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“Yeah.” I stepped closer to the tree. “That’s true. Are you out for a walk?”
“I’m out for a walk the way you’re out for a walk.” The voice laughed. “Do you want me to do it for you? It might be easier if it’s your choice.”
“My choice?”
“To jump.” The person shrugged. “And let me preface this with, it’s just business, it’s only fair. Getting the Abandonatos out of the way and blaming Ivan just seems like the simplest way to start a little fight, don’t you think? After all, you hate each other, of course he drove you to your death all in a selfish claim to the De Lange throne he claims he never wanted, now look at him, spending money left and right, acting like an idiot, and thinking he has a chance to stay when he’s not even pulling the strings.”
They were proud, this person, and they liked to hear themselves talk despite how painful it sounded.
I snorted. “You think I care about him? Or power? Besides, it’s kind of amusing that someone else is pulling the strings… you? I assume?”
The person paused and tilted their head. “You would make a good boss.”
“I’m my own boss.” I forced a small smile. “And thank you.”
“It’s a shame.”
“What is?”
“Your tragic ending.”
“Yeah well…” I shrugged. “We can’t all win, not even you.”
The laugh that erupted from the face attached was sinister. “I always win, trust me, I deserve as much, besides my hand was forced. You know, the De Langes should have never taken the treaty. Junior lost his life because he got too close, what do you think will happen to Ivan? But nobody ever listens. He thinks he controls the Family. He wears the ring for now, but very soon I’ll be cutting it from his finger, peeling it off and shoving the rest of that finger down his throat, let’s pray it’s a slow choking death.”
I swallowed and looked to my left, nothing but a cliff.
The person raised their hand and crooked a finger.
A large burly man came down the path and stood behind them. “Push her, leave the note for her father, no messes.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Boss, as in another boss, not Ivan.
I didn’t recognize the man; he had a scar running down his left cheek and he was at least six foot two, his dark hair was shaved close to his head, and he had a DL tattoo on his right cheek.
He was marked.
Marked like his own Family but apart from them.
I made a mental note and tried not to panic when the other figure started walking off. “Have a nice fall, you’ll have at least four seconds to think about all your regrets, rest in peace, Bella Abandonato.”
I swallowed and tried to think of a way to get out of my heels, so it didn’t make it easier for him to attack me.
I backed up against the tree while he took a few steps forward, his blue eyes were dead, his mouth pressed down into a firm line. He wasn’t wearing gloves; his hands were massive. There wasn’t any time, he was already stalking toward me, maybe five steps away.
I tried to run to the left, but my foot caught on the root of the tree, I kicked off my heels and scrambled to my feet to run in the other direction when he was already on top of me, pulling me up from the ground.
I wrapped my ankles around his body and hung on for dear life. He’d have to fall with me.
He shoved a hand between us, but I pressed my head against his chest to keep him from creating space to pry me away.
“Get off!” He cursed.
My ankles were already slipping against each other, my feet went completely numb as I held on.
My first thought was that Ivan would be so pissed if I didn’t fight and that dad would say he taught me better. Ironic that I had spent minutes wondering if they’d miss me, and now I wanted to live more than anything, even if it was to make Ivan’s life more miserable.
