TWENTY-FOUR.

“Let me go, Riccardo!” I struggle in his unwelcome embrace, kicking my feet in the air, twisting and turning my body.

Riccardo ignores me, which is to be expected, and drags me back into the house, dumping me on the sofa. Then he towers over me with his arms folded across his chest

“Ohh… So, big and scary!” I say with sarcasm heavily lacing my words.

He frowns, rolling his eyes, totally over my bullshit, and he averts his gaze elsewhere.

I watch as Don Valentino drags a chair across the room behind him, sitting across from me with his right ankle resting on his left knee.

He unbuttons his suit jacket, loosening his tie with his eyes never straying from mine, drawing me in deeper.

“What?” I snap at him, hating the way my body reacts whenever he is near.

“You said you need a job to pay for your father's medical bills?”

“I know what I said, but if you continue to keep holding me against my will, I’ll have no job and pretty soon, no home.”

“I have a job for you.” He simply states whi