“Damn right I would!” he agreed.
“Exactly,” I said.
He reared back, his expression fierce. “Do you hear yourself right now?” He took a menacing step forward, his face inches from mine. “She is not a fucking object, and as long as I am still breathing, you will not treat her as such. You hear me?”
I wanted to laugh in his face. If he only knew I fucked his daughter last night like it was my last day on earth, and that she loved every minute of it.
“I think we all need to take a breath here,” my uncle interjected, stepping beside me. Luca, Lo, and Matteo hung back, keeping their distance; we didn’t want to give the impression we were against Alphonse. After all, he was just a father doing what any protective dad would do for his daughter. I couldn't fault him for that.
Alphonse turned his gaze on my uncle, pushing his sunglasses on top of his head. “I’ll calm down once I see my daughter in the flesh.”
Before I could find the words to ease the situation, a flicker of movement on the stairs caught my eye. My breath hitched as I watched my angel gracefully make her way down. My damn dog trotted beside her, and Tabi trailed behind them. Gigi’s warm gaze flitted from her father to me, then back to Alphonse.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, her smile radiant, lighting up the heavy atmosphere.
“Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay?” he asked, his tone softening.
“Yeah, of course,” she replied, taking a few confident steps until she reached the bottom of the stairs.
But as soon as she stood before him, it was like a switch flipped—a tense energy enveloped him. His shoulders tightened,and he tipped her chin slightly, inspecting her neck with an intensity that made my heart race.
My heart sank as I realized the marks on her neck from our rough lovemaking were still visible.
Fuck me.
Alphonse slowly turned his head toward me. In a flash, he drew his gun, aiming it directly at my head.
“Dad, no!” Gigi cried out.
My men drew their weapons and formed a protective barrier around me. My uncle stepped in front of me, ready to protect me.
“I am going to skin you alive!” Alphonse boomed. “Did you put those marks on her neck? Because they sure as hell weren’t there two days ago.”
I stepped out from behind my men, unafraid. “Stand down. There is no threat here.”
“Are you sure about that, Moretti?” Alphonse challenged. “I'm not afraid to die for my daughter.”
“And I’d do the same for her,” I replied.
“Enough!” Gigi positioned herself squarely between us. Her slender frame stood protectively against me.
“Gigi, step aside,” I commanded, firmly gripping her hips.
She spun around and glared at me. “No.”
Turning back to her father, she pleaded, “Dad, please put the gun down.”
He looked down at her, his nostrils flared. “Did he do that to you?”
“Dad, I’m an adult,” she declared. “Whatever choices I make are my own, not yours, and definitely not his.” With a dismissive flick of her thumb, she gestured toward me.
“He’s not good for you,bambina,” he said gently, the deep worry lines etched across his forehead smoothing out as he spoke. “A man who treats you like a whore is not worthy of you.”
“Are you serious?” I exclaimed. “She’s your daughter!” I grasped Gigi’s waist, positioning her securely behind me. She was feisty as fuck and swatted my injured arm.
“Damnit, woman,” I hissed.
She stepped back into her place between us, and gradually, her father relaxed, dropping his weapon. “Just to be clear, I wasn’t calling you a whore,” he said.
