Stolen Queen (Dynasty of Deception #4)

31. Ava

31

AVA

M y heart races as the penthouse door opens. "Matteo, watch out!" I call out in warning.

Matteo freezes in the doorway, flanked by Elio. I thought I might have seen Lazaro, but he’s ducked back and I’m glad. Maybe he can get help to save us.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? The prodigal D'Amatos and their loyal dog, walking right into my trap."

“You are making a big mistake,” Elio says.

My father laughs. “Wait until Caruso hears about all this.”

Elio laughs back, which shocks me. It unsettles my father a little bit too if the way he shifts from side to side is any indication.

“You’ll be surprised what will happen when Caruso hears about this.”

I can’t stand that all this conflict is because of me. “I’ll go with you, Father. Just let them go.”

Pain explodes across my cheek as my father's hand connects. I cry out, pressing my free hand on my cheek.

"You spiteful little brat," he snarls. "You keep your mouth shut!"

Matteo starts to advance. “I’ll kill you, you motherfucker.”

Elio grabs him by the shoulder to hold him back. “Matteo. Don’t.”

My cheek throbs, and I want nothing more than to run to Matteo's arms.

"That's the last time you'll ever touch her, Vincenzo," Matteo growls, a deadly promise shining in his eyes.

The air is thick with simmering violence. I know my father, know the depths of his rage and vindictiveness, and I can’t imagine how any of us will get out of this alive.

Elio's voice cuts through the silence. "Vincenzo, I think you're forgetting yourself. This isn't how we do business."

My father scoffs, his fingers digging painfully into my arm. "Business? You stole my daughter and you lied to me about it."

"We didn't steal anyone," Elio counters, his tone icy. "Ava is here of her own free will. She has my protection."

I flinch as my father's grip tightens further. "Protection? From what? Her own father?"

Matteo is coiled like a spring, ready to snap. I silently plead with him not to do anything rash, terrified of what my father might do to him.

“She’s an adult. She can make her own decisions.”

“You’re a fucking pussy letting the women in your life boss you around. That’s not how things work.” My father glances out the open door. “Where’s the Mad Dog?”

“He’s not here. We didn’t want to scare Ava,” Elio says smoothly.

“Pussy,” my father says again. “That’s good for us. We don’t have to worry about him going crazy and killing us all.”

“Let’s discuss this like reasonable men. There's no need for all this… unpleasantness,” Elio says.

“Fuck you.”

Elio seems to have a great deal of patience. "We all want what's best for Ava, don't we? Surely, we can come to an agreement that benefits everyone."

I hold my breath, hardly daring to hope. Could Elio really find a way out of this mess?

"An agreement? You can’t take what’s mine and then negotiate. You give it back. And since you haven’t, I’ll be taking her.”

“I understand your frustration. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work something out. At one point, you wanted Ava to join the D’Amato family. That can still happen.”

“You leaving your wife?” My father rolls his eyes.

“No. But I do want to avoid a war between our families. It wouldn't end well for anyone. Especially not for the Rinellas. After all… the Mad Dog has returned home, and well… truthfully, he could be anywhere. He was always difficult to control."

The implication in his words is clear, and I see my father's face pale slightly. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crosses his features.

“You’re a smart man. A reasonable man. I'm sure we can find a solution that works for everyone,” Elio tries again.

I glance at Matteo, radiating with anger. I feel like at any moment, he’ll snap and one of my father’s men will kill him, and then what? How will I go on? What will happen to our baby?

"You think I'm a fool?" my father snarls. "I don't want your pretty words or empty promises. I want justice." After a moment, my father pauses and seems to relax. “I tell you what. You hand over that bastard and we’ll call it even.”

Elio starts to speak, but Matteo steps forward. “Fine. But in exchange, you let Ava go with Elio. She’s under his protection.”

"No!" I cry out, struggling against my father's grip. "Matteo, don't do this!"

“Shut the fuck up!” My father slaps me again.

“Matteo!” Elio grabs Matteo as he starts toward my father.

“You’re the pussy,” Matteo yells. “Only weak men hit women.”

My father takes his gun and points it at my head. The blood drains from Matteo’s face. My breath stops.

“Tell me again that I’m a pussy,” my father taunts Matteo.

Elio sucks in a breath. “Vincenzo, come on. Are you really going to kill your daughter after all this? If she’s that disposable, let her come with us. What would it take for that to happen?”

My father shakes her head. “Your word is shit, D’Amato. Besides, she’s already promised to a Don in New York who appreciates her value far more than you ever could.”

I feel so small, so helpless at this moment. I want to scream, to fight back. There must be something I can do. What would happen if I told him I wasn’t a virgin? Or that I was pregnant? It would definitely lower my value in his eyes, but he might retaliate.

“The only negotiation here is that you hand over Moretti and me and Ava leave,” my father says with a smug, triumphant tone.

“No.” Matteo shakes his head.

“Don Nardone won’t want me.” I can’t believe I’m uttering these words.

My father turns to me, and the darkness in his eyes scares me. He glances at Matteo. “Did you defile my daughter?” He holds his gun up, aimed at Matteo’s head.

I close my eyes, knowing this is the end. "I'm pregnant."

It’s almost as if the world stops. Everyone’s gaze turns to me, their faces stunned.

At that moment, Lazaro comes barreling through the door, shooting one man and putting his gun up to my father’s head as he knocks his gun away.

“Move and I’ll kill your boss,” he says to the third man. It’s so sudden, so inconceivable, the speed and power with which he took over the room.

“Took you long enough,” Elio quips, taking the gun from the third man while Matteo takes one from the first one.

“I didn’t want her to get hurt, plus I had to call up backup.” Lazaro smiles down at me. “Hello, Ava. How are you?”

“I… uh… I’m okay… I guess.”

“Deal with these fuckers,” Elio says of the two other men.

Matteo kicks the man Lazaro shot.

“Is he dead?” Lazaro asks. “I didn’t want to kill him.”

“Nah. He’ll be alright.” Matteo rolls him over and sits him up.

Two minutes later, several other men arrive, and Lazaro is working with them to take my father’s men away.

Elio pushes my father down in a chair and is standing over him. “How about now, Vincenzo? Ready to negotiate?”

Matteo comes over to me, kneeling in front of me. “Is that true? About a baby? Or were you just fucking with your father’s head?”

I study his face, wondering what he hopes the answer to be.