“Did you get something for your boyfriend?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Ouch, and here I am turning down girls left and right because I miss my girlfriend and can’t wait until she gets home.”
My cheeks get so hot. We’ve never talked titles before. Personally, I’m still feeling Jacob out. I’ve had my heart broken before, so I’m cautious.
“How about we have that first date before we start with labels,” I say.
He chuckles. “Okay, babe. I’m going to allow you to get some sleep. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“See you when I get back.”
I hang up and head back into the bedroom. I’m surprised to find Dante in Bella’s bed, hugging her close. Not wanting to disturb them, I tiptoe to my bed and climb in.
Exhaustion sets in and I think for once I’m going to get some sleep.
“Change of plans. We leave in the morning,” Dante rumbles.
“Is everything okay?”
“My family needs me home.”
I leave it at that. The edge in his voice fills in enough gaps for me. Something tells me more change is coming.
Chapter 24
Fuck you thought?
Dante
We’ve returned home a day early for a reason. Dario has some shit I need to handle. I thought I made my way out of this life. For five years, I’ve been a normal husband, father, and business owner.
Leave it to Bethany and her family to drag me back into this shit. For years, I’ve been playing my part from a distance. If Dario needs something, Gio is there to make it happen. I haven’t had to do more than say a word. My guys take care of the rest.
However, this is shit of my creation, so while Dario’s in Italy, I need to clean up my own mess. Bethany and Kaling are my problems. Problems that have tried to burrow a hole in my family’s business.
So here I am. The real Dante Di Lorenzo. I slip into the back room at one of the restaurants—Dario’s to be exact. We keep this place for business like this. I take a seat and cross my ankle over my leg.
“Where is he?” I ask.
Mitch nods toward the freezers. I nod back as I remove my cuff links. “Bring him out.”
“Got it, boss.”
Mitch and two of my other guys leave the room. I grit my teeth because the last thing I wanted to do after putting my little girl in her own bed for the first time in six weeks is be here. I swear I hope Bella missed out on the thieving, treacherous genes from her mother’s side.
As I have the thought, Mitch drags a half-frozen Kaling into the room. He shivers as he’s shoved forward. His hands cupped at his mouth. When his gaze lands on me, he tries to turn and run.
I grin and stand. “Put his ass in that chair.”
“Dante, no, no, please. Think of Bella. Please don’t do this. Please,” he pleads.
“You should have thought of Bella before you started to embezzle money from me,” I bellow. “By the way, where’s your wife? I never thought she’d be so cold as to miss burying her daughter.”
“Things are complicated. I sent her away from all of this.”
“Now, see, that shows me you knew I would figure this shit out and yet you still chose to fuck with me. So, is it you thinking I’m stupid? Or are you just a huge fucking idiot?”
“You don’t understand. Pl…Ple…Please,” he chatters out nervously.
“I see you’re starting to remember who the fuck I am.” I tilt my head. “Did you think I got weak when my daughter was born? Did you think she was going to save you and that cunt?”
“You killed her. I knew it was you.”
“I had nothing to do with your lying, thieving daughter’s death, but I wish I did.”
My guys secure him to the chair and step back. Before I kill this motherfucker, I need a few answers. Lance and Summer found the money trail. It led right to this asshole. However, Summer picked up on something weird. There was money being funneled to a third party.
A third party who has yet to be traced. However, rumors of some bullshit involving this motherfucker and our money have reached Dario in Italy. This makes my brother look bad. We can’t have that. Not when Nonno has been talking about the transition happening soon.
Truth is, Nonno Di Lorenzo isn’t getting any younger. We all knew this was coming.
“Wha…what are you going to do to me?”
I tilt my head to the side and glare at him. “That depends on you. Tell me who you’re working with and what the fuck you’ve been planning.”
“I can’t tell you anything.”
I punch him in his face like I’ve wanted to do for years. Every time this fuckup has come to me for money, it has pissed me off. The only reason I tolerated him was because of my wife.