Page 1 of Tangled Deceit

1

OLIVIA

Being captured by a mafia leader even once shouldn’t be something most people worry about in their lifetime. Let alone having it happen twice.

Unless you’re me, of course.

Even worse was finding out that the father who abandoned me all those years ago wasn’t just some asshole guy who couldn’t hang around for the hard stuff. He’s been living the mafia life, trying to be a king. Which means he’s decided to try to take down Luca and…who the hell knows what else.

All I know for sure is that Titan and I might be tied together by blood, but he’s no family of mine. Not after he kidnapped me and put me in a room without so much as an “I’m sorry I left you.”

Do I find it funny that I’m in pretty much the exact same situation I was in just a few weeks ago? Mildly, but I’m not the same woman I was that first day Luca tossed me into his cell.

I’m stronger, both physically and mentally, after surviving being thrown into this insane world, being attacked, and even allowing myself to fall for Luca. While there have been times over the years that I’ve missed my father, like when he could have taught me to ride a bike or attended my graduation, he doesn’t have a hold on me. Not now that I’ve seen him in this setting.

Titan, as he’ll now be known to me—not Dad or Christopher as I thought he went by—spent the car ride from Luca’s to wherever we are now in silence. The “little chat” he suggested we have doesn’t seem to be a priority for him, because after I felt I had no other option than to get in the SUV with him, the only other words I heard him utter were a cold command to his men. "Bind her.”

Dread had filled me at first, but now, I’m drawing on my anger and motivation to get the hell out of here as soon as I find the opening I need.

Since we began driving, I’ve been blindfolded and had my hands tied together behind my back. Knowing that I’m going to need my strength for the perfect moment when I stand the highest chance of escaping, I haven’t fought back. Yet.

I let them easily restrain me. I haven’t asked any questions or even begged for them to let me go. When someone picked me up out of the SUV after we got to this place, I didn’t even try to headbutt the fucker who held me, even while I hated that his arms weren’t Luca’s.

Now, I’m sitting in a chair, ignoring the ache in my shoulders from having my arms pinned behind me and trying to pretend that a new itch isn’t popping up on my face every other minute.

Time passes, but I have no idea how long it’s been since I’ve been left alone. I don’t know if there’s anyone in the room with me or if they’re watching me through a window. Regardless of all that, I keep as much emotion from my face as possible, even when my worry about Luca begins to surface or whether he might be able to find me.

I won’t give anything away to Titan. He won’t break me.

For the first time since I received the news of my mother’s death, I’m grateful she isn’t alive. Her heart never healed from being left without a word. If she knew the truth…that just might have killed her anyway.

A noise breaks the silence, the soft twist of a doorknob. My heart races as I fight the urge to tense up. I won’t be afraid of this man. I’ve been dodging death since the moment I walked away from that charity auction. If it’s my time to die, then so be it. I won’t go easily. Though, I also have no intention of giving this bastard the pleasure of hearing me beg for mercy just because his DNA runs through me.

A chair across from me scrapes against the floor, and someone settles into it with a thud as the room begins to fill with the scent of musk and cigars. I’m pretty sure a palm or two thump onto the table I’m certain is in front of me. Even though I can’t see it with my own eyes, I hear the sound of fingers tapping on a solid surface.

“You’ve grown into quite the woman, Olivia,” Titan's voice breaks the silence, and a shiver runs down my spine. Memories of a distant childhood flicker in my mind, of a man who was supposed to be my dad, who used to kiss my bumps and scrapes.

Still, I don’t respond.

“After all these years, you don’t have anything to say to your father?” he prods, his voice laced with curiosity and maybe even a hint of amusement.

I grit my teeth, holding back the anger that threatens to boil over. He abandoned us, leaving my mother and me to fend for ourselves. He has no right to call himself my father.

"You were dead to me the day you walked out on me and my mother," I reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.

Titan's tongue clicks, and I can almost picture him shaking his head. "I'm sure you wish that were true now that you know what really happened to me. I'd say I was sorry, but I don't want to start this conversation out with lies. Though, maybe I underestimated you. You seem to have taken to this life better than I could have predicted all those years ago."

I clench my fists, his words like venom in my veins. He's trying to get under my skin, to rattle me, but I won't give him the satisfaction.

The sound of wood creaking fills the room, indicating that Titan has moved from his chair. Steady footsteps draw nearer, and I can feel his presence looming over me.

His fingers wrap around my shoulder, and I suppress a shudder of revulsion. "Olivia, I'm still your father, and you're my daughter. It's time for you to act like it and tell me everything you've learned about Luca Monroe."

I bite back a sarcastic retort. He thinks I’m going to help him take down the man whose kept me alive all these weeks? He’s out of his goddamn mind. Still, I respond in a different, hopefully safer, way.

"I don't know anything about Luca Monroe other than he's a deranged mafia king who has no qualms about killing people," I say, hoping my resolve comes through my voice.

Titan leans closer, and I can feel his breath on my cheek. "Except you." He steps away, and I can feel his calculating gaze on me. "I thought you were just someone who saw too much and needed to die. Then, I learned Luca was keeping you as his pet. I had hoped by killing you that I could enrage him to the point that he'd make mistakes, but I saw you leave that club. As soon as I knew who you really were, I had other hopes."