you choose?”

“A cream one. Not white or pure but demure enough to look the part.”

Twenty minutes later, Cat and I have done our best to make me look innocently enticing. It’s a farce. Lorenzo Caruso thinks I let his advisor fuck me. A betrayal punishable by death.

I make my way down the stairs on shaky legs. My feet are slippery, my nerves seeping through me and dampening my entire body. I dab at my upper lip, trying to rid myself of the physical giveaway of my hysteria before I come face-to-face with my devil.

My father’s office is off-limits to us. We do not enter unless strictly invited, which is never. Unless, like me, you’ve just signed your own execution order. I stand at the closed door, eyes shut as I steel my nerves. Glancing over my shoulder, my mother turns away quickly, unable to meet my eye. I don’t look at Cat, knowing her panic will only exacerbate mine. Instead, I look at Tony. His fear is potent enough, but he dips his chin in reassurance. His emotions are a contradiction that do nothing but quicken the beat of my heart.

I knock, a soft rap of my knuckles against the heavy wood.

“Come,” my father calls through the door, and hand to the handle, I send off a prayer to anyone who will listen to grant me mercy.

I duck my head toward Lorenzo as I enter the room, in a show of respect that I hope he reads well enough. From the second our eyes meet, my heart regulates. He doesn’t look angered. Frankly, he looks bored.

Salvatore is noticeably missing.Thank fuck.But Leo and Vincent are present, which sets off a new melody of alarm bells.

Leo Caruso.Underbossof New York City and Lorenzo’s younger brother.

Vincent Ferrari. Roberto’s brother andenforcerfor Cosa Nostra.

Fuck.

Sitting on the chair beside his brother, Leo slides his index finger across his bottom lip. He watches me carefully with a puzzled pull to his brows. Younger than Lorenzo by at least five years, he’s remarkably handsome, and his schoolboy charm has not yet washed off with his years as a Mafia underboss. You’d be forgiven for thinking he’d be the agreeable brother, harmless to an extent. You’d be wrong. Leonardo Caruso is as dangerous as they come. His threat more potent due to the wholesome front you’re sucked into believing.

Vincent doesn’t even look at me. His focus is on the street outside, hand cupping a glass of whiskey that I’m tempted to remove from his hand and swallow in one fell swoop to calm my nerves.

My palms sweat, but I refrain from wiping them on my dress.

“Bianca.”

“You wanted to see me, Papa?”

Quiet encases the room, and I’m uncertain of what to do. I’m surrounded by some of the highest-ranking members of ourfamily,yet I feel anything but safe.

“Lorenzo, I’m—”

“Don’t speak unless you're spoken to,” Leo cuts through my pitiful apology, and I duck my head immediately.

I’m trembling, and I bite the insides of my cheeks to focus on anything but the way my breath comes only in short, sharp bursts.

“For your betrayal, I could kill you.”

I swallow audibly at the bite in Lorenzo’s voice. I open my mouth to speak but think better of it, closing it again.

“I could force your father to have you work for him.”

“Work for him?” I squeak out, the sound of my voice both embarrassing and broken.

“As a whore,” he tells me proudly, his voice carrying around the room.

“Oh.”

“Oh,” Leo echoes, laughing at me.

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