Page 121 of Sins of the Orchid

Of course, Uncle Vincent would have told Dad. “Lorenzo and DeAngelo are with me,” I assured him softly. All the crying suddenly made me feel exhausted, but I was adamant I was going through with this.

“Is this a good time to talk?” I asked him.

“I’m here with Adriano and Santi, going over…” he faltered, and my heart immediately plunged down to my stomach upon hearing Santi’s name. “some plans.”

Probably some fucking mob business. Then a thought hit me. Maybe that was the reason he didn’t answer my FaceTime?

No, idiot! He sent you a message saying he has nothing to say to you.

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him to tell Santi to go fuck himself, but I stopped myself. I wouldn’t start a war for a petty female revenge though it sounded awfully tempting.

“Say hi to them,” I mumbled, trying hard to keep my behavior unchanged. “Want to call me afterwards? It should be quick.”

“What is this about?”

Can you beat the crap out of Santi for breaking my heart?I asked silently but would never dare say it out loud. Despite his shitty way of dumping my ass, I didn’t want to see him hurt.

“Grandma asked me to be the face of Regalè Enterprise.” I went straight to my plan. She has asked me again this week. She even went as far as blackmailing me. She promised she’d keep Santi secret in exchange for me taking over the company and becoming the face of it. I blew her off, but now she’d finally get her wish. And I would fucking be everywhere. “Is that okay?”

Silence followed. Dad always knew I’d take over one day, but it didn’t mean he was happy about it. He worried I’d turn my back on him and my brothers, but I would never do that. “I’m still your daughter, Dad. I will eventually be the face of the company, so I might as well start now.”

“One day, you’ll be married, and your husband can manage it.”

“Well, that’s sexist,” I retorted dryly. “Regalè Enterprise is mine, and I don’t need a husband to manage it.” The way he grumbled, I knew he didn’t agree. “Besides Grandma, there is nobody else that knows the business as well as me. And considering I’ll inherit it, I should be the face of it.”

“It makes sense,” he caved. “Will it require travel?”

“Yes, probably.”

“Lorenzo and DeAngelo will go with you. Everywhere.”

The threats of the Perèz Cartel were real, so I’d never purposely endanger myself.

“Dad, I’m not going into the battlefield.” I chuckled bitterly hearing his grunt, while my heart ached. “I’ll let you get back to business then. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up the phone and called my grandma next.

CHAPTER43

Adriano

Ishared a glance with Santi hearing Amore’s name. His jaw was pressed so tightly, I thought he’d break it at any moment. My brother’s expression told me he was on edge.

Something had happened between Savio and Santi, both wore dark expressions, and I was certain Santino was itching to shoot both Savio and Luigi.

It was only this morning that Santi called me to The Orchid. To give thewonderfulnews. To say the whole marriage contract was absurd was an understatement. Though, it wasn’t repelling. I loved Amore and she loved me for who I was.

“When will you tell Amore?” I growled.

Bennetti didn’t know his daughter at all if he thought she’d do whatever he said. Another daughter in the Cosa Nostra, yes. But not Amore. She had a mind of her own, and she had said on more than one occasion she’d only marry for love. One word to her grandmother and she’d pluck her out of the Cosa Nostra, never to be seen again.

“When the time is right,” he spat back.

“That would be right about now,” Santi hissed. He was tethering, ready to snap. I just couldn't figure out what got him so riled up. The fact that Pà had a marriage contract or that he was blindsided.

“I know what’s best for my daughter,” Savio fumed. “She is not your concern.”