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“You speak of things you know nothing about,” I seethe.
All he saw was Gio’s hold on Jace’s head, nothing more, he said it himself. Now he’s making assumptions. Funny, I believe his prejudice also discounts Nyla, as if she wasn’t there between the boys.
His hate didn’t allow him to see that. I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing as I think about it. What Riccardo doesn’t know is that I’m aware that he’s been seeking permission to overthrow me.
His first mistake. He doesn’t know all the players on the board. I do.
“This isn’t what we agreed to. My son was meant to be head of the family. You’ve given more respect to thosemulignonsin New York. You won’t even take his name and now this. The insult.”
My head is ready to explode. Frances was never built to be the Don of my family. My father named me as his successor and that’s the way it will stay until I hand the family to Gio.
“Is that your real problem? I won’t bow to your son, and he will never have the title of head of my family.”
“Ava, please,” Frances says.
See, he’s no Don. If not for him, I wouldn’t have to deal with this man. I should have killed Frances myself for the disrespect he’s brought to my family. As if I was some stupid girl he could play with. If not for my own plans, I would have left him to the fire he started and the wrath of my father.
“You shut the fuck up. You…you’re the reason things are the way they are. You’re a pussy and she treats you like one.”
I snort. He tells no lies there. However, I’ve had enough of this in my home.
“I think it’s time for you to leave,” I snap, not hiding my ire.
“No problem but know that I won’t stand for this. This isn’t over.”
I stand from my seat behind my desk and clear my throat. “You should respect who I am and what my papa has decided. If I have to make myself clear, I’ll erase your entire bloodline. I’m a Di Lorenzo by blood, don’t make me prove it.”
“You’re a whore, your son is afinook, and that other little one is a psychopath waiting to happen.”
“Enough,” Lucas growls.
“You,” Riccardo roars then scoffs. “You’re lucky to be who you are.”
“And you will be wise to remember who I am. We’re not too far from the other side for your actions to have repercussions. Now leave as Ava asked you to.”
Riccardo balls his fists as his cheeks redden. He turns his gaze on Gwen and glares at her. She gives him a look as if to dare him to try her. Instead, he spins on his heels and storms for the door. Frances slinks out after his father like the pet he is.
“Disgusting,” I say under my breath.
I’m beyond tired of pretending to be in love with him. Frances is only out to save his ass and protect his own family, not mine. He will cover my children for as long as it benefits his. That’s the one thing I can trust about him.
Lucas, Gwen, and I move from the room to ensure Riccardo exits my home. We step out into the hall as Beth reveals herself from my hidden room.
“That’s a huge problem. I think it’s time we send word to your father,” Gwen says. We’d been planning before Riccardo decided to show his face to comment on what I found him watching earlier.
She’s right. I need to talk to my father but knowing Riccardo has reached out to others makes me wary of the families. I don’t know who else he went to. I find it hard to believe he placed all his eggs in one basket.
The wrong basket at that. This wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried to usurp my family. It didn’t work then and it’s not going to work now.
“I can no longer trust anyone. I need to go to my father myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lucas says.
I give him a smile. Now this is a man I can trust. “No, I need you here to watch over my boys. Gio, Jace, Dario, and Dante are my world. None of this matters if something happens to them. That man has a hard-on for Gio and Jace. They’re not safe around him.”
I plan to win this war, but I need Lucas here to watch over our children. He’s the one person I know will care for my boys like I would because they are his and Jace is as good as his. He’s been raising him for our lost friend.
“I’ll go,” Beth says.
