I sat in my office at the second winery, the fifty-acre plot of land Crow and I bought thirty years ago to keep the business growing. The phone was pressed to my ear as I listened to my grandson talk.

“And then Grandma took me to the zoo to see the giraffes. I was hoping to see dinosaurs…but they didn’t have any.” His voice trailed away in sadness.

I tried not to laugh, finding this young guy beautiful and amusing. “Keep looking. Maybe you’ll find them someday.”

“Yeah,” Luca said. “And then we got ice cream. I’m not supposed to have ice cream before dinner, but Grandma says she can do whatever she wants.”

I laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right. She says the same thing to me every day.”

“Grandma wants to talk to you again. Bye, Grandpa.”

“Bye, Luca. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Adelina came back on the phone. “He’s got so much energy, huh?” she said with a laugh.

“Yes, Bellissima.” I didn’t expect to have a grandchild so soon, let alone one who was almost ten years old, but Luca had become a part of the Barsetti family overnight. Bellissima and I saw him as our son’s son, not caring if he had a father none of us would ever meet. We loved him with all our hearts. It was love at first sight for me. “Having a good day?”

“Yes.” She sighed into the phone. “I just don’t want to give him back…”

“Bellissima, I’m sure we’ll babysit all the time. Carter likes to travel, and I bet Mia would love to see the world.”

“But I’m sure they want to take him with them, unfortunately. I miss having kids, Cane. I want to have more.”

I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. “We’re gonna have a lot of grandkids. Carmen will meet the right guy before you know it.”

“I hope so. She’s seeing someone now. She claims it’s not serious, but it seems like it is. I’m never sure with her.”

The last thing I wanted to think about was my daughter’s dating life. I just wanted her to find a husband, a great guy, and that be the end of it. Once she was married, I wouldn’t have to worry about her anymore, and she could have lots of kids and be happy. “When she’s found someone worth talking about, she’ll talk about it.” My phone started to beep in my ear because there was someone on the other line. “Bellissima, I have to go. I’ll talk to you when I get home.”

“Alright. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I ended the call and switched lines, readopting my cold tone. “Barsetti.” So many people called me that I didn’t always know who was trying to contact me, so that was how I answered the phone unless it was family.

“Hey, Mr. Barsetti. It’s Tomas from Giovanni’s.”

Giovanni’s was a restaurant in Florence. We recently struck a deal to supply them wine for the restaurant. It was a new relationship, but so far, it’d been going smoothly. “Hey, how are you? I hope you aren’t increasing your shipment because we’re low at the moment. You know, with tourist season just around the corner.”

“No, it’s not about business.” He suddenly turned quiet, like he didn’t know how to continue this conversation. Tomas and I weren’t close because we’d just met about a week ago. He came into my office, complimented a picture of my family, and we started a partnership. But other than that, very little was said. “I don’t know how to say this…but from one father to another, I thought I should tell you.”

I didn’t like that one bit. The only kid I had in Florence was Carmen, so I suspected this had something to do with her. “Tomas, what is it?” I leaned forward over my desk, the phone pressed a little harder to my ear.

“Your daughter was in here last night.”

What was the big deal about that? “Okay…”

He sighed again, like this was the most painful conversation he’d ever had. “You know who Bosco Roth is, I take it?”

He was the biggest crime lord in Europe, operating an illegal casino in plain sight. He was the only man in the country who operated a fight ring, making men fight to the death as punishment and sport. He was rumored to be cruel but fair. But he was also said to be a loose cannon. “Not by acquaintance, but by reputation.”

“Well, your daughter had dinner with him last night.”

Like someone had punched me with brass knuckles, the air left my lungs as well as my stomach. I knew Bosco’s face, so I pictured him sitting across from Carmen, a maniac who probably thought she could be bought. He employed strippers and whores at his casino, so he obviously had no respect for women—let alone my daughter. I couldn’t speak because the rage was building inside me, spilling over like lava from a volcano.

“The context was clearly romantic. They arrived in a car together and left in the same car.”

Fuck.

“Worst part is…she had a black eye.”

The second those words were out of his mouth, I couldn’t think logically. My little girl, the beautiful baby that once fit in my arms, had been struck by a man who thought he had the power to do whatever he wanted. He touched my daughter—and he would pay the price. I didn’t say goodbye to Tomas or thank him for giving me this information. I hung up and took off.

Crow and Griffin were in the office when I walked inside, going over shipment orders and other bullshit. With a rifle swung over my back and two pistols in my holsters, I was prepared for war.

Crow normally ignored my outbursts, but when he saw me walking around armed in broad daylight, he didn’t ignore it. “What is it?” He tossed the papers aside and stood up, fishing his gun out of one of his drawers. What I liked most about my brother was he was always prepared for a fight. He rose to any challenge and never backed down.

Griffin rose to his feet as well, eyeing my guns without flinching. Muscled and thick, he was a good man to join the team. I would need all the help I could get.

“One of my guys just told me Carmen had dinner with Bosco Roth last night.”

Crow’s eyes snapped open farther, recognizing that name as well as I did. Bosco had come into power ten years ago, and it was frightening how quickly the young man had overtaken the city. It wouldn’t have been possible without us because when we disrupted the chain of power when we killed Bones Sr. and dismantled the Skull Kings. But Bosco took the opportunity—and thrived.

Griffin took a deep breath, but he didn’t seem as angry as Crow was.

“Fuck,” Crow said. “Of all the men in the world…”

“That’s not the worst part,” I continued, out of breath because of my fury, not from running around all over the place. “He said she had a black eye.”

Now Crow’s ferocity matched mine, and he was ready to put Bosco in the ground like I was. He grabbed his pistol and cocked it. “Then he must die.”

That was exactly what I was looking for.

Griffin continued to stay silent.

“I say we hunt him down, get a clean shot, and shoot him right between the eyes.” I wanted that fucker dead. I wanted to take his body and shove it inside a sewer drain. I wanted him to suffer a million times more than Carmen ever had.

“Cane, this guy isn’t like our other enemies,” my brother said. “He’s the most ruthless—”

“There’s something I need to say.” Griffin finally spoke up, tense but not furious. “You aren’t going to like what I have to tell you. I understand if you hate me all over again, but keep in mind that my loyalties were divided.”

I turned to him, having no idea what this was about. “Griffin, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Yeah,” Crow said. “Speak.”

“The black eye she’s sporting isn’t from him.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans, wearing a remorseful expression despite how powerful he looked. “From what I understand, he’s never hurt her or laid a hand on her.”

My eyes burned into his when I began to understand the situation. “You knew about this…”

“Yes,” he admitted, his voice still strong. “I knew.”

My hand shook because I wanted to beat the butt of the gun into his cheek.

My brother noticed my tremors. “Cane.” That was all he needed to say to remind me to restrain myself.

“This is what happened,” Griffin said. “Vanessa and I had dinner with Carmen one night. I always offer to take her home, but since Vanessa was tired and cold, Carmen insisted on walking alone. Apparently, four guys got her in an alleyway—”

“Stop.” I couldn’t listen to this. I was tough and unbreakable, but this was something I couldn’t handle.

Crow finished for me. “Get to the point, Griffin.”

“Alright,” Griffin said. “Bosco was walking by when it happened. He intervened and saved her. She wasn’t hurt in the ordeal. She held her own pretty well, actually.”

“He’s not the kind of guy to save a random woman,” I noted.

“He’s not,” Griffin said in agreement. “But he owed me a favor. She name-dropped me in the alleyway, and that’s why he chased them off. That’s when they met. I guess he asked her out to dinner, and that’s how their relationship started.”

Relationship. They had a relationship. “God…no.”

“Vanessa was the only person she told. Vanessa kept Carmen’s secret, even from me.” Griffin’s shoulders tensed before he kept talking. “I guess it was casual, but then things became more serious. When things became too complicated, Carmen tried to break it off. He wouldn’t allow it.”

Now I was flying apart at the hinges. “I’m gonna shoot this motherfucker and put him in the fucking—”

“Cane.” Crow held his hand up to me. “If you can’t handle this, then you need to step outside. If we’re gonna help Carmen, we need to know everything. Alright? So chill.”

“Easy for you to say,” I hissed. “This isn’t your daughter.”

“She’s as good as,” Crow said coldly. “I’d die for her, and we both know it. So stop taking this out on me and just shut up.” He turned back to Griffin. “What else?”

Griffin continued. “So they negotiated a three-month relationship. She’s living with him at his penthouse. The only reason I found out was because I checked on her when the shop was closed, so I went to her apartment, but it was obvious she hadn’t been there in months. I found her car at his place and made the connection. That same night, Bosco showed up on my doorstep for a chat.”

“Shit,” Crow said. “What happened? Vanessa?”

“He called me from the road, and I met him outside the gate,” Griffin said. “Vanessa doesn’t even know it happened. He came unarmed and without his army. He just wanted to chat. It wasn’t hostile.”

“And what did this motherfucker say?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“He told me he would never hurt her. That he cares about her. He assured me that when their time together is over, she can walk away. She’s not a prisoner. But he did threaten to kill all of us if we try to oppose him.” Griffin lowered himself back into his seat, his elbows on his knees. “You know I would die for Barsetti blood. I’ve already proven it to you, so it goes without saying. But Bosco Roth is a whole different animal. He’s not a regular thug. This guy has a hundred armed men at his side at any given time of the day. He has every criminal in this vicinity under his thumb. If you’re on his list…you don’t stand a chance.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“He’s right,” Crow admitted. “This isn’t a clean strike. There’s little chance of success.”

“No chance of success,” Griffin corrected. “None at all.”

I refused to accept that. “This is my daughter, and I will die to protect her. I would rather be in the ground than alive knowing she’s in trouble.”

Griffin shook his head. “After Bosco and I talked, I confronted her about it. She insists he’s kind, generous, and loving. He treats her with respect, keeps her safe, and takes care of her. She defended him in every single instance and even claimed he was a good man. She understands his reputation, but he’s different with her. She said she’s not a prisoner, and she can walk away whenever she wants. And more importantly, their agreement ends in three more weeks. When that time comes, she said she’ll leave.”

Finally, some good news.

Crow continued to stand behind his desk, but he put the safety on his gun and set it down. “If he’s such a great guy, why does she want to leave?”

“Said she doesn’t see a future with him,” Griffin said. “She wants a husband and kids, but that’s not gonna happen with him. She wants a simple life in Tuscany, and since he’s so involved in his work, it’s not possible. Also…she knows you guys would never be on board with this.”

“Looks like my daughter isn’t that dumb, after all,” I said bitterly.

Crow gave me a look of disapproval. “Cane, don’t do that.”

“I’m pissed,” I snapped. “I’m pissed that my daughter was stupid enough to get mixed up in this.”

Crow sat down in his leather chair. “Griffin just said she likes the guy. He’s good to her. She can leave whenever she wants. I’m not happy about this, but it could be a lot worse.”

I shook my head. “This is as bad as it could get. I don’t want my daughter anywhere near him.”

“I don’t like him either,” Griffin said. “But he looked me in the eye and said he does nothing but treat her with respect. He’s not a liar, so I believe him.”

“Fuck.” I sat down and ran my hands through my hair. “This is a nightmare.”

“I would have done something if she were in real danger,” Griffin said. “But since it’s gonna be over in three weeks, and she actually likes the guy…I decided it was riskier to do something.”

Three weeks was too long for me. “I don’t want that asshole anywhere near my daughter. Whether you’re with me or not, I have to do something.”

My brother looked at me. “Cane—”

“I don’t care if Carmen likes the guy. She’s been brainwashed. And what if the three weeks ends, and he changes his mind?”

Crow didn’t have a response to that.

“He said that wouldn’t happen,” Griffin said.

“And you believe him?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes,” Griffin said. “And Carmen does too. I don’t like this any more than you do, but I feel like there’s nothing we can do. Carmen seems to have a close relationship with him. She says she can walk away now if she wanted to.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “That’s not even something you should say in a relationship.”

Crow turned to Griffin. “How did she get the black eye?”

“She was at that bank when it was robbed,” Griffin said. “One of the guys punched her.”

“Jesus Christ.” I covered my face with both my hands and actually felt the desire to weep. This whole time I thought my little girl was safe living on her own, and now I knew she was being terrorized in alleyways, dominated by a crime lord, and mugged at the bank.

“Bosco’s men handled it. Killed the men and saved her,” Griffin finished. “In her eyes, he’s saved her life three times.”

“When was the third?” Crow asked. “You only mentioned two.”

“I guess one of the men at the casino became obsessed with her,” Griffin said. “Started stalking her. Bosco threw him in the ring, but he beat his competitor. So Bosco jumped in and finished the match himself. Broke his arm and his back. The man pleaded for mercy, and Bosco shot him.”

This man was a million times worse than I ever could have imagined. Not only was he powerful, but he wasn’t afraid to bloody his knuckles either. He didn’t have to jump in the ring, but he did it anyway—just to prove how strong he was. “I don’t know what to do.” If I could march down there and blow his head off, I would, but I wasn’t stupid. I would never make it past his army and his security. The man never went anywhere alone, so there was no possibility of success. “I guess I should talk to Carmen myself.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Griffin said. “It’s not going to change anything, and she said she would keep this a secret from you.”

“Then what are you suggesting?” I snapped. “Just forget the whole thing and be fine with it?”

“Fighting him isn’t an option,” Crow said. “It’s a suicide mission.”

“But this is my daughter,” I reminded him. “Saving Conway was a suicide mission, and I was still there.”

“But we still had a chance,” Crow said. “This is totally different. He’s the worst opponent we could possibly face.”

“I don’t give a shit,” I said. “This is my daughter. I’ll do anything for her.”

“Cane.” Griffin shook his head. “Carmen wouldn’t want you to get yourself killed. It wouldn’t help her anyway—especially since she wants to be with him.”

“Like I said, she’s confused,” I hissed.

“I agree with Griffin,” Crow said. “Fighting him will get us nowhere. Just dead in a ditch. We wouldn’t be doing our family any favors by all of us dying.”

I was too angry to think straight. I just wanted my daughter to be out of this situation, to make sure this man wasn’t brainwashing her or forcing her to do something she didn’t want to do. The fact that all these terrible things had happened to her made my heart break into a million pieces. Just because Bosco was the richest man in the country didn’t mean he could get away with this. The thought gave me an idea. “All he cares about is money.”

Griffin lifted his gaze to meet mine. “What?”

“All he cares about is money,” I repeated. “If we walk in there with a hundred million in cash, that might get him to forget about Carmen. That’s a lot of money, even to someone like him. We tell him it’s his if he just forgets about her.”

Crow didn’t shoot the idea down right away. He looked to Griffin next.

Griffin considered it for a long time. “If we threaten him, we’re subjecting ourselves to a battle we can’t win. But if we try to buy him off…that is a better approach. He might go for it, but I’m not sure.”

At least we finally had a plan—a plan to save my daughter.

We all snuck out of the house so the wives wouldn’t worry. If Bellissima knew about this…she would lose her mind. We met at the winery, piling our leather bags of money into the back of the truck.

We left the guns in the bed of the truck since we couldn’t bring them inside. There was no point in trying to sneak anything in because Bosco’s men would find them anyway. We were going through the tightest security in this country, and it was stupid to think we would fool them.

Crow was there because he would follow me into hell, not just because I helped him with Conway and Vanessa. He was the one person I could always count on. He had my back until time claimed both of our bodies. “I want Griffin to stay behind.”

Griffin turned to him, his expression cold and fierce, but his surprise still obvious.

“Why?” I asked, preferring Griffin’s company since he was the strongest of the three of us.

“If we don’t make it back, I feel comfortable knowing he’ll protect my wife and daughter.” Crow spoke highly of his son-in-law even though he used to do just the opposite. He gave him respect instead of hatred, and it was his idea to hand the winery down to him—which I’d agreed to.

“He’s the strongest of the three of us. I feel more comfortable having him around.” I wasn’t ashamed to admit that. Crow and I were still tough men, but we were nothing compared to how we used to be in our youth. Griffin didn’t just surpass us in power, but in youth. “We’re going into the underworld. All we have is our reputation, which has grown stale. Griffin is at least current.”

“I want to be there,” Griffin said. “Carmen means a lot to me.”

I’d noticed Griffin’s affection for my daughter a long time ago. It wasn’t sleazy, but brotherly.

“He is the strongest of us,” Crow said in agreement. “Which is why I want him to stay behind. He’s the second line of defense if something bad happens. He’s more capable than our sons, and he has connections. He’ll handle the winery and become the patriarch of the family. Cane, he has to stay.”

Griffin looked at the ground, but his body relaxed like those words meant something to him.

I couldn’t argue with my brother’s reasoning. “Alright. It’s just us, then. Let’s do this.”

We knew exactly where the casino was because it was in plain sight. Bosco didn’t fear the police or private law enforcement. They were powerless against a man like him. So they were allowed to break the law every day, keeping the peace in exchange for law enforcement’s cooperation.

We had a few men accompany us, but that was just to carry the bags of cash. None of them were armed.

We approached the side entrance and stepped inside, immediately drawing attention because they recognized our faces but knew we weren’t members of the casino. They searched us, finding nothing but our phones. They looked at the money next and didn’t blink an eye when they saw all the cash tucked away inside the leather bags. But they put the bags on the conveyor belt of the X-ray machine to make sure there was nothing hidden in the stacks of bills.

They were extremely thorough.

Once everything was in order, the man in charge of the security floor addressed both of us. “What do you want? This is way too much for membership dues, so you must have another intention.” His hands came together at his waist, his pistol sitting on his hip. The rest of the men were dressed in suits and held rifles. There were at least twelve of them on this floor alone.

I wasn’t intimidated, probably because I was blinded by my love for Carmen. All I cared about was protecting her, getting her away from this asshole. I would make any sacrifice for that to happen. “I want to speak to Bosco alone.”

The man stared at me with his brown eyes, looking uninterested despite the words I just said. “Why?”

“That’s my business, not yours.” Being difficult wouldn’t get me anywhere, but I wouldn’t bow down like some kind of pussy. “You’re paid to wipe his ass, not be involved in his personal affairs. Tell him the Barsetti brothers want to see him. He’ll know exactly what it’s about.”

Crow kept his stern expression beside me, seeming unafraid of the armed men surrounding us. They could blow our brains out with all their weapons and keep the cash, but since Bosco paid their bills, they wouldn’t do a damn thing until he gave the order.

The man’s eyes narrowed in offense, and he held my gaze for a long time, like he wished there was something he could do in retaliation. Unfortunately for him, there wasn’t. So he stepped into a different room and left us alone with the remaining eleven men.

Minutes passed.

Crow and I stood side by side but didn’t exchange a single word. We didn’t give away our motivations, just in case there were cameras watching every move we made. I crossed my arms over my chest and seemed bored, while my brother stared at the wall ahead, looking unconcerned with the whole situation.

It wasn’t until fifteen minutes had passed before the man returned. “Your men stay outside. We’ll escort you to Bosco along with the money.” He nodded to his men. A few took up a formation around us, while the others grabbed the bags of money and carried them for us.

We moved through a few doors before we finally entered the casino.

Another dozen armed men surrounded us, cutting us off from socializing with anyone else in the room. It may have looked like they were protecting us, but they were keeping us isolated from everyone and everything in the room, just in case we had a trick up our sleeve.

At least Bosco Roth didn’t underestimate us.

We moved to the other side of the floor and stopped in front of double red doors. There were no tables or members around the area, so it seemed like it was off-limits. The man in charge opened the doors and ushered us into a private lounge with a full bar. There were two leather sofas in the center of the room, and the lighting was moody and dark. A bartender was behind the counter.

Bosco Roth sat on the leather sofa facing us, wearing a black suit and matching tie. He met our gaze without flinching, as if he was indifferent to our sudden appearance on his turf. His elbows rested on his thighs, and he stared at us with striking blue eyes that were similar to Griffin’s. A glass of scotch was on the table, and he took a drink as he stared at us.

The men piled the bags of money in the corner.

Four men took their places around the room, holding their rifles. The others left.

Crow and I stood behind the other couch, staring at our enemy as I tried to gauge more about this powerful man. Just looking at him pissed me off, that smug gaze and that expensive suit. He thought he owned the world. He thought he owned my daughter.

I wanted nothing more than to take one of those rifles, put the barrel in his mouth, and pull the trigger.

Bosco didn’t rise. “Take a seat, gentlemen.”

I didn’t want to cooperate simply because I hated him. I wanted to be disobedient, to disrespect him as much as possible.

Bosco barely waved his hand before the bartender was at his side. “Get these gentlemen whatever they would like.”

“Yes, sir.” He came to Crow first. “What will you be drinking this evening?”

“Scotch—on the rocks,” Crow answered.

The bartender turned to me next, asking the question with just his gaze.

“I don’t want anything from this asshole.”

The bartender didn’t react before he walked away.

Bosco held my gaze, not even slightly offended.

The bartender placed Crow’s drink on the table then resumed his position behind the bar.

Crow moved to the couch, so I followed suit. We sat down and faced Bosco, the table was the only piece of furniture between us.

Bosco seemed comfortable in his element, surrounded by booze, men, and power. He had the upper hand in the situation, and he knew it. He wasn’t afraid of us—and it didn’t seem like he was pretending. He grabbed his glass and took a drink, licking his lips when he was finished. “It’s smooth. You should try some, Cane.”

I ground my teeth together, despising his arrogance. “I’m about to knock your teeth out.”

All the men pointed their rifles right at me. It suddenly became very tense, the silence deafening because of the threat lingering in the air. My brother didn’t undermine me in front of Bosco by telling me to calm down, even though that was probably what he was thinking.

Bosco gave a subtle wave of his hand, and the men immediately pointed their rifles to the ground once more. He kept his gaze on me the entire time, knowing the men would obey without having to check. “Who should go first? Me or you?” He maintained a calm persona, which gave him more power in the situation. He had complete control over this city, so our visit was uneventful to him. He didn’t feel the need to control the conversation because it didn’t matter. He would win either way.

“I’ll get right to the point, asshole.” I refused to call him by his name, especially to his face. He didn’t deserve that respect. He could shoot me if he wanted to.

Bosco didn’t flinch at the insult. “Alright. What’s the point?”

“I brought a hundred million with me tonight. Your men counted it. It’s not counterfeit.”

He chuckled slightly, like that was amusing. “The Barsettis have a respectable reputation. They wouldn’t pull an idiotic stunt like that. I know you’re good for it.” He grabbed his glass and took another drink. “I’m flattered you think a membership is that expensive, but you’re a hundred times over the asking price.”

Fucking prick. “The money is yours. Just let my daughter go.”

“Let her go?” He raised an eyebrow, his fingertips on the top of the glass. “She’s not a prisoner, Cane. That woman can do whatever she wants.”

“You know what I mean.” My body was still, only because I was focused so deeply on the conversation. My anger made me want to shake, made me want to tighten my hands into fists so I could break his jaw. Bosco was a handsome man with attractive features, from his strong jawline, fit physique, and bright eyes. There was nothing I wanted more than to beat him bloody. “A hundred million is yours—if you drop her. That’s a hundred memberships. Even to a man as rich as you, that’s serious cash. Forget about her, and find someone else to keep you entertained.”

He stared at me with frost in his eyes, like my offer actually offended him. “Carmen Barsetti is worth more than a hundred million. She’s worth more than all the money in the world—because she’s invaluable. You could offer me a billion, and my answer would be the same—no.”

I had to stop myself from grabbing his drink and smashing the tumbler over his head. I wanted to shove a shard of glass deep into his eyes and make him permanently blind. I would be dead shortly afterward so I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it, but that didn’t matter. I didn’t care about the rest of my family because I cared so much about my only daughter.

“When Carmen told me her family would never accept me, I assumed it was an exaggeration.” He chuckled, mostly to himself. “But damn, she wasn’t kidding. I never imagined you would walk right up to my doorstep and try to buy me off—without saying a word to her. The Barsetti men are as controlling as the rumors say.”

“Then what’s it gonna take?” I asked, ignoring everything he said. “How do I get rid of you? What’s your price?”

He held his glass in his palm, his fingertips lightly tapping against the side. “Why do you want to get rid of me so badly? What’s so terrible about me, Cane? From my vantage point, it seems like I’m excessively rich, unquestionably powerful, and surprisingly generous.”

“Generous?” I asked.

“Because you’re still alive.” The room turned ice-cold around us, like the temperature dropped to freezing. “You haven’t given me a chance whatsoever. Your daughter is my woman because she wants to be. Not because she has to or because she’s working off some kind of debt.” He glanced at my brother, referring to Pearl. “I keep her safe. I give her anything she could possibly want. Instead of barging in here and trying to sabotage our relationship, perhaps you should have spoken to your daughter and listened to her. Give her a chance to explain how she feels about me. Get all the facts. Don’t come in here and try to rip us apart. Would you really want that for your daughter? For me to take the money and then break her heart?” He moved closer to me. “Would you really do that to her?”

I held his gaze, unafraid of his proximity. “I’m protecting my daughter. And I will go to any lengths to make that happen.”

He sat back again and refilled his glass. “I believe you love your daughter. And I believe she loves you—because she tells me often. She speaks highly of you—all of you. For that reason, I’m not going to tell her about this conversation. She would be very disappointed if she knew her father, the man she admires the most, marched down here and interfered in her personal life. You forget that she’s a grown woman who’s capable of making her own decisions.”

I was touched by what he said, but I refused to show it. “She’s obviously incapable of making good decisions if she’s involved with you.”

He held his glass without taking a drink. “The two of you used to sell weapons to criminals and terrorists. Crow’s son-in-law was a hitman. Your son bought a woman from the underground then made her his wife. The list goes on…” He shook his head slightly. “My crimes are petty compared to yours. I run a business—that’s it.”

“You’re involved with murderers and rapists on a daily basis,” I snapped. “I don’t want my daughter around that. I want her to be safe. We’ve all walked away from those lives to keep our family safe.”

“There’s nowhere safer in the world than by my side,” Bosco countered. “She has twelve men guarding her at any given time. They blend in with her surroundings, but they’re prepared to intervene if a man simply looks at her too long. If it weren’t for me, you would have lost your daughter months ago when she was taken down that alleyway. You would have lost her at the bank. I’m the monster that keeps the other monsters at bay—let’s not pretend otherwise. When one of the men from the casino became obsessed with her, I took care of it. Instead of having my men shoot him in the back of the head, I did it myself—with my bare hands.” He held up one hand and made a fist. “I have proved a million times over that I can be the man your daughter deserves. Instead of immediately dismissing me, you should have the humility to give me a chance—have a fucking drink with me.” He slammed his glass down, making it thud loudly. “I don’t want to come between you and your daughter, so your secret is safe with me. But I hope you don’t repeat your brother’s mistakes.” He glanced at Crow before turning back to me.

“If you’re such a good guy, why is there a three-month arrangement?” Crow questioned, speaking for the first time. “And from what we understand, she tried to leave, and you wouldn’t allow it. Doesn’t sound like you’re the nice guy you claim to be.”

Bosco took his time before he answered, absorbing the question like a sponge. “The only reason Carmen has ever pushed me away is because she didn’t see a future—because you two would never approve. I asked her to give me a real chance. That’s all I ever wanted. When she finally did…we had something beautiful.”

“You didn’t answer my question, asshole.” My eyes narrowed on his face, hating the way he danced around my question.

No matter how many times I insulted him, he never grew angry. “I’m not the same man I used to be. I’m much different now from the moment we met. I won’t pretend I was some kind of gentleman who played by the rules. But your daughter has softened me in many good ways. I need you to understand that I would never hurt her, that I only want to make her happy, and her safety is my priority.”

A part of me believed him when I didn’t want to. I was deep inside his lair, and he could have killed us a while ago. It wouldn’t be difficult to cover this up, especially when Griffin was the only one who knew what was happening.

“I’ll be frank with you, Cane,” Bosco continued. “Carmen has told me, many times, that her family is the most important thing to her. If the Barsettis will never accept me, then there’s no hope for us. I respect that because I respect everything that comes out of her pretty mouth. She doesn’t settle for less than what she deserves, and she’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. You raised a fine daughter—independent, smart, and resourceful. If that moment comes, and she wants to leave…I’ll let her go.”

Finally, some good news. “You will?”

He nodded. “I already told you I respect her. I’m sorry you didn’t believe that.”

It was hard for me to believe anything he said, not when he had such a barbaric reputation.

“But you wouldn’t be doing her any favors…because she loves me.”

“She does not love you.” My daughter might be dumb enough to get into this situation, but she couldn’t be that stupid.

He brought his hands together, his fingertips touching. “I told her I love her, Cane. I say it every day. And she says it back. You can think what you want, but I’m telling you the truth. I just want you to understand that this relationship isn’t just physical. It’s intimate, emotional, intense. It’s… I can’t even describe it. I would die for her in a heartbeat. By extension…I would never hurt you or your brother.” He pointed his hands at me then at Crow. “Because it would hurt the woman I love. Maybe I should have kept that information to myself, but I’m putting all my cards on the table…so you can see exactly what I have in my hand.”

Crow sighed quietly behind me, not in relief, but in disappointment. He turned to me, giving me a look only I would understand.

Now I realized this was so much more complicated than I had imagined. I was hoping Bosco was an asshole who was using her, so it would be easier to get rid of him. But if he loved her and she loved him…it didn’t seem like I had a chance.

Bosco kept his hands together and continued to stare at me, giving me a chance to process what he’d said. “Don’t do this the wrong way. Don’t push away your daughter or force her to push me away. She needs both of us.”

After watching Crow go through the most difficult six months of his life, I didn’t want to repeat his mistakes. He pushed Vanessa away when he got rid of Griffin, and that ended up being a horrible error in judgment. Despite Griffin’s past, he was a good man—and worthy of Crow’s daughter.

I didn’t want to do the same thing. I didn’t want to put Carmen through the heartache, nor do it to myself.

Bosco waited patiently for some kind of response.

I was at a loss for words. All of this had been happening for the last three months, and now that so much time had passed, my daughter had fallen in love with the biggest crime lord I’d ever heard of.

Crow stared me for a second, pity in his eyes. He turned back to Bosco. “I think I can speak for my brother when I say he still doesn’t like this. No father wants his daughter to be with a man so close to danger. My son-in-law works at the winery with us, so he’s not associated with that lifestyle anymore. Even if Carmen loves you and you love her…it’s not a good match.”

“With all due respect, that’s not for you to decide,” Bosco said simply. “Carmen can make her own decisions. I’m the only man she’s ever loved. She’s so beautiful that she can have whatever man she wants. She obviously only wants me.” He didn’t put it delicately, but he wasn’t abrasive either. “Despite what you may think of me, I’ve earned her. I’m not afraid to get my hands bloody in her honor. I would lay down my life for hers in a heartbeat. The robber at the bank gave her that black eye. So I stabbed him to death and listened to him scream. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman, no sacrifice too big for me to make. If that doesn’t make me worthy of her…I don’t know what will.”

He reminded me of Griffin in a lot of ways, whether that was good or bad.

Crow spoke again. “She told Griffin she would leave you when this is over. She doesn’t see you being the kind of husband that she wants.”

He didn’t hide the pain that danced across the surface in his eyes. “That’s what she says. But I know she won’t walk away. What we have is too strong. She assumes I can’t be what she needs, but she’s never asked. Maybe if she did…she would get the answer she wants.”

“In our culture, a woman doesn’t introduce a man to her father unless he’s going to be her husband.” When I pictured that day, I always imagined Carmen introducing me to an attractive young man with a small amount of success. He was average but kind, someone safe who would make her happy. I still hoped that would happen. “With that being said, you still have a few weeks left. If she leaves you…my problems are solved. If she stays, then I guess I’ll have to deal with you then.” If my daughter wasn’t sure if this was the man she wanted to marry, then I didn’t need to worry about it now. It was obvious that he was kind to her, that he was protective and loving. He wasn’t the evil and cruel crime lord I assumed he would be. He was very tame in comparison to his reputation.

Bosco finished his glass then gave a nod. “That sounds fair. You made the right decision.”

“Yes,” I said. “I just hope my daughter makes the right decision as well.”

Bosco gave a lopsided grin, but his eyes thudded with pain. “We shall see. Can we keep this between us? So she won’t be influenced either way?”

I didn’t want to tell Carmen I marched down here with the intention of killing this man. She would probably be angry with me for interfering with her personal life. I’d made the same mistakes Crow did. The only difference was Bosco was kind enough to keep it a secret. “Yes. This stays between us.”