AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Stay there,” Tony ordered. He pulled out his gun and moved slowly toward the door.
We’d been expecting a phone call, not a visitor. My instincts told me to flee, but I held my ground. I wasn’t going anywhere without Tony. I was in this with him all the way, so instead of running, I moved closer.
Tony motioned for me to back up, but I ignored him. When he looked through the peephole, color drained from his face. He took a step back and looked at me with terror in his eyes.
“Who is it?”
“Lucien.” He glanced back and forth between me and the door.
“He knows we’re here,” I said.
Lucien knocked again.
“You can’t keep him waiting.”
“I love you,” Tony said. My heart nearly stopped. I’d known how he felt, but I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to hear the words again. He turned back to the door, undid the locks, and opened it.
Without a word, Lucien stepped inside, followed by Vinnie and a man I recognized from photos on the wall in Tony’s house. He had to be one of the Trevisanis.
“Hello, sir.” Tony addressed Lucien. “I’m honored by your visit. How can I help you?”
Lucien glared at him for several seconds before he spoke. “I’ve just spent a very unpleasant evening with Giacomo Barruchi. I understand I have you to thank for that.”
I stepped up beside Tony. “I’m the one to blame. I refused to return to my family. Did my father accept that I had him trapped?”
Tony’s eyes were wide as he stared at me. He was clearly stunned I had dared to speak.
“We’ve not been introduced,” Lucien said.
Tony seemed to wake from a trance. “Mr. Marchesi, this is Elio Barruchi. Elio, this is Mr. Lucien Marchesi.”
I bowed my head briefly, then found the courage to meet Lucien’s gaze. “I provided excellent blackmail material in exchange for being allowed to stay here.”
“Yes, you did, and if all you wanted was some time away from your family, perhaps it would’ve been enough.”
“I will expose him if he comes for me. I hope he knows that.”
“No, you will not,” Lucien’s words were like ice. “That is my call. You work for me now.”
Anger flared in me. I wanted to argue, but instead, I lowered my eyes. “Yes, sir.”
I could see Tony’s shoulders relax when I acquiesced.
“The intriguing secret you provided was enough to get your father to back off for now. I assure you, he understood the gravity of the situation, but I wanted more than a temporary reprieve. I wanted his word he would take no revenge for this, make no attempt to come for you if this issue ceased to be relevant.”
I wanted to protest. How could something like that not be relevant? I managed to keep my mouth shut.
“I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep Elio safe, sir,” Tony said.
“You’re right. You’ll do anything I tell you to do,” Lucien said. “And I have many ideas for your future, but for now the matter is settled. I have purchased Elio’s freedom. He belongs to us.”
“Purchased?” I couldn’t stop the word from exploding out of my mouth. How dare he? Lucien turned to Tony.
“Learn to rein him in. I don’t need another liability on my payroll.”
“Yes, sir,” Tony answered.
“You’re very expensive, but you’re going to make me a hell of a lot of money to make up for it. I’m turning you over to Uncle Dom. He and his men will teach you how to take money from a number of unfortunates who’ve gotten themselves in trouble by borrowing from us.”
