Page 119 of Forgotten Sacrifice

“Hoping what?”

“That for once in my life, someone would love me.” There it is. Out in the open. My biggest fear, laid bare.

Vince pulls me upright. “Luna, you can spend your life wishing things were different, but it’s an exercise in futility. Your parents never gave two shits about you,” he says bluntly.

Hot tears stream down my cheeks, and I duck my head.

He grabs me by the chin, forcing me to look at him. “Notbecauseyouweren’t good enough, but becausetheyweren’t. You’re so damn smart. Too damn smart for your own good sometimes.” He shakes his head with a wry smile. “So quick-witted. So full of fire. So beautiful. The man that winds up with you is going to be one lucky son of a bitch, and that’s coming from an oddsmaker who doesn’t believe in luck.”

“Why can’t that man be you?” I whisper.

He smiles sadly. “Because I’m not a good man.”

“I don’t want a good man.”

“You say that now, but you’re young; years from now, when you’re older and wiser, you’ll see the truth in what I’m saying.”

“Older and wiser?” I spit. “I’ve been through enough in eighteen years to count as five lifetimes. How dare you tell me I don’t know what I want!”

I grab Vince by the face, slamming my lips to his. It’s brutal and desperate and my insides feel like they’re being flayed open and twisted.

It feels like… goodbye. And I don’t understand why.

Vince pulls back, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumb. “You’ve given me your lips. It’s time for me to give you your freedom,” he says sadly.

“Who cares about that right now? You’re it for me, Vince. I love you,” I whisper the last part.

He cradles his head in his hands.

“Uh-huh. I’m not going to bare my soul to you, and you hide like a coward. Tell me how you lost your eye! Tell me whose fucking eyeball that is in your office! Tell me why you got so weird about the wolf stuffed animal! Tell me fucking something!”

“Pushing me. Always fucking pushing me.” He grits.

“Because you’re Bluebeard, but instead of dead wives, you’re hoarding secrets!”

He hops up from the bed. “You want my secrets, Luna? I’lltell you a good one, and then we’ll see if you still think I’m it for you.”

Vince, a year ago…

“Come in,” I call, and the family’s underboss walks into my office. “Hey, bossman. Didn’t know you were in AC.” We greet each other with a double cheek kiss.

“Handling some business with Sergio,” Romeo says matter-of-factly, and I motion to the chair across from my desk. He takes a seat, reaching in his suit pocket and producing a folded document. “Here’s a copy of the bill we’ve been watching.” He slides it across my desk. “Just passed in the House and General Assembly; on its way to the governor’s desk.”

“No! What about our political greaser?” I rub the back of my neck. “I thought he was gonna handle this!”

“As did I. He’s being dealt with as we speak,” Romeo says in an ice-cold tone.

“What about the governor?” I ask, a desperate edge to my voice.

“Not enough pull on this one. Sports betting will be legal in Jersey come Monday morning,” he warns me.

I bring my hands to my head in disbelief. “What the fuck am I supposed to do? Legalized gambling will sink my entire operation!”

“What the family has always done when the government horns in on our action. Diversify,” Romeo tells me bluntly.

“This is my entire life; I can’t diversify!”

“Years ago, when AC opened casinos, did it hurt our bottom line?” Romeo asks, and I don’t answer, not in the mood for a family history lesson. “Sure it did, but I had to walkthrough a packed gambling hall to get to your office, despite casinos open 24/7 just down the street. Some men will always prefer a den of vice to the sterilized version.”