Page 53 of Heartless Union
After telling James about my father’s dead and asking if I have him on my side, he gives a similar answer to Sebastian. “Carlo just has more experience than you. He’d make for a good leader, Rocco. You can’t deny that. You’re used to being a worker bee. Not the boss. Stay doing that.” He hangs up.
I try once more with Mason, the last of my father’s top men.
And just like the others, he thinks Carlo should be in charge and not me.
“But no hard feelings,” he says before hanging up.
I know what this means.
It means I’m well and truly fucked.
Carlo has been an amazing power right under mine and my father’s nose for a long time. He has my father’s men in his pocket. I have nothing.
Which means my family and me will have to go into hiding until I can take down Carlo and establish myself as ruler. I have no doubt more men will come after me to kill me.
Things really are changing.
With a scream, I throw my phone against the wall and watch it break into a tiny pieces.
CHAPTER 13
Lara
“Ican’t believe Rocco,” I say to Gabriella. From the comfort of her bed, she watches me pace the room. “He really said I can’t see my father again until everything blows over. My father could be dead by then,”
She shifts around. “Have you told him about your father’s health yet?”
“No,” I admit. “But that’s because my father doesn’t want anyone to know. He doesn’t want it affecting his alliance with Rocco. But now, Rocco is doubting my father. He thinks anyone could be involved with Carlo and Dante. So, I don’t know what to do.” I sigh and sit down on the bed beside her.
Gabriella squeezes my arm. “I think you should just be honest with him. Tell him about your dad and why you want to see him. Rocco will understand.”
“Will he?”
She opens her mouth to speak then closes it. “Well, I hope he’d understand.”
“Exactly. Rocco is not exactly Mr. Compassionate. And he hates his father. He’s not going to care about this. In fact, he might be even angrier that I kept it from him. I can’t rock the boat. He’s under a lot of pressure. It’s not like we’re close.” My mind flashes back to our time on the kitchen counter, and I blush at the memory. “It doesn’t matter. What Rocco wants, Rocco gets. I’m not going to get to see my father unless I go to him myself.”
“But then Rocco will be even angrier with you.”
“I know. And it’s risky with Dante and Carlo on the loose. But what choice do I have? I need to see my dad.”
“Just think about it. For a day or two. You said your father has a couple months left. A day won’t change anything.”
I let out a slow sigh. “Ok. I’ll think about it.”
I leave Gabriella to rest and pace around the living room, waiting for Rocco to return home. What am I going to say to him? Tell him how I feel? He won’t listen. Tell him about my dad? That’ll only make him angrier, I’m sure. Then, what? How am I going to be honest with my husband while keeping him from getting mad? With Rocco, that’s almost impossible.
I stop pacing as the front door is wrenched open as Rocco storms into the house. He has a wild look to his eyes that scares me.
He stops short when he sees me. We stare at each other for a moment before he rushes over to me. Before I can react, he wraps his arms around me and kisses me deeply.
I can’t deny it—kissing Rocco is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. We really have more things we need to talk about. I can’t get distracted by this.
But it feels too good.
He growls deep in the back of his throat, sending tingles over my body. My core flashes with heat. I’m reminded of his fingers on my body and how he brought me to orgasm. It was the most intense experience in my life.
Rocco picks me up in his arms and carries me to the couch. I gasp when he drops me onto it and pulls my hips to the edge. He kneels before me. I’m confused about what he’s doing.