Page 110 of Rio

I almost stumble backward.The sheer audacity.The ice-cold menace in every word.He thinks this is over.That he’s won.

“You think we’re scared of you?Not just me, Matteo and Enzo, but Jett, Dex and Zach?”

He shrugs.“I think you like to pretend you’re not.I’ll let you dwell in your ignorance, but don’t ever forget, you all rely on my empire.My money.My control.And I’m the one holding the reins.”

And that’s the awful truth.The reason why we stay.Why we don’t walk away and find our peace.Because he’s the puppet master of Knight Enterprises.

“Careful,Father.”My low voice is a warning.“All empires fall, eventually.”

My pulse hammers in my throat as I turn to leave, jaw clenched, heartbeat racing like I’ve run the four-minute mile in three.

This man will pay for what he did to Raquel.

There will be consequences.

I’ll make sure of it.

Chapter 36

RIO

I storm out of my father’s office, my jaw clenched so tight it aches.

My hands are fists, and my chest burns with rage I can barely contain as I process what he’s revealed, and so proudly, too.He didn’t even try to hide his manipulative actions.He seemed to brag about them.It unnerves me, how long he’d been sowing the seeds for his revenge.

Because that’s exactly what this is.Revenge.To keep me in line, and by example, my brothers.To prevent us from working together.

I feel sick.He didn’t just sabotage Raquel’s life, he used her to get to me.He knew exactly how I felt about her.That’s why he did it.

By the time I reach my office, I’m already pulling out my phone.I know she won’t answer, but I call anyway.

It goes to voicemail.My insides enflame, heat surging through me like a fuse has been lit.She doesn’t want to talk to me.She doesn’t want to hear from me.I grip the cell phone so tightly my knuckles turn white.I’ve just destroyed her life.She’s pissed at me, thinks I betrayed her.Every precious moment we had, is gone.She warned me.Tried to stay away from the Knights, but I convinced her otherwise.

Told her I was different.I wasn’t him.

Now, with what’s gone down, she must think I’m just like him.Nothing could be further from the truth.Maybe she’s busy, with a client?I quickly call her office, and the call goes through to reception.

“Raquel Monteiro,” I say, feeling hopeful.She can’t escape me that easily.

“I’m sorry, sir, but Raquel Monteiro no longer works for the company.”For a second, I’m sure I’ve misheard.“What?”I feel like I’ve been hacked in two.“What do you mean she no longer works for the company?”Fuck.It’s worse than I thought.“Was she fired?”I ask, my voice cold enough to freeze the air between us.

“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t divulge any information.Ms.Monteiro is no longer with us.”

Hand shaking, I slam my cell phone onto my desk, hard.“Fuck this shit.”My pulse roars in my ears.

He won.

The fucking old man won.

I can’t believe this.The old man knew.He did this.He had a hand in Raquel’s firing.Is this what he meant by getting to her through me?

The consequences of that stupid file reach so fucking deep.If it hadn’t been that, it would have been something else.The old man has not only cost Raquel her reputation, shredded her case to bits, he’s ruined her.

She lived for her work.She was proud of what she did.Granted, she hated where she was, but to be fired?I’m not surprised she never answered my call.I’m not staying here another damn second.I’m going to her.

And I’m taking the fucking private jet.

***