Page 30 of Die for You

My cheeks billow as I blow out a cloud of smoke. “Watch me. You forget who raised me,Mother.”

Her back straightens when I drop the term of endearment. But in this case, it’s anything but. “If you’re so eager to see me dead, then do it. I’m giving you a free pass.”

It’s tempting, but she knows that I can’t.

Until I know where Valentina is, I need Gianna alive. Once I convince Valentina of the truth, I will then exact my sweet revenge.

This is the reason Gianna is giving me this “free pass.”

“You’re nothing but a liar,” I spit, unable to look at her smug face a second longer. “Iwillfind Valentina. And when I do—”

“You’ll what?” Gianna challenges with a smirk.

It’s apparent she is unaware that I know the truth. And I prefer to keep it that way as it gives me the upper hand.

So for now, I have to suck it up and remember the bigger picture—no matter how badly I want to toss Gianna into the river and hold her head under the water, only to bring her back up and repeat.

“Just as I thought,” she concludes. “I think you’ve forgotten she left because she wanted to. She stays away becauseshe wants to.”

“She stays away because she’s afraid,” I counter, refusing to play these games.

Gianna levels me with those cold eyes. “If that’s true, then go ask her yourself.”

A cold shiver passes over me because I know she’s serious.

But what’s the catch?

“Go ask her, and you’ll see the person you’re so intent on saving does not want to be saved. Then perhaps you’ll give this up and allow the adults to do their job.”

It takes all my willpower not to slap her. But insults reveal I am getting under her skin. If I wasn’t, I would be a headless corpse like Alfonso. But she needs me alive for some reason, and I can only guess that reason is that she is nothing without me.

She needs my men on her side, and that won’t happen, even if she kills me. This fucked-up world has some sense of respect and honor, and Gianna knows that I am respected because of Aldo. She is still seen as his enemy. Therefore, her empire will crumble without mine.

Ironic, isn’t it?

We both need the other to get what we want.

“What’s the catch?” I ask.

Gianna steps closer to me while I remain perfectly still. “No catch. I will tell you where Valentina is. All I ask is that you consider my offer.”

“What offer?” This suddenly feels like I’m shaking hands with the devil.

“I never wanted to work against you, Lennon. I raised you to workwithyou. Imagine how powerful we could be if we were on the same team. We would be unstoppable. Nothing but royalty.”

I didn’t think she could shock me anymore, but I was wrong.

What in the ever-living fuck is going on?

“We willneverbe on the same team.”

Gianna’s ruby lips curl into a sinister grin. “We’ll see.”

Before I can push her aside, she places her lips to mine and kisses me chastely. There is no love or passion to the gesture—this is the kiss of death.

I watch helplessly as she turns to leave because when my phone chimes, and I see it’s an address in Italy, it seems that no matter how many steps I think I’m ahead, Gianna will always be at the forefront, taunting me.

Idon’t look any different.