Page 32 of Die for You (Kiss or Kill #2)

He nods. “They’re far enough away that they won’t be detected, but close enough to come if needed. But I can’t trust them.”

“What happened?”

His face pales slightly. “So it wasn’t you?”

I have no idea what he’s talking about. “Gianna has been busy planning this bullshit gala all week. I’ve barely seen her.”

Lenny mulls over my revelation. “Seven of my men and a work colleague were hung up like pigs, their insides on the outside. I thought it was Gianna. But perhaps I’m wrong. We both know Gianna doesn’t like getting her hands dirty. Could she have someone else working for her?”

“It’s very probable. This might very well turn to shit, which is why I have done something I hope won’t be necessary. But if anything were to happen to either of us, or to Nico, then I won’t leave Lettie to the state. No way will she be dumped in this hellhole like we were.

“Francesco, as her grandfather, is to have custody of her. I really hope it doesn’t pan out that way, but I had to be sure.”

Lenny’s cheeks billow as he exhales slowly. “Smart. Speaking of Nico…he’s safe, tied in my basement. Nothing will happen to him.”

“Was leaving him in the basement really necessary?”

“He has a TV,” Lenny replies as if that’s any consolation.

Lenny was smart not to bring him here. I don’t want him to see me this way. This is who I really am, and that’s someone not many can love.

If we live through this, then I’ll tell Nico it’s over. It isn’t fair to him. He was always the runner-up. I don’t regret the life we lived. We have some beautiful memories. But I don’t want to live my life a second longer without Lenny.

Bria is still out cold. But I imagine when she wakes, she won’t be too pleased about my admission.

“So what happens now?”

“We wait.”

“So typical.”

I do wonder what she expects me to do. There’s a house full of people, and I don’t see the night wrapping up anytime soon.

But that’s what gives Gianna the control she craves, knowing that she can engage in illegal dealings under the noses of so many and no one would do a thing about it because they fear her.

And when I hear her trademark walk echo off the hallway walls, my theory is merely confirmed. She is going to do whatever she wishes and return to the party like normal.

Lenny hears her heels stab at the floor and shifts in his seat.

This will change everything, and the terrifying thing is that we don’t have a backup plan. We don’t even have a plan. Until I know she has Lettie, we are at her mercy.

And when she pushes open the chapel door, she knows it.

I remain perfectly still, while Lenny cannot hide his contempt.

“You proved me wrong, Valentina,” Gianna says, the train on her dress now looking more like a tail dragging behind her. “But I knew you wouldn’t fail me. Too much is at stake.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Kill me already and be done with it. Death is preferable over having to listen to you for one more second.”

Gianna doesn’t flinch at Lenny’s words because she’s won.

“So what now?” I ask calmly.

Gianna walks over to Bria, grips her chin, and arches her head backward.

“Get your hands off!” Lenny roars, rocking in his chair.

I know this isn’t an act. He is concerned for Bria’s safety.

“You show compassion for your wife, but feel nothing for your daughter?”

Low blow, but Lenny plays along. “I didn’t even know I had a daughter until a few weeks ago. This daddy gig is still fresh. Not that I expect you to understand.”

Lenny can give as good as he gets.

Gianna’s top lip twitches. It’s small, but he’s hit a nerve.

Gianna ignores him. “You kept to your word, and I reward those who obey me.”

Surrounded by religious relics, I pray that luck is on my side this time. And when the sacristy door opens, it’s apparent that…I will forever be a sinner in the eyes of the Lord.

Everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion.

I watch as Francesco leads Lettie into the chapel, her tiny hand in his. She wears a beautiful white dress. Her hair is in pigtails. Too reminiscent of what I was once dressed in to appease Father Merry’s sick perversions.

Tears instantly roll down my cheeks.

How she’s grown. It’s only been a few weeks. But those are weeks I’ll never get back, thanks to Gianna.

Oh, how she’s about to suffer…

“ Cara mia ,” I cry, gesturing with my hands that she’s to come to her mother.

But Francesco doesn’t let her go. “Forgive me,” he says, guilt-ridden.

I don’t understand what’s happening right now.

Who has double-crossed who?

“You’re not that good of an actress, piccola . You disappoint me,” Gianna says, ambling over to me. “You continue to lead with your heart, and where does that get you? A failure, that’s what.”

“Call me all the names you want, but give me back my daughter, and you’ll never see us again.”

Gianna’s attention turns to Lenny. “Lost for words? That’s a first. You too disappoint me. Bella , you see that man over there? Well, I hate to tell you, but he’s your father. Don’t ever be like him.”

I charge forward, ready to rip off her head, but Francesco places a knife to Lettie’s throat.

“Careful,” Gianna warns.

Lenny is surprisingly quiet. And when I see the look on his face, I understand why.

This is the first time he’s seeing his daughter. Talking about her and actually seeing her are two totally different things. And Gianna was the one to take away his rite of passage of telling Lettie he’s her father.

Peering at my parents, I vow here, and now, that come morning, they’ll both be dead. I don’t care that Francesco appears as if he was coerced into doing Gianna’s bidding. For all I know, he isn’t even my father.

The only person I trust is Lennon.

We both knew this outcome was likely, but I was right—Gianna did have Lettie all along. And regardless of whether we were deceived, we’ve won because I got what I came here for.

My daughter.

Now, I just need to get us out of this alive.

“Enough with the dramatics, Gianna, what do you want?” Lenny says, no emotion behind him.

“You know what I want.”

“Fine, take it! It’s yours. All of it. Just let Valentina and Lettie go.”

Spinning to face Lenny, I shake my head.

But he stays firm.

“Lenny!” I beseech because he’s just signed his death warrant. There’s no way she’ll let him live. He signs over everything to her, and in return, she’ll make him dig his own grave.

Bria stirs, and her eyes flicker open. It takes her a moment to realize where she is, and when she sees me, she remembers why.

“You bitch,” she spits, tugging furiously at her restraints.

Gianna arches a brow because Bria’s not that good of an actress either. “You really did subdue her.”

Gianna believed we were all in this plan together, but by Bria’s response to me, she realizes that I knocked the bitch out. Well, Lenny helped, but she doesn’t know that.

This may work in our favor.

She looks at Lenny, then back at me. “What little liars I raised.”

“No, you raised us to be chameleons,” I correct. “You forced us to be a dozen different people to suit your needs. We did your dirty work for years. What more do you want?”

This has thrown a spanner into the works.

I wonder if she’s aware that I know who she really is to me. Did Francesco tell her?

Something is missing—I just can’t pinpoint what.

“Francesco, free them both.”

None of us have weapons, but it didn’t matter if we did. I won’t fight without knowing Lettie is safe.

Francesco does as he’s ordered, and the moment Bria is free, she charges me, slapping my cheek. I don’t have time to recover before she punches me in the stomach.

“ Mamma! ” Lettie cries, running for me, but Gianna grips her by the forearm.

“No!” I scream, dropping to my knees, interlacing my hands. “Please let her go.”

Lettie begins to sob, her lower lip trembling as Gianna’s fingernails dig into her tiny arm.

“I’ll give you everything. Whatever you want, it’s yours,” Lenny says calmly, walking slowly toward her, hands raised.

Francesco now has his knife to Lenny’s throat, but it’s in vain.

Lenny could disarm Francesco if he wanted. But we’re both powerless and at Gianna’s mercy. Whatever she says, we’ll both do.

“Oh, you tempt me, Lennon.” Gianna mulls over his offer, knowing he means it.

Coming to a stand, I never take my eyes off Lettie, assuring her that things will be all right.

My brave little angel wipes away her tears with a snivel.

“There is one thing I want,” she finally reveals.

The room is quiet because a storm is brewing.

“Playtime is over. It’s time to leave the hard work to the adults.”

“Done,” Lenny says without pause.

But that was too easy.

“And I want you to choose.”

“Choose what?”

“Choose who you sail off into the sunset with. Bria. Or Valentina.”

I exhale slowly. I don’t expect him to choose me, but I know that he will.

And so does Bria.

She bites her lip, stopping her tears. I actually feel sorry for her.

“Why?” Lenny demands. “You have everything you want! Why are you doing this?”

Gianna throws her head back, laughing. “Because, you silly, silly boy…I can.”

There’s no rhyme or reason. Gianna is torturing us because she can.

I risk a glance at Francesco, who still has the knife to Lenny’s throat. But his arm is slack. He nods at me subtly.

He’s on our side.

Gianna got to him as he feared, but it seems his loyalty isn’t with her.

I can work with this.

“Take care of Lettie,” I whisper to Lenny.

His eyes widen. “No, I can’t. I—” But he’s at a loss for words because whatever decision he makes, he will live with for the rest of his life.

“I’ll make the choice for you. Choose your wife.”

Bria’s confusion is apparent, and she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“You heard her, she’s making it easy for you. Or are you a coward?” Gianna baits Lenny who sneers.

“W-we can start again. Just you and me,” Bria says, eyes wide, begging he does the right thing. “I’m sorry for everything. I love you. So much. Let’s forget this life and run away.”

But Lenny isn’t moved.

“I can never forget,” he says with conviction.