to give him land?” I blink, surprised that he’s offering anything at all. I was so sure that when I came back here and told him that, he would tell me that this was a lost cause, and I would be forced to go into Rossi territory guns blazing but color me shocked. “Why would you do that?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” he asks.
I shrug. “Dove isn’t your concern, and all I’ve asked for is your men and some weapons. Yet you offer me more… why?”
Sighing, he places his glass down on the desk. “It’s complicated…”
“I have time. There is something you are not telling me, and I need to know what’s going on. You know damn well how dangerous it is not knowing a vital piece of information.
“This needs to stay between you and me for now,” he says, shooting me a threatening look. When I nod, he continues. “The truth is, Dove is my daughter.”
What the fuck did he just say?
“That’s why Christian wanted her and why he searched for her for so many years. He most likely planned to use her against me in some way. I mean, that’s what I would’ve done if he had a daughter he was looking for, and I found her first.”
“Wait…” I try and comprehend what he’s saying. “You’re Dove’s father?”
He nods. “Yes, her mother and I were in love. She was married, but it was a loveless marriage. When she found out she was pregnant, she was so happy; we both were. She had planned to run away with me. Somewhere along the way, she escaped her husband but never came to me. I thought she was dead, but as I found out later, she had Dove. Then her past caught up with her. Before I could save her, I found out her husband had killed her. Made it look like an overdose, but I know it was him. My daughter was gone by the time I found out. I’d spent years searching for her but always came up empty-handed.”
This… it can’t be real. Matteo can’t be Dove’s father. She can’t possibly be a part of this fucked up dark world. She’s so innocent and sweet. So perfect, and all this world does is take and break you.
“That explains why you want her now, so you can use her,” I say, looking down at the floor. I can’t believe that after everything, Dove’s father is alive, and the leader of one of the biggest mob families. How did this happen? He’s just going to hurt her, and I’m going to have to kill him if he does.
“I don’t want to use her, Zane. I want a relationship with my daughter. I want her to stand beside me at the throne of the Castro family.”
“She doesn’t know this life. She’s fragile, innocent…” I tell him.
“She is now because she doesn’t know any better, but she will get used to it. It’s in her blood.” We stare at each other for a long moment, and I swear, I can see him moving his chess pieces around, placing them strategically. “Now, we go back to Damon and tell him the offer. She’s my daughter, and I’m never leaving her behind again.”
Instantly, I know this changes everything… Dove is in more danger than I ever could’ve imagined, and I’m not sure I can protect her from the evil that’s lurking in the dark, murky waters.
29
When I wake, I feel so rested that I actually forget where I am for a moment. Then reality slams back into me. I open my eyes and stare at the bare ceiling, wondering if I’m ever going to be free again or if I’m just going to be shoved from one prison to the next.
Taking a deep breath, I stretch my arms over my head. I must still be asleep because I swear, I can smell coffee.
Freshly brewed coffee…
“Did you sleep well?” A voice startles me, and I jolt from the bed like the blanket is on fire and scan the room for any threats. My eyes collide with Xander, who is sitting in the corner of the room. He’s casually leaning back in the flimsy chair like it’s completely normal to watch someone while they’re sleeping.
“W-what are you doing here?” I ask when I catch my breath.
“It’s my compound, I can go wherever I want, this room included.”
“Yeah, but does it have to be my cell?” I say before I can think.