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“Your father’s gambling is causing a problem once again. He’s not paying his debt, and I’ve grown tired of the old cat-and-mouse game we’ve been playing.”
I ignore the pleading look from Dad and turn my attention to Giuseppe Rossi. “How did you find me? I’ve changed my name and moved away.”
“It was all him. I received word that he was on his way here and I had him followed. We watched him for a few days and he kept following you. We eventually connected the dots. How ironic that you moved away and changed your name but still ended up in my town.”
Yeah, that wasn’t part of the plan. I was already working for Arturo when I found out Giuseppe Rossi bought a vacation house down here. By then, it was too late to quit without drawing attention to my past.
I glance at dad, holding back the anger that is burning in my veins.
He’s bloodied and bruised, and it’s clear Giuseppe has been starving him. I should feel sadness and remorse, but all I feel is anger.
I’m pissed he found my new identity. I’m pissed he led Giuseppe to finding out where I lived.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again. You are dead to me.”
“Don’t say that, Alex.”
“It’s Alexandra, and you can’t honestly be surprised at my feelings. You sold all my stuff to pay for your addiction. We barely had food in the refrigerator and pantry. I was starving andmalnourished. We ended up being evicted and had to sleep in the car!”
“It’s not like I ever planned for things to turn out that way.” His voice is raspy and dry.
“Well, they did, and instead of life getting better, it only got worse year after year.”
“I tried, Alex. I really did. I didn’t want to drag you and your mother down with me.”
“Bullshit. If you wanted to get better, you could have checked yourself into a facility, or hell, you could have just packed your shit and left. Mom and I were better off alone.”
His eyes glisten with unshed tears, but he doesn’t defend his actions.
Good. I’m tired of hearing his excuses. They didn’t help back then, and they won’t help now.
Giuseppe clears his throat, effectively stopping my conversation with Dad. “I’m going to give you a choice. It’s a pretty simple decision, but I need your answer before I decide what’s going to happen to you.”
This doesn’t sound good. It sounds almost like a life and death decision.
Is he going to make me choose between my life and Dad’s?
Would I be heartless if I choose to save my own ass over his?
Mr. Rossi stares at me, waiting for me to acknowledge his conditions.
“I understand.”
“Good. Here are your options: you can work for me and pay off your father’s debt, or you can pay with your life.”
Is he fucking serious? Work for him or die? What kind of sick son of a bitch would ask that?
“That’s not fair.” I glare at him, hoping to convey my shock and anger.
He smirks. “Life isn’t fair, cupcake.”
I glance at Dad before returning my gaze back to Giuseppe Rossi. “Why not just kill him?”
“Because that would be too easy.”
The driver stalks over to me, wraps his hand around my arm, and yanks me up until I’m standing in front of Mr. Rossi.
“Which option are you choosing?”