Ryder's Claim (Mafia Heirs 2)

"Are they locking you in every day like I instructed them to?" he demands.

I struggle with my answer. I don't want to get Mia in trouble. The truth is, all of them felt sorry for me given Papa's strict instructions to keep me under lock and key. Mia sometimes leaves my door unlocked, pretending she forgot, so I can go outside for a walk or explore the Bernardi library. But I can't tell Papa that. He would lose it.

"Yes, Papa," I chirp, hoping he can't see through my lies. Perhaps he's used to me being meek my entire life or perhaps he really doesn't see the truth. Nevertheless, Papa seems pleased by this information.

"I wanted to speak to you about something else," he goes on, his eyes searching my face. I put on my most obedient expression, praying he won't see anything off with my smile, because if he does, I'll be swiftly punished. "Have you let Adrian fuck you yet?"

"Papa!" I cry out, blushing at his words. "No, of course not, I –"

"Why not?" he snarls. He looks thunderous now and I furrow my brows, not understanding why he's upset about this.

"Papa, I… I am to stay a virgin until the w-wedding," I stutter. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

He shakes his head vehemently and my eyes widen. Has he changed his mind in the past few weeks? Once again, he's acting as if I should know all about it, even though he hasn't sent me so much as a letter while I've been in the mansion. "You need to sleep with Adrian Bernardi as soon as you can, Nicoletta. You've dilly-dallied enough."

"But Papa... why?" I whisper. The mere thought of allowing Adrian to touch me like that... to own me like that... It sickens me. I'll never stop crying if he lays his hands on my body, and something tells me my husband-to-be isn't too thrilled about any marital acts, either. He clearly only sees Marzia. "I thought you wanted me pure for the wedding. I thought you kept me locked away all those years so I would stay –"

"Shut up," he snarls at me, and I flush, looking down at my hands clasped together in my lap. "I didn't ask for your opinion on this, Nicoletta. I'm telling you what you have to do. Tonight, you will seduce Adrian Bernardi. I've bought you some things to make sure it happens. And, daughter... make sure he does not use protection."

"But then I c-could become pregnant," I exclaim. "And before the wedding, Papa? It would be a scandal..."

"I don't fucking care," Papa snarls. "I told you to do it, and you're going to fucking obey. You must have an heir, Nicoletta, the sooner, the better."

"Why?" I whisper.

"You don't get to ask why." He stands up and brings forth a chest he must've brought with him. "Open it."

I lift the top of the chest and rifle through outfits and lingerie that would make a whore blush. He expects me to wear these clothes for a man I feel nothing for? To scheme against him so I'll become pregnant with his child? There's even a powder in a small glass bottle in there, and Papa sees me eyeing it, saying, "Something to make him tired and more drowsy so you can do what you need to do."

"This is too much," I manage. "This is cruel. Conniving."

"What's your point, Nicoletta?"

The way Papa says my name makes me shut my eyes, willing all of this to go away. I didn't ask for this – didn't ask to be part of his lies. But despite all the horrible things he's put me through, Gustavo is my papa and I will do anything for the last remaining member of my family. But this... this is taking it too far.

"Look at me."

I open my eyes again, lashes fluttering open as my eyes zero in on him. "I can't do this."

"You have to," he grunts. "There's been someone digging in our records, trying to bring the past to life."

I blanche instantly. This is our worst fear, what we've been trying to avoid for years. "Who?"

"We don't know yet," Papa hisses. "Whoever it is will meet a swift ending at the end of my blade. I can't fucking wait to lodge a bullet in their brain for trying to fuck up things for us."

Papa only curses when he's really upset, and I know now this is a serious threat. He doesn't need to tell me everything will change if somebody finds out about our lies. I can kiss my wedding goodbye – and Adrian, too. Ryder will never look at me the same way when he finds out I'm a traitor, a fucking imposter. I can't let this happen.

"And the baby?" I whisper. "If I become pregnant, how will that help?"