Page 44 of Chasing Kit

“No, you haven’t.” Riccardo stood, and he was tall. Really tall. Why did all the fucking mobsters have to be tall? Short criminals existed, thank you very much. Why couldn’t I face off with them instead? He swept around his desk and stepped closer to us.

Massimo moved to stand next to Gaia. It was ridiculous how good-looking each of them was. There were ugly criminals, too, right? Right?

“Your arrival made me curious, especially when you showed up to my cousin’s spare apartment. Imagine my surprise when I find out he has a side piece he hides there, and that side piece is the son of Derek Uhlig.” Riccardo raised his dark eyebrows, though he didn’t sound too surprised by this revelation.

Gaia tsked and tapped two fingernails together. “Very surprising. And here I thought Arrigo was faithful to his wife.”

Santino was the one who snorted this time, but his was softer than Tommaso’s, less condescending and more in disbelief. “He hated her the moment he laid eyes on her.”

The three sitting in chairs, plus Massimo, laughed, while Riccardo’s mouth twitched.

“The things we have to do for our famiglia,” Riccardo practically purred.

“Mr. Uhlig didn’t know about Sky’s relationship.” War straightened his shoulders as my stomach churned. “As far as Mr. Uhlig knew, Sky was backpacking around the south. He’s always been a free spirit. There were no conversations about relationships.”

“Don’t get your titties in a twist, big man.” Riccardo’s eyes brightened in amusement. “We didn’t bring you here to cause problems. Our cousin will be handled.”

Panic surged up in my throat, and I shoved past War again, ignoring his sounds of protest. I stood in front of Riccardo with more confidence than I had, but I’d spent my entire life protecting Sky, and I wasn’t going to stop now. “Don’t touch a hair on my brother’s head or I’ll make you regret it.”

“Kit.” War grasped my elbow, but I shook him off. I wasn’t backing down, not when it came to Sky.

Riccardo stared at me for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing. His siblings joined in, except Tommaso, who watched me like he wanted to strip my skin from my bones and burn me to ashes. Fear tingled my insides, my stomach churning, but I ignored the voice that chanted run, run, run in my head.

“You’re a funny kid,” Riccardo said.

“I’m twenty-two. Not a kid,” I snapped back at him. “And I mean it. Don’t touch Sky.”

“We won’t, but not because you told us not to.”

The doors snapped open. I jumped, falling into War’s chest as he yanked me backward, his arms secured around me protectively.

Dad walked into the office, his head held high, flanked by two familiar men whose names I didn’t know. He wore his favorite sunglasses and an expression I’d never seen before—stern with a treacherous glint, promising harm to anyone who crossed him. He had on the pale blue button-up shirt I’d always thought looked savvy on him, black pants, and shiny black shoes. Now that I knew the truth about him, the air around him felt stifling and charged.

“Just in time, Derek.” Riccardo crossed his arms and nodded toward me. “Your son delivered, as promised.”

“What?” The word spilled angrily from my lips as I spun a glare on Riccardo. “That’s why we’re here? For you to hand me over to my dad like I’m three years old?”

“You should have come home after Pleasant Beach,” Dad said tightly, his gaze spearing War. “Which were your orders, War.”

War’s grip on me remained firm, his fingers curling into my shirt. “He was going to St. Loren with or without me. It’s easier to keep him safe if I’m with him.”

“And I’m an adult,” I yelled, my temper getting the best of me. “I don’t need you to dictate my life.”

“You left because of the message you received, a message I’m told came from your brother.” He spat out “your brother” as though they were dirty words, and disappointment sat heavy in his voice.

I shoved War’s arm away from me and surged toward Dad until I was in his face. “He told me the truth, which you should’ve done the moment I was old enough. You fucking lied to my face and made a fool out of me. You planted a spy as my friend and scared off men who were interested in me.” I poked his chest, ignoring the flicker of hurt in his eyes. “You are a shitty father.”

“Enough,” Dad growled. “We’ll talk about this when we get home.”

“No.” I stepped back, shaking my head. “You can play whatever games you want, Dad, but I’m not a pawn for you to move whenever you please. You can go fuck yourself.”

Dad’s eyes widened slightly because it was the first time I’d ever said anything like that to him. I’d always been the son who tried everything to please him, the one who brought home the grades that made him proud. And I was happy to be that person. Until now. Until his lies came to light and I had to deal with the consequences.

Dad huffed. “Kit⁠—”

“Sky was right to leave. Anywhere is better than with you. Hell, I’d choose Mom over you.”

The words had their desired effect. Dad’s emotions shuttered, and his eyes flashed with anger. “I gave you everything. I protected you.”