Page 107 of Die for You

Low blow, but Lenny plays along. “I didn’t even know Ihada 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 notthatgood 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.