Code of Honor (Spontagio Family 1)

Anger rages inside of me. All that talk about not invading the privacy of family was just for show. I stand up and walk over to the other side of the room, not trusting myself to be so close to him when I’m so damn pissed off.

“I could’ve kept an eye on her myself, Pietro. This was a test to see where your loyalties lie and you failed. You failed me and you failed Lucy.”

“You want to know about Lucia and me?” I thunder, turning to face him. His eyes flash as he waits for me to continue. “Fine. I’ve been in love with her since the first day I walked into your home.” I pace the living room, my hands shoved deep in my pockets. “I’ve been fighting my feelings for her for years because I knew I’d never be good enough for your little girl.”

“Pietro—”

Giovanni hesitates. I turn around and glare at him. Is that pity in his eyes? The last thing I want is for him to feel sorry for me.

“Don’t,” I mutter, holding my hand up. “I know it’s the truth. You want more for her. More than you think I could offer her. And for a long time I convinced myself that she deserved better. When she came here and I followed her, our connection lifted up a notch. We were always close, but something changed. When I realized she wanted to be with me”—I laugh, the moment playing over in my head—“it was the best day of my life. The worst part is how bad I felt for betraying you. But now I get it.” I shake my head, willing myself to remain strong. It’s taking all my courage to finally stand up to him and I’m determined to see this through.

“You get what, Pietro?” he asks.

“All this time I just wanted you to accept me. I tried to replace the love I lost when my parents died with you. You’ve given me everything I could ever want, except acceptance.” I force myself to look him in the eye until he falters and glances away. “I was never good enough to be a part of your family, was I?”

He doesn’t confirm or deny my question. It hangs in the air over both of us, until he finally struggles to his feet, grabbing his jacket.

“We’d better go,” he mutters, walking for the door.

I stand there for a moment, my hands trembling. I don’t know what I was expecting from him, but it kills me that he’s given me nothing.

If he gives me nothing, then that’s exactly what I’ll give him in return.

Chapter 26

Lucy

“Wake up.”

I jolt awake, nearly jumping out of my skin as I’m wrenched from my dreams back into this nightmare. A plate of what looks like week-old scrambled eggs and cold toast is tossed onto the ground next to me. By some sheer miracle most of the food stays on the plate. Not that it matters. I won’t be touching it.

“What do you want?” I demand, bringing my knees up to my chest. “If it’s money, I can give it to you. Just please let me go.”

He lets out a booming laugh. In the darkness I can make out the coldness in his eyes. “Not everything is about money, Lucia. Some things are about respect. Some people need to learn the hard way the importance of the code of honor.”

“Who the hell are you?” I ask, confused. “And why take me?”

He smiles, his dark eyes narrowing as he glares at me.

“Because you’re the only thing that matters to him.”

His words stick with me as he walks away. There’s so much truth in that. The only way to truly enact revenge on my father is through me. Upset, I pick up the food and throw it at the bars of my cage. How could I be so stupid? There would have to be hundreds of people who want revenge against my father and most of them would be hardened criminals who wouldn’t raise an eyebrow at the idea of hurting me. For the first time, I consider that I might not make it out of this alive.

And that scares the hell out of me.

—

Opening my eyes, I forget where I am. Light seeps through a window above me, giving me a glimpse of my surroundings. I’m in a basement of some kind. I breathe in the smell of grease and chemicals, which hurts my head. My thoughts are still hazy, but I’m feeling more alert than I have in a long time.

I try to move, the cuffs digging into my wrists. Are they even necessary? I’m locked in a cage in a basement God knows where. Am I really at risk of escaping? The urge to pee hits me suddenly. I squeeze my legs together, trying my best to hold it in.

Come on, someone come down here.

My stomach rumbles. How long has it been since I had that burger? I’m so hungry I’d even eat another one of them. My mind wanders to Pietro and my father. Has he called him yet? He would have had to by now. I shiver, thinking how angry my father must be at Pietro. There’s no way he could keep our relationship a secret now. He’d tell my father everything if it meant there was a better chance at finding me.

My heart jumps as I hear the door above me open. Footsteps file down the stairs and the familiar glow of the

flashlight comes toward me. I squint, trying to make out who it is. Whoever it is, he’s tall and wide.