"What happened to your sister?" he finally asked.
I hung my head into my hand, taking several deep breaths. The last thing I wanted to do was dredge up the past, but I wanted to have the truth exposed just as much as he did. "I saw my sister get sucked into what she thought was the glitz and glamor of the mafia. Sasha always adored the concept of being on the arm of a powerful, rich, and dangerous man. Maybe because she worshipped my father instead of seeing any of his faults."
"She found one," he said quietly.
"Yes. Always a party girl, she had her wish fulfilled, meeting what she called the only man for her at a swanky party. The wealthy man was handsome and showered her with gifts. They were inseparable for a couple of months and my sister fell head over heels in love. Not long after that everything changed, including my sister's behavior. I nagged her to tell me what was wrong. One day I saw the massive bruises and swore I'd tell my father if she didn't confess. That was the only day my sister broke down, weeping as she told me how he'd started to abuse her."
"Bastard!"
I was surprised at his exclamation but perhaps it gave me the courage to finish the ugly story. "She screamed love to this man while he professed infidelity. He was married, a ranking member of the Massimo organization. That's all she would tell me. Never his name. She simply began to fade into someone I didn't know. It was heartbreaking. Then she... died. I made a promise to myself that I'd never become a mafia princess." I couldn't tell him the rest. Not now.
Not ever.
He took a swig of his drink, turning his head to stare out the window once again. "That's a wonderful speech and a horrible story, but even you told me that you can't run away from who and what you are. You are an Italian mafia princess and there would be a number of families who would enjoy using you in various ways."
"Including you."
"Including me."
He was so callous in the way he said the words.
"Fuck you!" I spouted off.
Michael tensed, the grip on his glass increasing. "As you said, I'm not that man."
"That's bullshit and I was wrong. You are that man. You couldn't care less about anything else but yourself."
Laughing, he lifted his glass. "You are tenacious and wise."
"Why do you do this? Why? You want me to hate you so badly? Fine."
This time I could cut the tension with a spoon.
"I don't want you to hate me, sweet cherie. The truth is that I want just the opposite. You might not believe me, and I honestly can't blame you, but I do want to protect you, if only from myself."
The words hung in the air, clawing and digging. He could be so damn infuriating yet endearing at the same time. "What are you going to do? You have the power, the muscle, and the anger. Are you going to wipe everyone out until you get exactly what you want?" Yes, I was goading him, but I wasn't certain I cared what the outcome would be.
I'd never seen him so calm, maybe calculating. This man I was even more terrified of.
"There is no news that you're missing, nothing even from your father, which must mean that he is under duress of some kind."
"Let me talk to him. He has to be worried sick," I blurted out. "I can find out what's going on."
"Do you really think he's going to just give you information?"
"I'm his daughter."
He smiled, huffing under his breath, further infuriating me. "I may allow that to happen but first, I'm going to deal with Louis Saltori."
"Meaning? You just have to be in control of everything. Don't you?"
"I am in control. The sooner you understand that the better."
"Jesus." I curtailed all the nasty words that came to my mind. "Then what are you going to do? I at least deserve to know."
He took another gulp of his drink and walked closer. "I think it's best you don't know the details."
"I'm not a child, Michael. You won't shock me by your words or even your behavior. I've been around it all my life."
We both heard a knock on the door leading to the great room. The way Michael snapped his head given the interruption and the disgruntled look on his face should be even more terrifying. Maybe he was right. This was simply a part of the dark business we'd both been born into. I glanced at the very sheepish man standing in the doorway, the one who'd introduced himself as Rocco. The various nicknames reminded of my MC gangs, not soldiers prepared to die for the men they worked for. The man who'd been required to watch me like a child had been easy to play. I was almost ashamed at what I'd done. "Boss. I know you wanted to see me." Rocco gave me a respectful nod.
Inhaling, Michael walked closer, dropping his glass on the coffee table in front of me. For some insane reason, I grabbed his arm. "Don't. Let it go. I lied to him to get out of the house. My fault, not his."
Everything seemed in slow motion the way Michael glanced down at me, his eyes locking with mine. I wanted nothing more than to see the same gentleness and deep concern I'd witnessed before, but this man was a cold shell, empty inside.
"Please," I whispered. "For me. I should be punished, not him."
Michael studied me for a few seconds before removing his arm from my grasp. There were no hurried motions, no bouts of anger. Just cold, calculated silence as he walked toward the door.
I shifted, watching him, his strong shoulders and lanky legs, the way he carried himself as if nothing could ever bother him. But I knew the entire situation was eating him up inside. He stopped two feet in front of the soldier, tipping his head. "Stay here. If you move, you'll be punished."
I held my breath until both men had left the room. When I heard the front door open and close, only then did I exhale. My actions would cause some amount of bloodshed and violence. Just like I'd remembered once, so long ago. I snarled, shoving the ugly memory aside. I could do nothing about the past, nothing for a sister I'd worshipped.
But I was determined not to fuck up again.
I'd obey Michael, abide by his rules. I'd even learn to accept them. No, he wouldn't break me by any method. I'd come too far in my life. There was one thing... If my father had lied to me, I would never speak to him again.