Page 84 of Pretty Plaything

“But there’s something I want to ask you,” Mauro says, his voice soft. “I’d like to get to know you. Do you think you could find some time to meet with me sometime? For a drink? Dinner, maybe? We’re both businessmen. It won’t be strange if someone sees us together.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Thank you,” he says. “That’s all I ask. I know your mother was afraid, so she didn’t want to risk telling me. If her husband had found out, he would’ve killed both her and you. But I still regret that we didn’t get a chance to really meet each other. I hope it’s not too late for that.”

“I don’t know. I need time.” I end the call and stare at the phone.

My family is still my family.

This changes nothing.

It can’t change the way I feel about them.

I still have to avenge their deaths.

I was raised to be a Bellini, and I’ll always be a Bellini.

Chapter 43

DAYS, WEEKS, AND MONTHSfly by so quickly that I’m pretty sure someone is stealing my time. I’m about ten minutes late when I reach the restaurant where Emilia waits for me.

As soon as she spots me, her lips spread into a wide smile.

“Hey, you!” She waves at me.

“I’m so sorry. I thought I had enough time, but—” I give her a quick hug.

We take a seat, and my guards settle at the table right next to ours. I can’t go anywhere without them, but at least I can go out whenever and wherever I want.

“Tell me. What’s up with you? I miss our daily talks, but I get that you’re busy,” Emilia says.

“I miss talking to you too, but there’s always something I have to do.”

When the waitress comes, I order a burger.

Emilia stares at me as if I sprouted a second head.