Her breath fans across my neck, and I wait for her to answer.

“You were going to sell me. As far as I was concerned, you were just as much an enemy as anyone else.”

It’s further reasoning for why she didn’t share the other information with us, but again, nothing about her father. “Celia?”

She huffs. “It’s because of Lucas.”

“Watch the attitude, princess. What does my brother have to do with you sharing information about your father?”

When she doesn’t answer, I grip her hips and deposit her back on the couch so I can look into her eyes. She might share less, but she also knows when not to push me. And I need her to see I’m serious about getting an answer. “Celia, answer me. What does this information about your father have to do with Lucas?”

She tries to look away, but I capture her chin and drag her gaze back to mine.

“It’s because when he gets any sort of information that he can act on, he’s going to make a move on him.”

It’s hard for me to fault her logic. I’ve known Lucas wants to go after Ricci for a while. It was his entire plan by taking Celia before. However, I was not aware Celia had become so attuned to Lucas and his motivations. It makes me want to kill him all over again.

“You are right. If Lucas gets any kind of information he can use, he’ll go straight for your father. Which is why I’ve had Soo watching him since the moment you requested we release him. All his activities are under constant surveillance.”

She shakes her head. “Didn’t you have him under surveillance before, and he was able to kidnap me right from under your noses at your own auction?”

When she puts it like that, it makes my team seem incompetent. Something I neither like nor appreciate. My fingers tighten on her chin. “Well, what do you propose we do about him, then? And if you have any information that might help us get to your father, Soo, nor I, are dumb enough to share it with Lucas. Especially knowing how close to the edge of doing something irrational he is.”

We sit in silence for a moment, and I hate the look of worry in her eyes. I know it’s more about losing another family member than Lucas himself. She hasn’t had enough time with him to develop that sort of relationship. But I know she wants to, if Lucas will let her in. I also don’t have the heart to tell her it’s unlikely. Neither of us are the tender-loving types.

“I had a thought, but I know if I ask you to do it, he’ll hate me forever.” She’s wringing her hands as if she’s been worried about whatever it is for some time.

“Tell me, princess.”

A tear slips down her cheek. “I know the irony of me asking this, trust me, but will you and Soo lock him up again? It’s the only thing I can think of that might make sure he stays safe while we get into position to take my father down.”

I nod and drag her back into my arms. “You’re right. If he knew you asked me that, he would hate you. Even more so, if I do it, and he finds out you requested it.”

“I can live with the consequences if it means he’s alive at the end of all this,” she whispers.

My brave princess. I clutch her tighter. “We are all going to be alive at the end of this, don’t worry.”

I still haven’t had the heart to tell her that if she is the one who takes her father’s life, Lucas will also hate her. Either way it happens, she’s not going to get the relationship with him she craves.

22

Celia

I honestly can’t believe I asked Nic to lock up his own brother. Maybe part of me believed he wouldn’t do it, and he hasn’t, but he says it’s because Lucas will hate me if he finds out. But also because he wants to repair his own relationship with him.

I get it, but it doesn’t make it any easier to hear. Whenever Lucas comes to the house to deliver something to Soo or briefly fight with Nic, he ignores me completely as if I don’t exist. I can’t figure out why he’s so adamant about not speaking with me. Obviously, it’s likely because of my parentage, but to be fair, it’s his parentage too, and I don’t hold that against him.

I’m standing in the closet surveying my clothing. Nic told me I didn’t need to dress for dinner, which means we likely aren’t going out. Come to think of it, he hasn’t let me out of the house, even on the lawn, since our honeymoon. Not that I’ve asked to go anywhere, but it seems curious. My safety is his top priority. He’s made that very clear since I arrived. But I also can’t let him keep me locked up, or he might never let me out.

Tags: J.L. Beck The Diavolo Crime Family Erotic
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