Page 71 of Married to the Ruthless Mafia Heir

He laughed like I'd told a joke. The next second, he hurled the knife at me. I didn't even have time to scream—it grazed my ear and buried itself in the wall behind me.

"Ah!!"

My ear was sliced. Searing pain shot through my whole body. I shook uncontrollably.

"Your man killed so many of my people. Won't let go of that damn shipping route." He got up and walked toward me, pressing his boot down on my thigh and grinding it into my leg. "And you've got the balls to ask me who I am?"

My thigh felt like it would snap. Pain whited out my vision. I bit down hard on my lip to keep from screaming.

What he was saying matched what Dante had told me at the end.

I finally knew who he was. I lifted my head, eyes burning red as I stared at him. "You're Javier."

Javier paused, looking satisfied. He moved his foot and yanked the knife from the wall behind me. "So you do know."

He circled me twice. "That bastard really cares about you, huh? Spent half a month with you, wouldn't come back to New York. I pulled a few strings and drew him away. Those idiots don't know what really matters."

Javier stopped in front of me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You. And what's in your belly. He'd trade his life for that."

He knew I was pregnant.

Cold sweat broke out all over me. I fought desperately against the ropes. "You touch him and I'll—"

Javier's face twisted, his smile turning vicious. He was about to say something when the warehouse door suddenly swung open from outside.

A man walked in. Fifties, maybe. Different from Javier's reckless violence—this man radiated controlled, cold danger. His smile was gentle, but if you looked closely, you could tell it was fake.

He glanced at Javier, then at me tied to the chair, and frowned slightly.

"Don't treat women like that."

Javier naturally moved behind the man, glaring at me. "I can't be nice to her. Every time I think about how many of my men Dante killed, I want to tear her apart."

"Mrs. Moretti, hello. I'm Hector Cruz." Hector walked behind me and untied the ropes like a gentleman. I pulled my hands back immediately, clutching my stomach, glaring at them with all the ferocity I could muster.

"Ma'am, we brought you here to discuss a partnership." Hector's gaze swept over me from head to toe, then he smiled. "We've been trying to work with Dante, share a shipping route. If you can convince him, we'll let you go."

I knew I couldn't provoke them, so I played along. "Dante mentioned this to me. Using these methods to negotiate won't make him agree easily. But if you need it, I can help. Give me my phone. I'll text Dante."

Hector laughed. "Little girl, that trick won't work on me."

He leaned down, his mouth close to my injured ear. "The only way you can help is by staying put and watching me make that little punk sign the contract."

My heart sank.

"Tie her back up. Throw her on the ground." With that, Hector left the warehouse.

Javier retied my hands and feet. I leaned against the wall. He spat at me and stormed off.

I listened to the footsteps fade until they disappeared completely before I dared move.

I tested the rope around my wrists, but they'd tied it too tight. I couldn't get free.

I forced myself to breathe. Don't panic.

I lowered my head, chin to chest, and recalled conversations I'd overheard between the bodyguards at the manor. The mob used a special kind of knot, which had a special way to undo it. I studied the knot on my wrists and recognized the technique.

But the rope was too thick. I couldn't undo it.