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And now it was about to be snuffed out.

“Why do you let him control you?” Holding my arms out, I wasn't backing down from him giving me my answers. I was tired of that prick Remo getting away with murder and my father just letting him.

“Don't, Dante, it's non—”

“Right, it's none of my business.” Shaking my head, I drew my hand over my jaw. “Well now I'm making it my business. Tell me.” Bridging the gap between us, I put myself right between him and Ivy. If he wasn't going to care for her and her life, then I didn't want him even looking at her.

Cocking his jaw, my father sat silent for a moment. His eyes danced over mine, serious and stone cold. “Dante, I don't think now is the time to get into this.”

Forcing my back to grow taller, I stood my ground. I wasn't taking no for an answer, I had to know why he bent over backwards for that man.“Tell. Me.”Lowering my jaw into my chest, I glared at him through slit lids.

Dropping his head, he fiddled with the cuff links on his suit. “The night your mother died we were all at the grand opening for Remo's father's shipyard. It was a great night, it was fun actually.” I watched his eyes fade away, leaving us in that room as he remembered that night, remembered my mother, remembered the love he lost.

He never spoke about my mother's death in detail. The only thing he would say is that she was killed, and that it was Remo's family's fault. But as he continued, as he gave me the short version of what went down, I saw the hatred he carried with it.

His eyes softened, and I was almost waiting for him to cry. Bane Pisani doesn't cry.

But the tears he held back weren't just because he lost his wife, they held more. Shame. “Remo's father had offered us a hand in it all, but he had another family that wanted the deal. Well, they came in, stormed the place with guns blazing. Your mom didn't make it, that you know. Remo, the man you can't stand— he shot the guy who killed your mom, he did what I couldn't do. But it goes further than that. What I haven't told you was how Remo's father had hired the guys to do it. I wanted to kill him, Dante, I did that man for what he did. But

Remo . . . I saw him raise his gun in my direction, holding it right at my face. And right then all I thought of was you and your brother. Your mom was gone, I didn't want you to lose me, too. Then one of the assholes who were hired came up behind me about to fire off.” Shaking his head, he lifted his face to mine.

“What, Dad? What happened?”

“Remo saved me. I almost shot him, I had my gun raised, trigger cocked. But he fired first, and it wasn't at me. He hit the guy square in the forehead.” Sticking a single finger against my temple, he pulled an imaginary trigger. “Remo made sure you didn't lose both parents that night. He could have killed me and he didn't. He went against the orders he was given. I owed him for that.”

My jaw clenched tight, anger and disgust riding my spine in waves. “So that gives him a free pass for life? He saved you from something his father ordered? I thought it was blood for blood? Isn't that how you raised me? How many other guys have saved you over the years? And how many of those guys have you also ended up killing because they fucked with you?”

“That's not the point, Dante.”

“That is the point.”

“Look, after that we came to an agreement. We'd work together, I'd provide him with protection and he'd help us with our shipments. Your mother 's death was an accident. According to Remo, no one was supposed to get killed. He helped me remove the problem, together we killed them all. So yeah, when he failed to pay us after the bust, I had to do something, but we can't kill him, Dante.” My father's jaw jetted out, a loud huff of air left his lungs. “This conversation is over.” Whipping the gun back to the woman behind me, he said, “Have her at the yard in two hours, Dante.”

“And if I don't?”

“Then you'll be dead to me forever, just like Sesto. The only difference is your brother is still breathing. You won't be.” Turning in one quick burst, he stormed out of the room.

Fuck! Fuck!

Gripping the sides of my head, I let out a loud angry growl.

He wasn't giving me any choice. It was her life or mine.

And he meant what he said. My father couldn't kill me himself, but that wouldn't stop him from having someone else take care of his loose ends.

Without Remo, he'd lose his entire empire. It would take him years to rebuild a connection like that.

But I'm disposable!?

How did that make sense? How could he see that prick as being more valuable than his own son?

My father was dangling my world on a hook, hoping I'd take a bite. I never thought he'd actually want me dead if I disobeyed his orders.

I was his son, I was his legacy.

This was a deal that didn't have a happy ending.

Give her back and her life is over. Remo would probably rape her then dispose of her like a piece of trash.