Page 47 of Condemned to You

“My kind?”

“My father may be a lot of things but we aren’t criminals. Now that I know exactly what it means to be a DeCarlo, I can’t be tainted by the image I made for myself. One that I’ve tried so hard to separate myself from living in my father’s shadow.”

I turn around and begin walking away while anger brews within her.

“It wouldn’t taint your name. Marrying a DeCarlo would elevate it,” her words leave a buzz in the air. “After all, we are above you.”

This made me stop and turn back around. “Above me?”

“Why do you think Luca keeps your father in office?”

“Your brother has him stuck in a corner.”

Walking toward me, Bethany lashes out defending her family. “The only difference between our families is that mine is considered to be on the opposite side of the law. But make no mistake, their actions are just as bad. Morally. Your family’s power is stemmed and fueled by greed.”

“You’re going to tell me with a straight face that Luca isn’t just as greedy?” I shoots back.

“My brother is hellbent on making sure our family stays alive. It has nothing to do with greed.”

“You’re going to give me some mobster fairytale story?” I cross my arms against my chest, the fabric of my suit clings against my arms.

“It’s no fairytale. Our family line did what they had to in order to survive. Life of crime wasn’t the goal. The goal was to make money to put food on the table, a roof over their family’s head, and respect to their name. Everything else was just what came with it. So, we may be the same in certain ways, but for us it always goes back to family - whatever cost it takes to make sure they are safe. Your father was willing to sacrifice you to keep him from falling off his own throne. Luca would throw himself onto his own sword if it meant saving us all. And because of that, we are above you.”

Her words are a slap in the face. Can it be true that my family has dark skeletons in the closet? I know my father does but I always suspect it is because Luca forced him into situations.

“The untouchable DeCarlos. Yet they need the Brantons. Riddle me that.”

“Because that’s how this works between our families,” Bethany looks me straight in the eyes. “We keep our hands dirty so that yours look clean. In exchange, you allow us to conduct our affairs without repercussion.”

“You’re lying.”

“Your father owns a lot of factories in the city. He doesn’t seem to have a problem filling products with illegal items as a means to transport as an exchange to keep winning elections.” I start to sweat and get uncomfortable. “Should I keep going on how your family remains in their social status?”

“No.” My tone is firm.

“Where do we go from here?” Bethany questions. “I don’t want to be an enemy or a rival. I really do value our friendship - one that was made outside of alliances.”

“You’ll be dropping the DeCarlo name soon enough. Once you do that, I think we can get back to some kind of common ground.”

“I can’t control if she has a wondering eye,” Luca said.

“You can make sure there isn’t one lingering around.”

Luca was right about one thing – the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Alfie POV

“Take it like a good girl,” I said seated on a love seat pulling on the blond hair so that my dick left her mouth and I could cum all over her face.

“Alfie! I told you no more cum shots on my face,” Grace hissed attempting to find something to wipe the thick white liquid off her face.

“And I told you no more slutting yourself out to me.”

Grace hated when I used a cocky tone but no matter how rude I was to her, she kept coming back for more. I think she got off on being with a younger man, and who am I to deny her fantasies. She was into just about everything – her favorite being trauma play.

With a devious smile, she replied, “Follow me handsome.”