Page 108 of Ruthless Lord

“Hold on. Stefano, we need a doctor.”

“Can’t go to a hospital.”

“But maybe you can call your family guy?”

Stefano glances in the rearview. He stares at Dad for a moment before meeting my gaze. “He needs surgery. It’s a risk.”

I take a deep breath. Dad’s going pale. He stares at me, pleading. “Hospital,” he whispers, wheezing. “Can’t breathe.”

I should let him die. Fuck this man and all the hell he put me through. He blackmailed me alongside my grandfather in order to force me to spy for them. It’s all been one long, complicated con job from the start, and I despise them. My own family. A bunch of bastards.

But he’s still my father. In the end, I’m not as heartless as I wish I was.

“Call the doctor,” I tell Stefano. “We’ll try to save him.”

“Thank you,” Dad says, lips pale, eyes wide.

“But I’m taking this.” I reach up his shirt and pluck the recording device from where he’d taped it to his back. “Just in case you die anyway, asshole.”

Chapter 34

Charlie

Adriano Marino paces across his office. The recording of my father’s conversation with my grandfather hangs in the air. Don Marino’s face is a mask of anger, and a storm cloud is practically forming over his head.

“You can swear this is real?” He looks at Stefano, who nods once. “And did he survive?”

“Unfortunately.”

Adriano sinks down into a chair behind his desk, cursing quietly to himself in Italian. He stares at me, expression sharp and hard. “And you knew nothing about this?”

I struggle to maintain my composure. “Absolutely nothing.”

He glances at Stefano. Clearly, the don doesn’t trust me.

“She’s done nothing but try to take her family down.” He reaches out and takes my hand. “We can trust her.”

I slip my fingers through his and squeeze lightly.Thank you.

Adriano leans back, considering the pair of us. I don’t know the Don very well, but from what I’ve seen of him, he can be very fair. He’s smart and patient, but he’s also ruthless. He doesn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

“It’s good your father isn’t dead,” he says at last. “It’ll be easier this way.”

My eyebrows raise in surprise. “Why do you say that?”

“Because if you ended up as the Westbrook heir, it would look suspicious.”

I look around, not sure what he’s talking about. “Would that matter? My grandfather’s still in charge.”

“Not for long.” Adriano leans toward us, staring hard. “This level of betrayal can’t stand. Not even a man like your grandfather is above my retribution.”

A chill runs down my spine.Thisis the power of the Marino Famiglia.

“You want to kill him?” I ask, voice small and meek. I hate myself for that a little bit. I wish I could be stronger and taller.

“It’s not a matter of want. Hehas to die. There’s no other option. I can’t overlook what he’s been doing.” Adriano shakes his head, glaring hard. “He tricked you into marrying one of my important lieutenants. He tried to use you to spy on me. When that wasn’t working, he orchestrated another plan with your father. The pair of them wanted to steal my operation’s secrets. They wanted to destroy me. It cannot stand.”

I shake my head, trying to come to grips with what he’s saying. “But you want to kill my grandfather?”