Ryder's Claim (Mafia Heirs 2)

As I lie on my bed, a vicious little plan unfolds in my mind. Ryder's not the only one who can play games.

I'm going to have him one way or another. Now that my mind is made up, there's no way anybody can stop me.

* * *

I'm sitting at my desk a couple of days later. A pen rests between my fingers and I'm pouring my emotions out again, just like I have done since Ryder first left.

I've started writing letters. I'm not sure whether I'll send them yet. Whether I'm ready for him to know all my innermost feelings and how much I truly want him. But in each one, I become more and more open with both Ryder and myself. I tell him everything. About how strict Papa is, how cruel he's been to me my whole life. I tell him everything... except the truth.

The truth needs to stay hidden, protected. I've locked it up into a tiny little box and tossed the key away so nobody can ever find out what actually happened all those years ago. As much as I want to tell Ryder, write the truth down on paper so I know it's real, I know I shouldn't. It would mean betraying Papa, and I can never do that. If he found out, he would kill me.

There's a dangerous thing about infatuation – it can turn into obsession if you aren't careful. And I can already feel it, the strings of my subconscious pulling at me, demanding I give in to the deep feelings I've developed for my fiancé's brother.

Later, after my latest letter is finished and locked in my desk, I head out to the gardens. Papa is still away, which means I have more freedom. I've been checking on the kittens I found every day, bringing them food and water and making sure they're okay. The little ones have already opened their eyes, and their mama shows her gratitude for my help today by licking my hand while the kittens drink her milk.

I sit in the grass, not caring about the white dress I'm wearing. I have a thousand of them anyway, it doesn't matter if it gets dirty. We have enough money now to buy anything in the world, and my marriage to Adrian will only strengthen our position in the mafia world.

I play with the kittens and time gets away from me. By the time I realize it's getting dark, it's already too late, because I hear somebody approaching. Picking myself up, I dust off my dress and beam when I see Papa walking toward me.

"That's where you've been hiding," he grunts. No greeting since he's been away, no kind words for his only daughter. But I should be used to it by now. He's never gone out of his way to show me kindness. "Stupid girl. Come back to the house. You shouldn't be outside, anyway."

I curtsy in front of him as is customary, my cheeks flushing. "I'm sorry, Papa. The day got away from me."

"You shouldn't be out," he repeats, sounding angry. I know this is a bad sign. Papa is easily irritable and it seems something's got him in a bad mood, which is only made worse when he sees me disobeying his orders. "Come with me, you're going back inside."

Back inside, where I'll be locked up again – I already know that's exactly what he means. Papa has kept me under lock and key for most of my life. Maybe one of these days, I'll be brave enough to fight back against his vicious rules. But that day is not today. His expression alone scares me.

I risk one look over my shoulder at the kittens while Papa grabs my hand and pulls me forward. I stumble.

"Papa, wait." I take a deep breath, gathering my courage to ask him about the cat. "I found a cat... she has kittens here."

"What?" he barks, glancing at the little nest over my shoulder. "Oh, how annoying. We'll get rid of them tomorrow."

"No!" I take a deep breath. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to those kittens. "Please, Papa, I want to take care of them."

"Some stray cats?" He raises a brow at me. "That's not something a young lady should be doing, Nicoletta. We'll have them disposed of tomorrow."

"No, Papa!" I grip his hand and he looks up at me, surprised by the way I'm clinging to his arm. I very rarely go up against Papa, but there's no way I'm letting him hurt these kittens. I've already grown attached to them and I can't bear the thought of Papa hurting them. "Please, I'll do anything. Let me bring them to the house."

"Let go of me." He shakes his hand free and glares at me. "You're unbelievable, Nicoletta."

The name on his lips feels like a betrayal. The papa from my youth is gone once and for all. We're so entrenched in the roles we're being forced to play, Papa has completely forgotten about those times when it was just us against the world. The power and the money have corrupted him. Papa is no longer my Papa. Now, he’s Gustavo Carlucci.