Page 19 of Bulletproof Baby

I roll my eyes as my parents stand idly by, letting this asshole control us. My words are short, full of frustration and annoyance. "I don't want to play this game between you and Don Barrone. I'm not going to date him and put my life in danger."

"You'll do as I fucking say, Lia. Your family still has a debt to pay, and if you all want to stay out of jail, putting your life on the line is worth the risk. Now, I understand you may not want to be as open with your parents around, so you're going to meet me for dinner," Saul says.

I turn away from him, wondering when this nightmare is going to end.

My parents are silent as Saul continues to speak. "The price for keeping your little secret has gone up. The fact that the money from the auction must now be used to secure the construction site means that you're running low on funds to pay my weekly stipend."

Pop pipes up. "Stipend? You make more money off of us than our employees."

"Well murderers who walk free have a price to pay for that freedom," Saul replies. "There's also a price to pay for discussing our personal business arrangement with the authorities."

My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach. How does he know anything? And so quickly? We only spoke with Cecilia a few hours ago.

Saul chuckles. "You're foolish if you think only Don Barrone has people in positions of power. What did you think would come of speaking to the district attorney?"

"No one spoke to the district attorney," Ma says, her gaze shifting to us.

It's impossible to know exactly what Cecilia said while attempting to secure a deal for my parents' freedom. The fact is that we don't have enough incriminating information to have Saul arrested. Cecilia explained that to me and Pop. But we never expected it to get back to Saul this fast, if at all.

"Don't lie. It's beneath us at this point." Saul warns. "We've been so honest about everything else. You killed that young man whose corpse is decomposing in the pilings that hold up the foundation of this very site. Imagine the shock, disgust, and justice that will be demanded if the public and the authorities, knew of how you disposed of someone as innocent as Adam."

"Who's Adam?" I ask.

Pop's eyes widen with horror as he turns to Saul. "How? How did you know that was his name? His face was never on the security cameras. The footage only shows his body falling into the hole and cement pouring over him."

Saul's maniacal grin grows. "I may or may not have encouraged the young man to secure employment here. I told him to take whatever he wanted as payment."

"He tried to take me," Ma says in a low whimper. I don't want clarity on what she means, but if it ended in that man's death, I'm certain money wasn't the kind of payment he wanted. It doesn't take long for anger to replace the solemn tone of her pain. "You're the reason he's dead, Caputo. You sent that animal here. Why?"

"What happened?" The question comes out of me before I truly grasp what I want to know. I've been dreading it. I only know that my parents killed someone, and Saul found out. That's all I ever needed to know.

My parents aren't bad people. Whatever happened was necessary. Still, the details make a world of difference since it's what Saul's holding over them, over me.

Saul laces his fingers together, kicking his feet up on top of the desk. "The Bonetti Brothers Construction Company was selected as a part of a lottery system to bolster mom-and-pop businesses around the city."

"What does that have to do with this Adam guy?" I ask them.

Saul continues to lean back, far too comfortable in this office that doesn't belong to him. His tone is low. "I wanted the business. You were guaranteed specific contracts with the city and my businesses needed those contracts. So here is your out, Bonetti family, sign over ownership to your company and I'll walk out of here right now. If not, Lia, you're having dinner with me tomorrow to discuss the kind of information you're to listen out for when dating Don Barrone."

"I already told you that I'm not doing that. I'm not going to put my life on the line?—"

Saul's speed and anger is remarkable, considering his size. His rage has him out of the chair to flip the desk onto its side in the blink of an eye. The thunderous boom of the solid piece of furniture makes me jump out of my own seat. Papers, drawers, pens, and other objects fly like they’re being tossed around by a tornado. Each one of us takes a step away as Saul breathes hard. His nostrils would billow smoke if he could breathe fire.

"The problem is you think because I want to taste that sweet pussy of yours, Lia, that you're not in danger with me. You'll do as I say, or I will take exactly what I want from all of you. What's it going to be, Bonetti family? Business," he holds out one hand, and then extends the other to me. "Or pleasure?"

My parents look at me, desperate for me to choose what sounds like the easier option. The Bonetti Brothers Construction Company is born out of the blood, sweat, and tears of two young kids growing up in the concrete jungle. Lifelong sweethearts who got married too young, started an impossible business, and managed to build it into something successful. Only for this animal to take it away because he wants to.

My eyes sting from the tears I'm holding back. Yet again, my parents’ sacrifice to get our family to this point of success can be so easily undone. All I have to do is give up my time, yet again.

So be it.

"What time do I have to be ready?" I ask Saul.

"Let's meet at Kings tomorrow night at six. Dress like the divine piece of ass you are, and I'll see you there. Don't be late, Lia." Saul lets out a slow exhale, calming himself from his display of brute rage.

When he leaves the trailer, I finally let out a breath of relief.

"What the hell did you two do?" Ma asks, her eyes darting between me and Pop.