Page 57 of The Bonventi War

"Nothing urgent." Morgan hovers, fidgeting with her sleeve. "So, how was last night?"

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I sign the papers. "It was nice. The music was beautiful."

I try not to look up, just keep scribbling my name on the forms, trying to keep my happiness hidden, but I can feel Morgan's eyes on me.

"Wait a minute," Morgan's eyes widen. "That's too big a smile. Are you—" she stops and lowers her voice, "are you falling for the security guy?"

I can feel the heat creeping up my neck and my face threatening to turn red. "What? No, I?—"

"Oh my God, you are!" Morgan's eyes are wide. "I mean, I get it. His body is..." She waves her hands, fanning herself dramatically. "Please tell me you'll set me up with his Greek god of a friend, Ares."

I laugh, grateful for her lightness. "I thought you were interested in Danny?"

"That's kind of dwindling, I don't know. But, hey, a girl's got to keep her options open," she says with a wink. "I mean, those abs should be illegal," she adds, giggling.

I'm about to tease her when I notice her expression changes abruptly, all humor draining from her face.

"Raven..."

"What?" I ask, still smiling.

She doesn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on something—or someone—behind me.

She swallows hard. "Is that your dad?"

My heart stops. I turn slowly, following Morgan's line of sight to the gallery entrance.

And there he is. My father.

Looking only slightly better than when I last saw him in that warehouse. His eye isn't so swollen, but the bruises covering his face have turned black with tints of green as they heal. He's wearing a long trench coat and hat, and he limps as he steps further into the gallery, his eyes darting nervously around before landing on me.

He finally makes his way over to us and doesn't even acknowledge Morgan.

"Ravenna," he says, his voice rough. "We need to talk."

I turn to Morgan and nod, and she forces a smile before walking away.

"What?"

He shakes his head and looks over his shoulder at Gio's man, who's making no attempt to hide the fact that he's staring at us. "Not here. Downstairs."

I sigh and walk down to the basement, fuming. When we reach the bottom, I turn to him and clench my fists.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I hiss.

My father takes another step forward, wincing. "Please, just hear me out. I can explain everything."

"Explain?" I laugh. "Explain how you sold me to the Russian mafia? How you were willing to let me become the property of someone else?"

"Ravenna, please. I had no choice. They'll kill us. Kill us both."

"Bull. You had a choice. You always had a choice."

He shakes his head, desperation etched into every line of his face. "No, you don't understand. These people, they're not like us. They're not normal. They're animals."

I sigh and roll my eyes.

"Please, Ravenna. Just listen." My father's voice cracks, and something inside me breaks a little. Despite everything, he's still my father. "There are only two ways out of this."