Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Hattie was Azra’s best friend.”
“Hattie?” Dante asks, lost.
“Hatice Bayar.” Elio spins his laptop screen to show him Hattie’s social media profile. “Azra and Hattie grew up together. From what I can see from her social media posts, they’ve known each other since they were two. Azra caught a severe case of influenza just before her second birthday. Since her mother was pregnant, Ada, the Șahins’ long-term housekeeper, took Azra to her house until she recovered.”
I nod, agreeing with his findings since I heard that exact story only days ago. “Ada and Hattie were Azra’s family in every sense but blood.”
“Still doesn’t explain why she’d want to marry the man she thought killed her sister,” Giovanni says, moving the meeting forward.
“When Antonio married Hattie, the prenup stated any assets accrued before the marriage would be theirs to keep… unless the death was self-inflicted.”
Dante’s eyes widen. “They ruled her death a suicide, so—”
“All her assets, which were the entirety of her mother’s wealth, went to Antonio,” I finish. “Leaving Hattie’s family bankrupt. The house Azra grew up in was part of the inheritance.”
Nico blinks. “Wait. I thought Azra lived with her parents.”
“She did,” I agree. “But she slept under Hattie’s roof more than her own. Hattie’s father died when she was young.” I pause, letting the weight of my next words settle my anger. “So it was safer for Azra there than under a roof where every female is seen as lesser.”
Dante’s jaw tightens as he discloses that my brothers have been watching my relationship with Azra more than they let on. “So Giovanni was right. She didn’t care about Antonio’s money.”
“No. All she wanted back was her godmother’s house.”
Dante frowns. “Why wouldn’t her father help her with that?”
Something hot flares in my chest. It could be anger, but in all honesty, I think it’s closer to pride. “Because they’re not all you, Dante. Azra’s father doesn’t give a fuck about her.”
Now there’s no doubt the heat roaring through me is from anger.
I hate that Don Șahin is still breathing the air he refused to share with his only daughter unless it benefited him in some way. He was fortunate to leave before the sheet-staining ritual was completed, or I would have done everything possible to ensure he joined the other four fools from that night in the car.
With most of the attendees being associated with the Cosa Nostra, taking out the men who witnessed Azra lose her virginity was risky, but with the hotel management team happy to assist, thanks to a generous donation toward their renovation fund, the only guests who checked out before the accident were those men.
The rest slept through the entire thing.
Giovanni leans back and steeples his fingers. “What outcome are you seeking from this information? Revenge? Closure for Azra? We need to know what we’re aiming for before we can commence seeking it.”
I grin, thankful for their immediate support. I have no clue why I didn’t think they’d back my campaign. Yeah, we almost came to blows during our last meeting, but they’re as often as Nico stroking one out to memories of Alora. Regular as fuck.
“My main priority is to get Ada’s house back in the right name.”
“And?” Dante asks, knowing there’s more.
“And…” I pause to build suspense. “I’d also like to prove Azra’s claims are legitimate. The stories she shared of Hattie didn’t depict a suicidal woman.” Elio nods, agreeing with me. “If that knowledge underhandedly takes down the Adamis, I’m all for it.”
“Financially,” Giovanni adds, gaining the attention of every pair of eyes in the room. “We can’t take them down physically. That will undo everything we’ve been endeavoring to achieve over the past seven months.”
I might not like what he says, but I can’t disagree with it. “I understand.”
“Do you?” Giovanni gives me a pointed look. “Because I’m still setting spot fires all across Carlisle to contain the wildfire you lit the morning after your wedding.”
He knows about that?
Of course he does. He’s the don of our chapter for a reason.
He doesn’t appear bothered, though, which frees me to hit him with a frisky wink. We’re governed by rules that have made us filthy fucking rich, but they’re nonexistent when it comes to protecting our women—both physically and mentally.
Giovanni taught me that, so he can’t slap me across the knuckles when I put his logic into play.
With Dante still handling many tasks to give Lucia the same peace I’m trying to provide Azra, he gets our meeting back on track. “We can bankrupt them. Strip them of everything. Leave them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.”
Nico’s tongue peeks between his teeth when he grins. “Fuck that. If we’re going to strip them bare, let’s go the whole hog. The women of Sicily deserve to know they’re signing up for half a wurstelini when they sniff out their next victim.”