“She’s worth it and more,” I answer truthfully.
He smooths his hand down his suit coat. “That’s all I needed to know.” He rolls his shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
“Polite,” I say again. “Let’s feel him out.”
A swift knock at the front door signals his arrival, and I give my soldier at the door a brief nod. He crosses himself then opens the door.
Don Calabrezi strides in, his gaze scaling the walls and floors, checking all the doors and then finally settling on me. His gray bushy brows are low, and he doesn’t give an expression other than tired boredom.
“Don Calabrezi. Welcome to my home.” I give him the slightest drop of my chin. The bare minimum of respect.
He stops in front of me, his gaze firmly on mine like a shark with a meal between its teeth. “Hand over my daughter, and we can avoid any unpleasantness.”
I was hoping we could do this the easy way. A talk over brandy or perhaps a walk through the garden while we discuss how his daughter ended up in my employ. But no, he came here to claim her as if she’s some sort of errant pet, a stolen car, a piece of jewelry left on a nightstand. She’s none of those things. She’s mine.
“The only unpleasantness I see is you barging into my home and making demands. Is this the way business is done in Chicago?” I look down my nose at him.
“If you don’t give Diamond to me, I’ll show you exactly how we do business in Chicago.”
“You can threaten me, Don Calabrezi. It won’t change the facts. You’re on my turf. Disrespecting me and mine. I don’t take threats lightly. Ask around, if you like. I’m certain my reputation is easily discovered if you only care to ask the other bosses politely.”
His brows, two storm clouds promising thunder and rain, draw together as he looks up at me. “Hand her over or face the consequences.”
“Malone.” I say just his name.
He opens his coat and puts his hands on his hips, the small arsenal strapped to his chest making an appearance.
Don Calabrezi glances at him. “I’ll wipe you all off the map if you even think about touching me.”
“I’m not just thinking about it.” I step to him, so close that he leans back a little. Not a lot, but enough for me to notice. “You can throw your weight around in Chicago all you want, Don Calabrezi, but here? Here is my domain. The people under my roof? They have my protection. That includes your daughter. She’s staying here.”
He scowls, then cocks his head to the side, an idea brightening his dull eyes. When a laugh slips from him, Malone slides his hand to one of his blades.
“This is a joke, yes?” Don Calabrezi laughs heartily. “A joke.” He backs away and pulls out a handkerchief to wipe at his watery eyes. “You’re joking.”
I just stare at him, wondering what he’s on about.
He bends over and guffaws, then straightens. “All right, all right. Thanks for the laugh. Now go ahead and send her out.”
Malone and I exchange a look.
“I’m not sure what you think just happened, but I assure you nothing about this is a joke. Diamond isn’t going anywhere.”
Don Calabrezi sobers quickly. “You want ransom, then?”
“No.”
“Then what? Because you can’t possibly want Diamond.”
My blood starts to roar in my ears. “I would advise you to choose your next words carefully.”
“Or what?” His face blooms red in the cheeks. “I know you don’t want her. You’re just trying to get money from me. I’ll pay you for her, but only what she’s worth, and that’s not much.”
I tense.
Malone twitches in response, but he doesn’t move. Not yet.
“What? I know what she is.” Don Calabrezi shrugs, as if he’s giving up and speaking in a conspiratorial fashion. “You took her to get some leverage. I can appreciate that business move. I really can. But it’s time to return her to me. She’s not a great investment. Not yet. Once she gets home, I’ve set up a new diet regimen and will have her working out for at least two hours in the morning and two at night each day. She’ll lose weight. I’ll get her into shape to sell her off in marriage and get her off my hands. But until then, she’s mine.” He sighs.
I’m trying to keep my temper, to cool the fire that’s racing through my blood. Because despite everything, this man is Diamond’s father. I respect her, so I’m trying to respect him.
“Just be honest. You know what I’m talking about. She’s a pig.” He guffaws. “A piggy with a fat ass who no man will ever—”
I’m moving before I can even think. My fist nails him right in the front of the jaw, sending him staggering backward and bouncing off the wall. He looks up at me, utterly stunned.