Gian (Trassato Crime Family #1)(62)

CHAPTER





THIRTY-FOUR


Gian



I looked everywhere except at the woman who’d stolen my heart one piece at a time. She might as well have cleaved open my ribcage and wrenched my still-beating heart out of my chest. A bitter brew of humiliation mixed with hope churned inside my gut.

Humiliation because I had f*cked up. I should have made sure I knew everything about her before I invited her into my life for real. Hope because every cell inside of me wanted to believe she didn’t have anything do this with this. I’d witnessed her reaction when her mom called and mentioned her dad. Her reaction wasn’t fake, not entirely.

Dammit, how did this happen? How could the one woman I should stay far away from end up being my sister’s best friend, and the one woman I wanted more than any other?

“I want to clear up something first,” Alix said, his voice gruff.

I curled one hand around the top of a chair, and my knuckles whitened. “Go ahead.”

“Evangeline is telling the truth. I haven’t had any contact with her for nearly twenty years. As for her ex, I only screwed with him because I couldn’t stand the thought of my daughter marrying that schmuck.”

Evie gasped. “What? Why would you do that?”

Alix flicked his wrist. “He was a piece of shit. All I had to do was dangle a little bit of money and a piece of ass in front of him, and he took the bait. Believe me; you’re better off without him. You don’t want a man who can be manipulated so easily.”

“You had no right.” Evie’s voice cracked on the last word. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

He shrugged. “I did it for me as much as I did it for you. I wanted you to give up your acting pipe dream and move back to Nebraska, and I didn’t want anyone using you to get to me. As long as you’re in New York, you’re a liability. I can’t protect you here.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to get my rioting thoughts under control. “But you’re okay using her to get what you want. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” I sneered. He’d been playing with Evie’s life behind her back. He didn’t even have the guts to come out of hiding until she had something he wanted.

He flung one beefy arm wide. “The stars aligned. What can I say? While I love my daughter, that doesn’t mean I’m above capitalizing on an opportunity that lands in my lap.” He chuckled. “You know, I always considered her a burden. Boy, did she prove me wrong. She reeled in a member of the Trassato family. I’ve been trying to negotiate with your father for years, but she batted her eyes, showed a little leg, and bam—” he punched his fist into the air “—she secured a proposal from you in a matter of days.”

I snatched my glass of wine off the table and took a huge gulp, feigning amusement. Underneath my tailored suit and lazy grin, my blood boiled, and my skin crawled. I wanted to defend Evie. At the same time, I instinctively knew that was exactly what he expected from me. He wanted me to fly off the handle and show my hand. He wanted to know if I’d fight for her, and how much I’d be willing to give up to keep her.

“As enlightening as your little speech was, let’s cut to the chase. What do you want?”

“I want access to all of the Trassato controlled territories to expand my business.”

While not unexpected, Alix’s demand reverberated through the room with the force of a grenade.

“No,” Dominick said firmly. “That’s not happening.”

“Then he’s not marrying my daughter.” Alix pointed his finger at Evie. “You. Get up. We’re going.”

Konstantin stomped across the room and seized Evie’s arm, trying to pull her to her feet. “We need to leave.”

She slapped his hand. “Are you crazy? I’m not going anywhere with you or that maniac.”

“Get over yourself. You’re engaged to a f*cking capo, not an altar boy. Do you know what that means?”

I lunged at her brother, snagging him by the collar of his shirt. “You touch her again, and I’ll f*cking kill you.”

His nose flared. “Is that a threat?”

“No.” I shoved him backward. “It’s a f*cking promise.”

Dominick’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Let her go, Gian. Your engagement is over. I won’t negotiate with them, and even if we did, you could never trust her. She’s toxic.”

“Don’t touch me.” I sidestepped his hold. “This isn’t over.”

“Like hell it isn’t. You’re done with her.” He ripped his gun from a holster around his waist and jammed the barrel against my chest. “I’m not bending over so you can marry this puttana.”

“Shut the f*ck up. Don’t talk about my fiancée like that!” I roared, my vision narrowing. I swatted the gun away from my chest and pinned Dominick against the table. He didn’t fight me. He stood there with a f*cking smirk on his face. “Do you understand?” I seethed, glaring at him. “Do you?”

“You think you can threaten me?” he scoffed. “You may be my nephew and godson, but that won’t stop me from putting you in your place.”

“Go ahead,” I said through gritted teeth.