Page 33 of The Consigliere

I listen with interest and Abigail shivers. “It was unusual for us to go. Mom wasn’t keen, even though it was her friend we were visiting.”

“Not your father’s?”

“No. I didn’t even realize they had met before. Anyway, mom told us we only had to show our faces and leave and then my father told me to stay away from their son Mario.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I’m not sure but mom interrupted and told my father they should have left me at home.”

“What did he say?”

“They had requested my attendance.”

I sense the anger balling inside me and snap, “What happened when you arrived?”

“My father was asked to accompany Sam to his office. It was as if they had business to attend to. His mother pulled Mario forward and told him to take care of me, but my father snapped and told me I must remain with my mom. They didn’t allow me to mix with the opposite sex.”

“I see.”

I settle down knowing she was spared that particular pleasure and Abigail shivers. “I felt his interest. Even though I was sixteen and hadn’t met many guys before, I could tell he had plans for me. When I left, he was standing beside a girl around the same age as me. She was a pretty blonde, and it was obvious she hated me on sight.”

“My stepmother.” I growl and Abigail stares at me with astonishment.

“How?”

“Diana came into our home at my father’s invitation. Our mother had died, and she was her replacement.”

“Surely not.” Abigail is shocked and I don’t blame her, and snarl, “That woman is pure evil. She seduced me and my two brothers and then chose our father. He sent us away, and she moved her ‘brother’ Mario Bachini in to take our place. He became my father’s consigliere and now they want the Ortega empire.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Which part?”

I sigh heavily. “We need to bring them down and take back control. The reason you are here is because Mario has an interest in you that was never realized.”

“So, I’m your weapon against him.” She shakes her head. “Not much of a plan, is it?”

For some reason, that makes me laugh and my admiration for this woman increases tenfold.

“Who knows?” I shrug. “The fact your father obviously knew Sam already throws a little light on the subject. Now we need to discover what their friendship involved before we can use the information against our enemies.”

“And me. What were you planning?”

“To watch Mario’s reaction when I brought you home. To see what he would do when it was obvious I was treating you like my fucking whore, knowing he could do nothing because you were my wife.”

She shakes her head and laughs softly. “Like I said, it’s not much of a plan, is it?”

She sighs heavily and picks up her discarded wine glass.

“We need to find the connection. You are right about that. If it’s any help, I will play my part. I’ll do whatever you require, but it will be on the understanding I’m loving it.”

I chuckle softly and this is the moment I believe I fall in love with Abigail Ortega. We are two like-minded souls, and it will be my pleasure to drag her into my dark world. However, somebody should have told her to be careful what you wish for because she doesn’t realize what she’s just taken on.

“Anything else you can tell me?” I fix her with a dark look and she shakes her head, noting the shift in the atmosphere. It’s as if I’m dragging all the oxygen out of the room as I stare at her hard and the way her eyes light up tells me she’s understood the situation perfectly.

“Then come here.” I say, beckoning her toward me with a blank expression.

I watch her chest heave as she pushes back her chair and heads my way.