Page 162 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“On the contrary, I think Daddy dearest wouldn’t be so happy to hear his only daughter is sleeping with the family’s nemesis. Didn’t the DeFrancos betray your family? Mickey’s grandfather stole millions and tainted the O’Leary name for generations, causing a forty-year brawl between them. Amazing what you can find when you know the right people.” I smirk, when her jaw hits the floor. “Not to mention what Johnny willdo once he finds out Mickey’s the one who knocked you up and is the real father. I doubt Daddy’s gonna welcome Mickey into your family with open arms. I’m guessing more like a bullet between the eyes. Wow…” I shake my head in amusement. “Imagine the horror on his face when he learns of your betrayal. You said it yourself. You wouldn’t put it past your father to kill you if you stepped out of line. Those poor babies. Gonna be orphans. Or dead too.”

She inches closer, reaching out before clamping her fingers around my arm. “You won’t do that, Liam.”

“And why’s that?”

Victoria retreats and places her hands on her hips. “I have Maddie.”

“Hmm…that’s right.” I put a finger on my chin, pretending to be concerned. “You grant me an annulment or divorce, and I won’t send these to your father.”

She scoffs. “You send those to my father, then Maddie pays.”

I tsk. “I’m pretty sure you and Mickey will be the ones paying.”

Victoria walks around me and grabs her iPad from her nightstand. “I’ll tell my men to kill her.” She returns, standing in front of me. “Unless you hand everything over. Duplicates, copies. Everything.” Victoria looks me dead in the eyes, and in about five seconds, she’ll realize Maddie’s gone.

I lean down, whispering softly. “Then do it.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Liam, I’m serious. If I give the order to shoot her, they won’t think twice about it.”

“And your father will know the truth.” I shrug. “Oh wait…” I snap my fingers, smiling. “I don’t need to bargain with you because you have nothing I want, and I haveeverythingyou want.”

“What does that mean? You’d never let Maddie get hurt.”

“Correct.” I point my finger at her. “Why don’t you show me how she’s doing on your little surveillance cam?”

She signs into her iPad and opens the app. She swipes, looking from room to room in the cabin with no one in sight.

“This is impossible,” she mutters.

Walking behind Victoria, I look over her shoulder. “Hmm…interesting. Looks like it’s empty.”

“What the fuck did you do?” she shouts, tossing her iPad on the bed. “Where are my guards?”

“Like I said, princess. You’re not the only one who has connections.”

She grinds her teeth, contemplating her next move. Before she can walk around me, I grab her wrist and pull her back into my chest.

With my lips to her ear, I speak low and deep. “Don’t think so. You’re not the only one with a gun, and as much as I’d hate to use it, especially on a pregnant woman, I will if I have to defend myself.”

I managed to get a gun from Tyler’s place since I knew Victoria kept one in her bedroom. Shooting me was her only option to get out of this, but I’m not about to let her do that.

“You have two options,” I continue when she stays silent. “Give me a divorce and this all ends for good. Confess I’m not the father so your dad doesn’t come after me, and we both walk away without pissing him off. Or he gets all the evidence of your betrayal. If he doesn’t kill you for it, he’ll for sure wipe you of your little trust fund, and you’ll be out on your ass. In fact, he’d probably keep you alive and feed you to the wolves instead. Plenty of people would love to get their hands on a mafia princess.” I hum, knowing it’ll piss her off. “You could shoot me now, but just know if I don’t come home in one piece, the photos will be sent to him from someone else. Either way, sweetheart, you lose if you don’t obeymyorders this time.”

“Let me go,” she growls.

I release her and she steps out of reach. “Just stay married to me for a year, after the twins are born, then I’ll grant you the divorce. I’ll tell my family it’s my fault, and no one has to know the whole story.”

Oh, hello bargaining. I expected you.

She’s desperate. Neither options are favorable to her, but I gotta say, the truth not being revealed should be an obvious choice.

“No,” I say firmly, then twist my ring off and flick it into the air. She watches with horror as it flies across the room. I’ve been wearing that dreaded thing since we announced our marriage in July. To keep up the act around my friends, I wore it at all times. Feels good to finally get rid of the damn thing.

“I want papers drawn up today. We both sign and then await a court date. You let me walk away and leave us alone, for good.”

She shakes her head. “Being a pregnant divorcee would be as bad as the truth. I can’t.”

I shrug nonchalantly. “Okay then.”