Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Emotionally, he was the king of that.
It wasn’t intentional or malicious. He simply wanted what was best for me, never realizing I could make those decisions as well. For the most part, we had a loving relationship with moments of disdain here and there.
The closer I got to his office the more nervous I became. I was internally freaking out. I hated being caught off guard. The biggest problem with my old man was his tendency of being overprotective with me.
I couldn’t tell you how many times I heard him threaten, “There’s only two ways they’re leaving this house, either with a gun to their head or in a body bag,” to anyone he thought wasn’t a good example.
My friends needed to be cleared through him.
My teachers.
My riding instructors.
Basically, anyone who was in my presence had to be approved by him.
He’d run a background check, make sure he knew the ins and outs of their life. Where they lived, who their family had ties to. Everything, even down to their blood types…
I took a deep breath, contemplating his next move. Adriana hadn’t been found. She’d been missing for a little over two months. It was the only information Uncle Gino would share with me, I knew better than to ask my father for any updates about her. He wouldn’t tell me, and he’d be disappointed I asked in the first place. The role of a woman in this life was to be the mother and caretaker of the home. Our place was not anywhere near what he did daily for a living.
Would he send me away again?
I’d left my house in the middle of the night several times throughout my life with an arsenal of bodyguards surrounding me. Last year was the first time I had to leave the country for six months in the exact same way. I stayed with my aunt in New York until it was safe enough for my return to Italy. I had far less freedom in America than I did in my homeland.
Once we arrived outside of the doors of his office, I took another deep breath while Uncle Gino knocked letting him know we were there. I was never allowed to just walk in, I had to knock, and he had to know I was coming down to see him. I couldn’t take him by surprise. A lot of shit went down behind these closed doors, and Papà made sure it was never in my presence.
There were rules I had to follow.
End of story.
“Entra!” Papà shouted, “Enter.”
With my heart beating out of my chest, I inhaled one last heavy breath. Uncle Gino opened the door, giving me a reassuring gleam in his eyes. Fully aware I was internally losing my shit but remaining calm on the outside. I was raised to not show any emotion, especially when it came to El Capo.
Passing over the threshold, I announced with a smile, “Papà, sono così felice di vederti—” I halted my steps, stopping right by the door. Unable to finish my sentence saying how happy I was to finally see him.
There was no moving.
No breathing.
I was rendered speechless.
About to go…
To war.
Chapter 14
—Sienna—
El Capo was sitting at the head of the rectangular mahogany table in the middle of the open room. No good ever came from him sitting there instead of at his desk when I entered. However, it wasn’t my father that left me breathless, or the faces of the men I instantly recognized. My eyes shifted from one mobster to the next.
Campisi.
Nicolasi.
Sinacore.
Rossi.
The five families.
Including, El Diablo.
Martinez sat to the left of Papà. None of the most powerful and influential gangsters in all the world caught my attention quite like the man sitting to the right of my father. He was sporting a fucking grin I instantly wanted to slap off his pretty boy face.
I swear on everything that was holy, in that moment my whole future came tumbling down on me when I saw who I least expected.
He. Was. There.
Mercilessly smug.
Unforgivingly astute.
Ready to sign my death certificate.
His cocky appearance reminded me so much of another made man. Romeo Sinacore, who was Sinacore’s womanizing grandson I’d met a few times. He was a Grade A asshole. Allowing his dick to do the talking while his gun ended the conversation.
It wasn’t until Papà ordered, “Sienna, sit down.” That I just knew my life would never be the same again.
The fact Papà addressed me by my name merely proved what I was feeling. This was serious or else he would have said, “Principessa.”
Nodding to the empty seat directly across from him, I slowly walked to the chair. Fifteen steps was all it took for me to make it to the seat. I kept my eyes locked with his, mindful he’d simply demand it if I didn’t.
“I called you in here today to tell you what’s going to happen next, Sienna.”