“I don’t care.” His lips were pressed tightly together, and his skin was stretched tight because he was so tense, so angry. “I don’t care if you’re the new fucking Pope. You’ll pay for what you did to my family.”
“I love her.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that to another man besides my brother, wore my heart on my sleeve to my enemy. “I never meant to hurt her—”
“You didn’t hurt her.” He stepped closer. “You fucking destroyed her. She’s the strongest and most fearless person I know, and now she’s dead inside. She doesn’t laugh. She doesn’t smile. Her spunk, her passion, everything is gone.” He pushed me in the chest. “Because of you.”
I stepped back and didn’t retaliate.
“And I’m going to kill you for that.”
“Don’t underestimate her,” I whispered. “A woman like that doesn’t let anyone defeat her.”
He didn’t react to the compliment, staying cold.
“I fell in love with her, Damien. And I would do anything to take it back.”
That meant nothing to him.
“I’ll apologize. I’ll pay reparations. I’ll do anything to make this right—”
“You can never make this right.” He shook his head. “Unless you’re dead.”
“You know she loves me…”
“No, she doesn’t,” he said immediately. “She feels nothing—like I already said.” He turned away. “I’m coming for you, Heath. You still have time to run if you want to keep breathing.”
I took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the mess I’d made. “Damien.”
He turned back around, his eyes sinister.
“I can give you what you want.”
He stilled, unsure what that meant.
“The one thing you want more than anything—I can give it to you.”
He completely turned my way, pivoting his body so his stance mirrored mine. He was either tempted by the offer or simply curious about what I had to say.
“I’ll give you all of Italy. Completely your terrain. No competitors. No taxes.” I offered something no one ever had, and I would pay dearly for it. I would have to shut down all my other clients, and there would definitely be backlash for it, possibly my resignation, but I had to put out this fire.
He cocked his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he slowly took in the offer. He took a few steps toward me.
It was working. “It’s yours—for a truce.”
His expression didn’t change, his shoulders squared. He was a strong man but on the leaner side, missing the thirty pounds of muscle that I had. He came closer to me again, his eyes cold. “No.”
All my hope died.
“I can’t be bought, Heath. My family is more important than all the money in the world, and I would much rather be dead than shake your hand in the form of a truce. You’ll pay for what you’ve done to us—with your life.”
Fourteen
Catalina
I stared at the board and considered my next move. Now that I never threw a game, I almost always won. My father was a great player, but since he taught me everything he knew, he really stood no chance against me. I grabbed my piece and moved it.
“Something wrong, sweetheart?” He already knew what move he was going to make, so he quickly grabbed his pawn and relocated it.
“No.” I stared at the board again. “Why?”
“You seem lifeless.”
“Lifeless…that’s a bit harsh.” I examined the board as I considered how to beat him in the least number of moves.
“I’ve known you since you were born, sweetheart. I know when something’s off.”
I made my move then looked at him. “Damien told me about your kidnapping…”
“You’re upset about that?” he asked incredulously. “That was like a year ago.”
“Still upsets me.”
“Well, everything turned out fine. My only grievance was missing my favorite show.”
He was just like Damien, making a joke out of the most serious situations. “You weren’t hurt?”
“No.” He examined the board. “When the men came to my apartment and told me to cooperate, I listened. I know my son will move mountains for me. I never lost my faith.” He made his move.
I must have been too distracted by the conversation because I moved my piece and set myself up for failure.
And he demolished me. “Checkmate.”
“Damn…you got me.”
“And that’s how I know something is wrong.” He grabbed the pieces and returned them to the start.
A slow smile spread across my lips.
Damien stepped into the dining room. “Who won?”
I nodded to my dad.
“She was distracted,” Dad explained. “Hopefully, she learned her lesson.”
Damien stood with his hands in his pockets, watching our father for a moment before he turned to me. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure.”
After Dad finished setting up the board, he rose from his chair. “It’s time for my nap anyway…” He grabbed a few snacks off the table and took them to his room.
Damien fell into the chair across from me.
“Yes?” I propped my chin on my closed hand, resting it right on the knuckles.
He relaxed in the chair, his hands somewhere under the table. He stared at the board for a while before he looked at me. “I want your help with something.”
“I’m all yours.” I grabbed the first pawn and moved it.
He raised an eyebrow. “We’re playing?”
“Unless you don’t want your sister to kick your ass…”
He gave me a slight glare before he grabbed his piece and moved it. “It’s a lot to ask, and I understand if your answer is no.”
“This doesn’t sound good…” I eyed the board and considered my next move. “What is it?”
“I’m gonna take down Heath, and I think you’re the best way to do that.”
Now, I ignored the game altogether and met his look.
“He’s never alone. And when he is alone, his house is impenetrable. I need to lure him out—alone.”
I didn’t know how I felt about the request because I didn’t feel anything at all.
“It’s your chance to get retribution for
