Ryder's Claim (Mafia Heirs 2)

"No?" I laugh out loud. "Tell me, who's going to come looking?"

"I have money," she argues.

"Yes," I smirk. "But do you have anyone who actually, legitimately cares about you?"

She remains stubbornly quiet and I laugh at her in turn, taunting her even further.

"That's what I thought. Now tell me the truth."

"You'll never find her," she spits out viciously. "Just accept it now. Aurora is gone, and you're not getting her back."

"I'll never accept that." My voice drips with determination and passion, and we both know I mean it. The sooner it dawns on Liv that I'm not going to stop until Aurora is back with me, the better. She needs to finally accept Aurora isn't the other woman – Liv is.

"I'll make sure you're never reunited," Liv threatens next. "I'll make sure she dies before you get your hands on her.”

I've been taught not to hit a woman. But Livia is a fucking demon. I need to hurt her, but I don't want to get my hands dirty. Instead, I click my fingers and the door unlocks. Two guards drag Liv to her feet while she stares at me with pure contempt.

"Last chance," I tell her coolly. "Give up Aurora's location now, or I'll have you dragged to the dungeons and tortured until you give us the truth anyway. Save yourself now, Livia, because my mercy is short-lived."

Instead of responding, the stupid bitch spits in my face. Quietly, I wipe it off and smack her with my dirtied hand.

"I'll make sure you regret that," I tell her firmly. "I'll make sure of a lot of fucking things over the next few days. There's only one thing I can guarantee, though. You'll be begging me to stop by the time I'm done. And the result will be the same – Aurora will be back with me. This is your last chance, Liv. Tell me where she is, and I’ll go easy on you."

For a moment, I'm convinced she's going to do what's good for her and finally tell me the truth. There's a certain glow to her eyes that shows some self-reflection, a small sliver of wanting to be a good person and tell me where my woman is. For a second, I allow myself to be hopeful – that is, until the glimmer is replaced by pure anger in Liv's eyes.

"You'll never find her," she spits out as the guards begin to drag her away. "You'll never have her again!"

As her screams echo in the hallway, I brace my hands against the wood of my desk.

I don't want her to be right, and yet the fear of her premonition coming through makes my blood freeze.

I will find her.

I will get her back.

There's no life for me without Aurora.

Not anymore.

And once Livia finally breaks and gives me what I want, I won't hold back punishing her. She should've died years ago by my hand, but she didn't. I'll make damn fucking sure that doesn't happen again.

29

Aurora

Angelo Giordani has been surprisingly merciful to me since finding out I'm pregnant.

That's the good part. The bad part is, I'm once again confined to my suite like a prisoner.

I can't help but think of home – not the outlandish villa I lived in with Papa, but the Bernardi Estate where I felt free. I was in love there... hung up on my feelings for Ryder, I neglected to see how amazing my life was while I lived away from Papa. Ryder wasn't cruel to me, not before he found out the truth. And perhaps there's still a way for him to love me again... maybe once he finds out about the life we created together – the baby I'm carrying.

But it doesn't matter. Everything good in my life has been taken away. I've been ripped from the new normal I'd made for myself and tossed into the wolves' den. Here, I fear for my life every day. I haven't had much of a chance to explore Signore Angelo's villa, but I hope I get the chance soon.

In a week, I haven't interacted with anybody. My meals appear on the small table in my suite. I think they're drugging my night-time tea, trying to make me sleep through the night. But I know better than to fight it. I'm sure Angelo knows what he's doing. He wouldn't risk upsetting the Bernardis over me.

Would he?

It's been hard to make a clear opinion of the man who's holding me captive, especially since I haven't seen him since our first meeting. But today, a note arrived with my breakfast, written and signed by Angelo.

It said a doctor would come by my suite today to check up on my pregnancy. Despite my dire situation, I find myself more and more excited as time goes on and the hours pass. It's late afternoon now and I'm anxious for the doctor to arrive.