Page 87 of Die for You

When I think of the sins I’ve committed behind these walls, I know my conscience will be tarnished forever.

“There you are.”

The moment I hear Gianna’s voice, the urge to protect Elena is overpowering.

“I’ll finish the story later. Okay?”

Elena nods, sensing the sudden shift in my demeanor. She quickly jumps off my lap and disappears before Gianna pokes her head around the corner.

I smile, attempting to act nonchalant.

Gianna’s red dress matches her devilish charm perfectly.

“I’ve made some calls. I hope to have news of your daughter very soon.”

My daughter ishergranddaughter. The way she speaks so flippantly about her own kin angers me profusely.

“Have you given much thought to…Bria?”

Truth be told, I have.

I have no idea how I’m going to do this. It’s a choice I don’t wish for Lenny to make—his wife. Or his daughter.

But in the end, that’s what it comes down to.

I think of the state of the orphanage and wonder if perhaps I could kill two birds, so to speak.

“What if we threw a charity ball? Here, at the orphanage.”

Gianna hints that she’s listening. “We invite anyone who is anyone and raise money for the orphanage in the process. Lenny wouldn’t miss this for the world. And where Lenny goes, Bria goes. We have home ground advantage. We can’t go to them, so we make them come to us.”

“How did you know I was here?” she questions.

Thinking quick on my feet, I reply, “I traced the text messages you sent me. You taught me some very valuable life lessons, Gianna.”

She nods, thankfully believing my bullshit.

“I’ll have to be more careful in the future. But this is a good idea. We bring them to us. Lenny won’t start a war here, not with the lives of the children at stake. He knows he’ll lose. It’s only a matter of time.”

Vince’s warning plays over in my head. But I know better than to ask her what she has planned. This will merely rouse suspicion.

“Well, I do love a good party. And what better way to display my power to my peers than by taking down the enemy in a private yet public affair. I’ll find your daughter, I promise you that.”

I nod in what appears to be gratitude.

“It looks like I have a party to plan. In the meantime, I need to send a message to Lenny. He’s made a fool of me long enough.

“Drop the body of his brother on his doorstep.”

I cannot show emotion, but this is the most horrible thing to do. He was the one who said whatever she asks, I must do. But this will destroy Lenny.

However, what choice do I have?

“I’ll send one of my men with you,” Gianna says, a sure sign that she still doesn’t trust me.

I don’t want to do this, but what would Lenny expect of me in this circumstance?

He would expect that I do as Gianna says.