But she refused to do that.
She was loyal to me, seeing this all the way through. And I was loyal to her, putting up with every hurdle to stay in the race.
I walked past the main building and followed the cobblestone pathway toward the warehouse where I would slave away for the next eight hours. When I was halfway there, a woman stepped out in high-rise jeans with a white top that tied in the front at her belly. Tall, slender, and with thick brown hair that trailed to her shoulders, she didn’t look like she belonged there, especially in her nude pumps.
Her eyes settled on me, and she watched me as she came closer, her green eyes almost identical to Vanessa’s. She wore a stern expression, her thoughts not written on her face the way Vanessa’s were.
She was a Barsetti. No doubt about it.
She stopped in front of me, one hand on her hip. She sized me up and down, looking at me like I was livestock about to be judged. “Griffin, right?”
“Yes.” I stayed five feet away from her and didn’t bother extending my hand to shake hers. I hadn’t shaken hands with a single Barsetti, not even Vanessa. That was a privilege I hadn’t earned yet, and I probably never would.
“Carmen. Nice to meet you.”
She seemed to be the only Barsetti who wasn’t openly hostile toward me. Her loosely curled hair framed her face, and her slender appearance made her fit to be on the runway. There was something in the Barsetti blood that made their men handsome and their women beautiful. She had a lot of similarities to Vanessa, but her features were also distinctly different. Her mother must be a little more exotic than Pearl. “Yes. Nice to meet you. Are you Cane’s daughter?”
“Yes.” She tilted her head slightly as she studied me. “My father hates you. Like, really hates you.”
I hoped she didn’t expect that to hurt my feelings. “I picked up on that.”
“He’s a bit of a psychopath when it comes to the family. Don’t take it too personally.”
“No, it is personal.” Extremely personal.
“Vanessa told me she’s hung up on you. I grew up with her, so I’ve known about every guy she’s liked and every crush she’s ever had. When I hear her talk about you, I know it’s different. I know it’s real. So…I’m rooting for you.”
Wow, that was a nice change. “Thanks.”
She stepped closer to me, moving her hands into her back pockets. “My father is impossible to win over. So don’t spend your time getting him to like you. Plus, he hates a kiss-ass. There are some people who will love you no matter what you do, and there are other people who will never love you no matter what you do…and he’s the latter. Focus on Crow. My uncle is a lot more practical.”
I liked her bluntness. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
“I think it’s sweet you’re trying so hard to win them over for Vanessa. I know my family is terrifying, so it’s a big statement on your part.”
Now, I really liked her.
“Just the fact that you care enough tells me you’re worth our time.” She extended her hand to shake mine. “If you ever need any advice, let me know.”
The corner of my mouth rose in a smile before I reached for her hand. “Thanks.”
“Carmen.” Cane’s stern voice shattered the pleasant conversation we were having. He emerged out of the second warehouse, wearing a gray V-neck and black jeans. It wasn’t clear who he was angrier at, me or Carmen. He flashed her a hostile look before he placed his body in between us.
I rolled my eyes because I couldn’t stop myself. He actually thought I was going to strangle his daughter on the cobblestone walkway?
Cane caught the look. “You wanna die, asshole?” He shoved me hard in the chest.
I stepped back, not because of his push, but because getting away from him was the best way to defuse his anger. “Just saying hello.”
He shoved me again.
I clenched my jaw and forced myself back, doing my best not to rise to his anger. I wanted to break his fist with my chest. If he hit me again, I wanted to slam his body down onto the stone sidewalk and crack his skull open.
Vanessa. I had to focus on the reward. If I retaliated, it would make it that much harder to win over her family. I could take a beating if I got to spend my life with the one woman I loved. It wasn’t much to sacrifice.
“Father.” Carmen grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. “Knock it off. I started talking to him.” Even in her five-inch heels, she was a foot shorter than him. The Barsetti men were tall, reaching my height.
“I don’t give a shit.” He pushed her off and came at me again.