Page 106 of Righteous Enforcer
"Your little disappearing act was your last chance," Alessandro continues. “You’re like a fucking time bomb and I’m tired of waiting for it to go off.” He leans in closer, his lips a whisper away from my ear. “I’m ticking too, Eva. And when I go off… ” He doesn’t finish, knowing my imagination will be worse than any threat he can articulate.
The message on my phone flashes in my mind.
We're coming for you, Eva. Remember what happens to traitors.
“The text wasn’t enough? You have to threaten me to my face too?”
His eyes narrow. "What text?"
"The message. About coming for me." I search his face for confirmation, some flicker of confirmation that would tell me this is just another one of his tactics.
Alessandro doesn't pull away. Instead, his brow furrows. "I didn't send any message."
Weirdly, I believe him. He’s not a man to play games. If he sent that message, he’d be more than happy to let me know it.
A cold smile plays on his lips. "I don't need to send threatening messages when I could simply walk you out back and put a bullet in your head."
I don’t say anything, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I’m rattled.
He laughs. “I’m not surprised there are others who want you gone. Is it the Bratva? Tell me, are you fucking with Ivan like you’re fucking with my brother?”
“That’s absurd,” I hiss.
“Is it? Maybe you arranged the message hoping to create a crisis that has Adriano taking you back to his bed.”
I shake my head.
He glances toward Adriano and Mirabella. "What I find interesting is how a woman who claims to be terrified of the Bratva somehow survived years on the run from them. Most people don't last weeks."
The implication is clear. He thinks I'm still working with them.
"Unless," Alessandro continues, "they weren't really hunting you at all. Just keeping tabs until they needed their asset back."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"You know what I think?" His eyes turn predatory. "I think you'd be more valuable to us as a bargaining chip than a liability."
My mouth goes dry at the implication.
"Ivan clearly wants you for a reason. Maybe we should give him what he wants in exchange for something we want."
The room tilts around me. "You'd hand me over to the Bratva?"
His eyes gleam with cruelty. "In a heartbeat. You're a security risk who's brought nothing but complications. And now, with Russians threatening to come get you… lucky for you, they won’t penetrate the compound. Still, they could create a hassle that I’m not interested in dealing with. Handing you over is the perfect opportunity to solve two problems at once."
My gaze drifts to Mirabella, arranging her blocks with Adriano's help.
“All I ask is that my daughter stays out of this.”
“You mean Adriano’s daughter.”
My heart clenches, but I nod.
“I’m a monster, Eva, but I love my brother. And he loves that kid. So you can die in the knowledge that she’ll be safe with us.”
The Mafia has strange morals and values, but I believe him when he says he cares for Adriano and will support him in raising Mirabella.
“Tell him what we want to know or I’ll call Ivan.” Alessandro walks away, leaving me feeling cold and empty.
