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“Nah. Just keep your phone close by,” I tell Hunter before cutting the call and rolling down the windows.

“Dom, you’re going to get your ass out of Gianna’s car, and you’re going to get me into your father's house,” I say, coolly.

The fear in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. I liked Dom until he let my wife walk into the dragon’s den alone.

He nods.

“And then you’re going to tell me why the fuck you aren’t in there with her,” I spit.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Gianna

Song- This Will Divide Us, PRESIDENT

“Fabio would have never disappointed me like this.” His spit lands on my cheek, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

I don’t move a muscle. I don’t breathe. Because the slightest movement will only bring more pain.

“Look at me, you ungrateful bitch!” my father bellows.

I open my eyes; his blotchy red face is right in front of mine. The whiskey on his breath beats against my skin.

“I’m sorry, Dad. Levi threatened me, so I had to show him that the Milanos are in charge. We can’t work with those street rats if we want to expand our empire. Don’t you see? Everything I’m doing is to save us.”

He laughs, tipping his head back, holding his bulging stomach. “Saving us,” he mutters.

Then his bloodshot eyes land on mine, darkening.

“Saving us,” he says, this time louder. His hand flies out, his palm smacking across my cheek so hard stars float in my vision as my head whips sideways, making me stumble.

Ignoring the stinging radiating from my face, I straighten up. I don’t say another word.

“You really believe you’re saving this family? You murdered your brother. You didn’t protect Max. And now, you’re married to a fucking cowboy on a farm and telling me that’s going to save us, when all you’re doing is being a little disgusting whore. Just like your mother was.” He shouts, throwing his arms in the air.

My heart pounds, my body braced for impact as he grabs me by the hair so hard that I scream out in agony.

With all of his force, he throws me against the wall, face first, so hard my nose cracks. Blood pours over my mouth as he tosses me to the floor.

“I told you and Dom to work with Levi! And all you do is give me a headache. You will never be ready to rule our empire like this. You’re becoming weak.”

I bring my knees to my chest and hug them, closing my eyes and trying to picture a happy memory. Take myself out of my body, like I learned to do when I was a kid.

Except this time, I’m not playing with my dolls with my mom; I’m lying next to Colten. He’s running his fingers through my hair, smiling down at me. And I’m powerful. He’s telling me to fight back, that he knows I can do this without my father.

He’s telling me that he will stand beside me. That I am strong enough. That he’s going to be here no matter what, and everything my father has put me through has to stop.

He has to be stopped. Because if I let this continue, that isn’t strength. He isn’t making me a leader. He’s making me weak.

The impact of my father's foot connecting with my back sends a burning sensation through my chest. I press my lips together to stop the sobs erupting out of me.

If I cry. If I show him how pathetic I am, this goes on longer. But how long does this really go on for? Another twenty years? I can’t. I cannot let this man hurt me anymore. Father or not. If I’ve learned anything about myself in the last few weeks, it's that he isn’t making me stronger, he’s beating me to be his puppet.

Normally, I have to wait until he’s got all of his rage out on me and calms down. Only then will he listen. And apologize. And tell me he didn’t mean it; he’s doing this to make me a leader.

And until I set foot on Sterling Ranch, I would have believed him. I would have set my sights back on the goal of taking over the family and moved on, doing everything my father asks of me.

But now that I’ve seen how real families work in this world, with my own damn eyes. I’ve seen mafia leaders cuddle their children, praise them, and let them have pet goats that run around the house.