“That’s where your problem lies. She loves her father, from what my intel has explained, and worse, she doesn’t know the damage he’s doing to the company. As far as she’s aware, the rent went up on the property along with the taxes, which is partially true, but your princess over there is the exact opposite of you. She struggles with math, so she doesn’t understand the rates and figures he’s tossing at her. It doesn’t help that most of that shit is probably doctored.”
“Where the hell did you find all this stuff out from?” I hardly know much about her, and I listen intently to every single whisper with a hint of hearing more.
“The other girl, Ella that works here. Aria has done some chit-chatting for me with her and learned that Ivy would do anything for her father.”
“Damn. Okay. Well, they say opposites attract. Besides, the business itself is making a killing. From the past four days of recon, I can say without a doubt that they have to be making a forty percent profit after expenses, including your loan repayment plan.”
My anger at her father only grows because he’s a piece of shit all the way around. He feeds into her weakness, using it to scheme along.
She has no idea the level of deception he has perpetrated on her, and that guts me. Day in and day out, Ivy works her fingers to the bone, only to get played. What kind of father does that to his only child?
“Look, we’ll talk to her father privately. Make him an offer on the business, so that you’ll manage the books for a month and then take his half of the business. If he’s got a problem with that, we’ll take the whole damn thing and tell his daughter what he’s up to and leave it for her to decide his fate.”
“I don’t know if that’s going to work.” Because nothing but death is suitable enough for him.
“Well, it doesn’t matter because he’s currently tied up in my home, waiting for your arrival to discuss the matter at hand, so please give your keys to Enrico and let’s go. He’ll take your car home.” Dom raises his hand, and Enrico approaches the vehicle.
“Okay.” I toss them to him through the window. “Treat it good.” My Mercedes is the only car I drive. It’s not like I can’t afford more cars, but I love this one.
“Of course.”
Luigi drives us back to the house in record time, or maybe it’s that my mind is focused on the hatred I have for a man I’ve never met. All the way there, I think about how I still haven’t spoken to Ivy except to be fucking rude. Hell, I don’t even know if she’s asked me my name, and I sure as fuck haven’t introduced myself properly. Instead, I watch, stalk, lurk like a fucking creeper.
Today she seemed upset at me from the moment I walked in today, but I’m not sure why. I don’t understand women like most men do, but I wanted to swipe my thumb across her brow and erase her scrunched-up expression. After what I said, I understand why she was pissed, but then again, I couldn’t help the jealousy that flowed through me. It was a dick move, but I’ll have to make it up to her later—after I get my hands on her father.
We arrive back at the house, and Aria hands us a drink while giving Dom a quick kiss, but of course my brother isn’t satisfied with that and pulls her in for a deeper one like we don’t have shit to handle right now.
“Where is he?” I snarl at my brother.
“In the shed. Let’s go have a talk.” He walks toward the back and then turns on his heels back to Aria and pulls her in for another kiss. “I missed you, amore mia.”
“Same, my king. Now, I’d say dispose of him, but given the unfolding circumstances, we’ll have to save that for another day.”
“Damn, you’re sexy when you’re ruthless.”
“I’ve learned from the best. I’ll let you guys get to business.” She walks away, and we head to the back after polishing off a glass of bourbon. I love Aria, but I’m not in the humor for their loving affection. It could be because I want to kill Ivy’s father, or maybe it’s got to do with the fact that I have to stay away from the only woman I’ve ever wanted.
“Give me your gun,” Dom demands.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t trust you not to shoot the fucker.”
“You’ve got a fair point.” I hand it over with the safety on, and he tucks it in his belt. We step into the shed, which is as large as a garage in the back of the house so that Dom could handle his interrogations out of the house for the most part, plus it has an incredibly nice drainage system.