Page 50 of His Playground

“Do me a favor? Keep your distance. My father has a quicker trigger finger than anyone I know,” I tell Carlo’s men as they escort me into the restaurant.

I find my father waiting at his usual table. He stands and greets me with a kiss to the cheek. “I thought I told you to come alone,” he grunts.

“You never let me leave the house without security. Why would you think my husband would be any different?” I say as I take a seat. I smile at Brian, who is standing behind my father. I miss my old bodyguard. I miss our little talks. Carlo’s men greet me with the politeness that is expected of them, and that’s where the conversation ends.

“How are you?” my father asks.

“Fine. You?” I reply and not because I care, but because it’s expected of me.

“Good. The house is quiet without you,” he says.

“I doubt that.” I smile. That house is always busy with people coming and going.

“How is Bianchi treating you?”

“Do you care? You traded me for a business deal, Papa. I hope whatever you got out of it was worth it.” I have no idea where this newfound sense of freedom has come from, but it feels good to speak my mind. A little. Brian’s lips twitch. I try not to look at him.

“You know that I care, and don’t pretend you weren’t previously involved with Bianchi. I know about the affair you two had,” my father says.

“If you knew, why would you make me marry him?” I counter.

“Because he has a soft spot for you.”

And there it is.

“You want something from him.” It isn’t a question.Good luck with that.Carlo might have a soft spot for me, but otherthan his daughter, I doubt anything would make him break his loyalty to his friends.

“I want something he has,” my father clarifies. “And you’re going to get it for me.”

“And if I say no?”

The waiter comes over, interrupting us. I order a Caesar salad because I can’t stomach anything heavier than that right now. I’m waiting for my father to reach across the table and slap me for talking back to him. To my surprise, he doesn’t.

“There are still consequences for defying me, Antonia. You are not untouchable just because you have a husband,” he says in warning.

“What is it that you want anyway?” I ask, more out of curiosity than anything else.

“There’s a thumb drive. I want it.”

“A thumb drive? How on earth am I supposed to find something as generic as a thumb drive? How do I even know if it’s the one you want? What’s on it?” I press him.

“What’s on it isn’t your concern. You’ll find it and you’ll bring it to me. Bianchi will have it under lock and key. That’s how you know it’s the one I want.”

“Sure, piece of cake. Find a mysterious thumb drive and bring it to you. And then what happens?” I sigh.

“You live to play house another day,” my father says.

“And if I get caught?” I raise a brow at him.

“Don’t.” He lifts a shoulder.

The waiter returns with our order. I glance at my salad and stand from the table. “I’m not hungry.”

“Sit down and eat.” My father’s voice is firm, nonnegotiable, as he gestures to the seat.

“You’re asking me to betray my husband,” I tell him.

“A husband who, only a few years ago, broke your heart. You couldn’t keep his interest then, Antonia. What makes you thinknow is any different? He won’t be loyal to you. It’s not in his nature.”