Page 55 of Reign of a Billionaire

“I don’t follow.” Alessio cleared his throat. “Are you going to participate in the auction?”

It was my last resort. “I made a promise a while back. Sofia’s daughter is part of that promise. Besides, it’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Sofia will go nuts, and I get to keep my promise.”

Understanding washed over their expressions.

“What do you need us to do?” Royce asked.

“It’s best you don’t know where I go, and don’t look for me while I’m gone,” I said seriously. “Once I have her, I’m going to disappear for a while.”

And the Omertà wouldn’t find us.

Chapter 27

Liana

The sound of shattering glass woke me up.

I jolted upright, my eyes landing on the bedside table. I blinked as the digits came into focus. It was almost eleven in the morning. I gasped, realizing I’d slept for almost twelve hours straight. I hadn’t slept that long in… forever.

“Who in the fuck puts a glass on the edge of the counter?” came Giovanni’s irritated voice.

I winced, knowing full well I was the culprit. Giovanni didn’t have maids, and I was too accustomed to someone cleaning up after me. During the past three days, it had become obvious to me that Giovanni was a happy bachelor. He didn’t like people in his space, but he insisted I hide in his penthouse. It wasn’t the ideal cohabitation scenario.

The world thought I was dead. My phone—all of my purse contents, actually, were destroyed in the explosion. But here I was, lying low and plotting.

My throat tightened for a moment, remembering all the times my sister and I had drawn up escape plans growing up. Even when we were little and could be easily distracted fromwhat went on in the dungeons of our estate in Russia, we were always looking ahead at a life where we’d be free of our mother and Ivan.

And here I was now—free of my mother. Lou would be so excited at our prospects.

God, I missed her. I hadn’t been there to save her. To protect her.Why, dammit? For the life of me, I couldn’t remember anything but what my mother told me. However, after the comment by Giovanni’s uncle, I was starting to suspect my mother’s words had all been lies. Except, what was the truth?

All of this was slowly driving me insane.

But if I stayed the course and let Giovanni help me, I’d take everyone responsible for my sister’s destiny down. Some parts of the plan were finally unfolding, and my lips curled into a smile remembering how we ended the old Santiago Tijuana, making him scream like a pig.

Exhaling, I wiped a hand over my eyes. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t enjoyed the sound of his agonizing gurgles. He deserved it. Perez would get to taste my wrath soon too.

But none of it compared to learning that my sister—my other half—could be alive.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Liana,” I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper.The likelihood of any woman surviving eight years of hell was slim.

The door to my sanctuary suddenly opened and Giovanni stood there, wearing a black suit. Tucking all my turmoil behind a mask, I flashed him a reserved smile.

“How was church?” I asked, sliding out of bed. I didn’t reveal the conversation I’d had with his uncle. Trust was a lesson I didn’t need right now. All I needed to know was that Giovanni, as the head of the Tijuana cartel, wouldn’t continue human trafficking. That was where our relationship started and ended.

“Very preachy.”

I snickered. Stretching my arms wide in the air, I continued, “It didn’t go up in flames with so many sinners in one spot?”

The ridiculously large clothes hung off me, making me appear like a damn kid. But it was all Giovanni had, and I was thankful not to have to sleep in my undergarments. I didn’t trust anyone that much.

“It didn’t.”

I let out a sigh. “That’s a shame.” I flipped my hair out of my face and smiled savagely. “I kind of hoped it would. Burn all those motherfuckers to ash.”

I didn’t care that it implied he’d get swept up in the fire. We were reluctant, temporary partnersat best. There’d be no love lost, and he knew it, so why pretend?

He let out a sardonic breath. “I can’t decide whether you’re reckless or just crazy.”