“Can you give us some privacy?” Papa asks, and Damien nods and leaves the living room. He walks to the floor-to-ceiling window.
“I see you’re behaving like I told you. Applying what I taught you on how to be a dutiful wife.”
If he found out I tried to kill Devious, then I would get a mouthful. He can’t put his hands on me because Devious will hurt him again. The thought warms my heart.
“Yeah? Just fulfilling the dreams you always had for me,” I say. “What is it you taught me?” I tap my finger on my chin, pretending like I’m actually thinking. “Clean, cook, shut up, be his whore, and obey him.”
He ignores my snide comment. “I need a favor.”
I knew it. “What is it?”
Taking a seat beside me, he cups my cheeks and hugs me. This is his routine for when he wants something. He tries to use affection as a weapon to control me. He knows I crave love and affection, but this time it won’t work. I see through his bullshit. “Do you listen to Devious’s conversations? Like you did mine?”
I had no idea he knew I was spying on him. He never led me to believe he knew.
My cheeks heat, and I sigh. “Sometimes.”
He doesn’t comment. “I had you marry him to pay off my debt.” He sighs. “But I had you marry him for another reason too.”
“Um, okay,” I say, confused.
“I need you to spy on him.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Spy on him, and if you do, I’ll free you from this marriage.”
The thought of it does sound appealing, it really does. But if he fails to do whatever he has planned, then I’ll be caught in the crossfire. He spared my life the first time, but I don’t think my luck is strong enough that he’ll do it again. And he saved my life, so I’m kinda indebted to him. Plus, I want to be here with Devious because I feel safe and protected with him. He’s my protector until it’s time for me to escape him.
“Why do you need me to spy on him?”
“It’s matters of the mafia,” he states.
“No, Papa. I’m not going to be your pawn.” I pause for several seconds. “If you don’t succeed at whatever you’re trying to do, then I’ll die too, and I’m not going to risk my life. For all I know, you could throw me under the bus.”
It wouldn’t surprise me. It wouldn’t be the first time either.
He looks me up and down, and the vein in his neck pulses.
“Has he already had his dick so far inside you that you forgot your loyalty is to me?”
“No, my loyalty is to myself. No one else. Not to you or Devious. I always have to look after myself. This is the mob. You can see yourself out before I tell Devious you are asking me to commit treason.”
“I didn’t ask you to do treason. I asked you to spy on him.”
“I don’t know what your plans are, Papa, but you better watch your back,” I tell him.
He smirks at me as if he knows something I don’t.
“You need to pick who you are loyal to. Because at the end of the day, your loyalty better be to me. Not to Devious. He can kill you, but you only get one father. Think about it. I’ll give you a few weeks to come to your senses.”
“My answer still remains the same. So don’t even bother. You can leave, Papa. Damien!”
He walks into the living room. “Yes, Mrs. Vitali?”
“Show Papa the door,” I say.
Once I hear the door shut, I call Damien back into the living room.
