Page 58 of Veiled Amor

“What do you want, Nicholas?”

“You have something belonging to me. I want it back.”

“Do I? I don’t remember borrowing a cup of sugar. I’ll Amazon Prime you a pound of raw cane sugar right now. Is that it?”

“Don’t get smart with me, Mercado. I’m offering you a onetime deal to deliver Lucia back to me, and no more will be said about it.”

“Can’t help you, old man. I don’t have Lucia.”

“My men saw you put her on a plane, where is she?”

“Is that so? Maybe your men need contact lenses. You’ll remember the last time I was in Miami. I had a gun to your head. Do you remember what you said?Sí, I think you do. If you’ve lost Lucia, that’s on you.”

“You don’t want to make an enemy of me. Your pathetic club couldn’t take me on.”

Capone scoffed and didn’t need to get into a dick-swinging contest because nothing had changed in Nicholas’ ego.

“If you’ve forgotten, you’re already my enemy. And one day, I will be the one to kill you.”

The older man cackled. “I have missed that fire. Your brother was pitiful in comparison. You should have worked for me. You’d at least be going places, not stuck playing with motorcycles.”

Capone’s jaw ached from grinding his teeth, but he wasn’t being baited with Santiago. He let the silence build.

“Name your price.”

“You want to buy Lucia back?” The speed at which Capone’s temper rose to the surface almost suffocated his lungs. The gasp from behind him had Capone swerving around to see her standing there. Looking washed out with shock. He took two steps to put himself in front of her, a finger to his lips, telling her silently to stay quiet, and then he palmed around her neck. She had a piece of shit father, but she wasn’t alone.

“What do you want to make that happen?”

“She’s your daughter. You are a piece of shit, Cole.” he grit out in a rolling growl in a show of rare temper bursting out of his skin. He wanted to fucking kill the man. More than he usually wanted to kill him. Slowly. Painfully. All in Lucia’s name. “She deserves your love and protection.”

Nicholas sounded bored. “Lucia wants for nothing.”

“Except a father who gives a fuck about her. A father who doesn’t sell her to the highest bidder.”

“Lucia knows what’s expected of her.”

In front of him, the woman in question looked at him through tear-filled eyes. She was so fucking pale, and he gave her nape a little squeeze, “It’s okay.” He mouthed to her, “don’t cry.” Lucia shook her head gently and reached out to hold the front of his t-shirt.

He already loathed Nicholas. For hurting Lucia, he could kill him twice.

“Is that what you told her when she was offered up like steak to a new buyer? How the fuck do you sleep at night, old man?” Capone cursed in his native language. Because he couldn’t help himself, he drew her in until she was smashed into his chest and his lips pressed to her forehead. “I’ll tell you this for free, Cole. You’ll never get your hands on Lucia again.”

“So you know where she is…”

“New York is a big fucking place, good luck.” Let the man lead his minions on a wild goose chase. It wouldn’t be long before Nicholas realized she was still with Capone, but by then, he intended to have her locked up tight.

The decision was made, and he found… it was easy to accept.

He held her closer, feeling how she fit herself to his frame, her face pressed into his shirt. There had always been warring reactions in Capone regarding Lucia. But what he’d bet his whole damn life on without question or hesitation was, he’d do anything to protect her.

Capone might not be the man who deserved her, but he was for damn sure not going to let her get swallowed up by a wolf. She trembled, and he hated the reaction her father brought out in her. If she were going to tremble, it would be because Capone was fucking her the way she needed it.

“I will always find her, Mercado. Lucia is used to a lifestyle you can’t give her. If she ran to you for protection, she’ll soon see what a waste of time it was. Just like that brother of yours. But if you’re fine with having his sloppy seconds… you have twenty-four hours to bring her back.”

It was in the Miami Kingpin’s tone that he knew he was hitting the mark with the suggestion. Capone schooled his reaction because Lucia chose that moment to nuzzle his chest like a tiny sloth and some of his rage bled out.

“Do yourself a favor, Cole. Move on. Stop trying to barter your daughter and let her have a fucking life of her own.” He hung up.