22
I smirked as I walked into the house with my father, Stefano, right behind me. The night had gone exactly as ! planned–almost too easy. I turned to him, feeling a rush of satisfaction.
“So, what’s next? Now that we have her, what’s the plan?” I asked, already thinking of my next move
Before he could answer, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the floor cut through the silence. I sighed, already knowing who it was before she even appeared.
Hailey stormed toward me, her face twisted in anger. She shoved her phone in my face. “Have you seen the news?” she snapped. “And why the hell did Zaverio come here, threatening me? He’s convinced you kidnapped
Ciara!”
I snatched the phone from her and glanced at the screen. MISSING SALVADOR HEIRESS CIARA SALVADOR ABDUCTED! blared across the headlines. My jaw tightened.
“This is your fault,” I said, my patience snapping.
Hailey blinked, “My fault?”
“Yes, it’s your fault!” I shouted. “If I hadn’t cheated on Ciara with you, none of this would be happening! I would still be married to a multi–billionaire heiress instead of being stuck with a broke–ass whore like you!”
Her face paled, her lips parting in shock. “Tony… how can you say that?”
She reached for me, but I took a step back in disgust. “Don’t start with the fake tears,” I sneered. “You’re nothing but a parasite, Hailey. I should’ve thrown you out a long time a
ago.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I gave up everything for you.
I rolled my eyes. “And I’m telling you now–you were never worth it”
I turned to the guards by the door. “Get her out of my house.”
Hailey let out a choked gasp. “You’re throwing me out?”
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
The guards stepped forward, grabbing her by the arms. She thrashed, her voice rising into a shriek.
“Tony! You’ll regret this! I swear you will!”
The doors slammed shut behind her, cutting off her screams.
I exhaled sharply and turned to my father. “Now that the trash is gone, let’s focus.”
Stefano smirked. “Agreed. We need to act fast before Zaverio does.”
I nodded. “So, what’s the plan?”
Stefano took a seat, completely at ease. “We go to the Salvadors and negotiate. Make them an offer they can’t
refuse.”
I chuckled. “Let’s see how much their precious daughter is worth to them.
The Salvador mansion was crawling with security when we arrived. Armed guards lined the gates, their ey locked on me like they were waiting for a reason to shoot.
The second I stepped out of the car, Adam was there, storming toward me, fists clenched.
“You’ve got some nerve showing your face here,” he seethed.
I smirked, unfazed. “Relax, little brother–in–law. I’m here to talk”
“Talk?” Adam scoffed. “You kidnapped my sister! And I’m not your brother–in–law!!”
I held up my hands in mock innocence. “Do you have proof?”
D
Adam’s nostrils flared, and for a second, I thought he might take a swing at me. But before he could, his father’s voice rang out.
$47 AM
“Let them in.”
The tension in the room was suffocating as Stefano and I stepped inside. Ciara’s parents sat rigidly on the leather couches, their expressions unreadable.
Stefano spoke first. “Let’s not waste time. We know you want Ciara back.”
Ciara’s father’s eyes blazed with fury. “Where is she?”
I leaned against the armrest, feigning ease. “She’s safe… for now.”
“You son of a “Adam lunged forward, but his father stopped him with a sharp look
Ciara’s mother’s voice trembled with restrained anger. “What do you want?”
I smirked. “Simple. First, you annul Ciara’s marriage to Zaverio. Then, she will marry me again.”
Adam let out a humorless laugh. “You can’t be serious
“Oh, I’m dead serious.” I leaned back, crossing my arms. “And there’s more. The Salvador cartel announces a partnership with the Reeds cartel. We use your name to fix our finances and secure new contracts.”
Ciara’s father clenched his fists. “You want to use my daughter to fix your failures?”
I shrugged. “Think of it as… a second chance. You should be thanking me. If I hadn’t been so ‘stupid,‘ as your
son says, Ciara would have never stepped out of the shadows. She owes me”
Adam’s face twisted with rage. “You’re unbelievable. She spent seven years helping you behind the scenes, and you threw her away. Now that you know she’s powerful, you suddenly want her back?”
I smirked. “Everyone makes mistakes. Let’s just make sure you don’t make one by rejecting my offer.”
Clara’s father’s voice was ice–cold. “And if we refuse?”
I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a whisper.
“Then you’ll never see your daughter again”
