Bark For The Don Who’s Been Hunting Me For Ten Years Chapter 07
Three days later. And New York’s high society is watching a full-blown circus.
My father dropped a fortune to book out the rooftop terrace of the Aurelia Hotel. Top of Manhattan. He’s been telling everyone who’ll listen that he’s about to be Cassian De Luca’s father-in-law.
The ballroom is packed. Silk. Diamonds. A champagne tower catching the light like something out of a bad Vegas movie.
My father’s got his glass raised. Surrounded by every socialite and Wall Street shark who wouldn’t even take his call a week ago.
“Oh, please. The Don is obsessed with my daughter. A billion? That’s pocket change. Just a little welcome gift.”
He’s spitting as he talks. Face flushed. Acting like he owns the city now.
Across the room, Camilla’s making sure everyone sees the emerald bracelet on her wrist. Rolls up her sleeve nice and slow.
“Oh, this? Sera sent it. Had the Don pick it out personally. She’s always been such a thoughtful girl.”
Bianca’s doing rounds in a knockoff couture gown. Laughing too loud. Champagne flute in hand.
“Poor Sera. Ten years missing, God knows what she went through out there. But it all worked out. Getting to help the family now? She’s blessed, really.”
The jealousy in her eyes is boiling. But she’s still doing the fake sister thing. Makes me want to throw up.
I’m in the back of a stretched Lincoln parked out front. Watching the whole scene on my phone. Live feed from my men inside.
Little laugh slips out of me.
These idiots. They’re holding a death sentence and treating it like a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Cassian’s on one knee on the floor of the car. Smoothing out invisible wrinkles on my dress. Adjusting the hem. Fussing over me like I’m a bride.
“It’s time, baby.”
He looks up. Those killer eyes. Nothing in them right now but sick devotion and something hungry underneath.
I push the door open. Step out in ten-inch heels.
Walk into what’s about to be a bloodbath.
The whole ballroom goes dead silent the second I hit the doorway.
Every head turns.
I’m in white couture. Cassian’s arm under my hand. Red carpet under my heels.
The cut on my face has scabbed over. Under the makeup it looks strange. Beautiful and broken at the same time.
We start walking. Nobody breathes.
My father drops his champagne glass. It shatters on the marble. Nobody flinches.
I don’t look at any of them. I walk straight through the crowd and up onto the stage in the center of the ballroom.
Cassian takes the microphone from the emcee. Both hands. Passes it to me like it’s a crown. Then steps back and sweeps the room with a look that could stop a heart.
I tap the mic twice. Two soft clicks.
The whole room jumps.
“Thank you all for coming.”
My voice is quiet. Steady. Every word landing like a knife.
“You’re here tonight for the funeral of the Marchetti family.”
My father finally snaps out of it. Scrambles up the steps. Voice hissed low so the mic won’t catch it.
“Are you out of your fucking mind. Get down. Now. Stop this.”
I lift a finger. Snap it once.
Two of my men step in and hold him back.
Behind me, the giant LED screen lights up.
“Three nights ago. My father drugged me. Tied me up like a dog. And delivered me to Cassian De Luca’s estate. In exchange for a one-billion-dollar wire transfer.”
The room stops breathing.
“Effective immediately. I, Serafina Marchetti, cut all ties with this family. Blood or otherwise. As far as I’m concerned, they’re dead to me.”
Cassian steps up. Slides his arm around my waist. His eyes drag over my father, who’s on his knees on the stage now.
His voice is ice.
“Wire it back. Every cent. Every account the Marchettis touched gets frozen tonight. That’s a De Luca order.”
“And spread the word. Anyone who fronts the Marchettis one dollar answers to me personally.”
My father collapses. Face down on the stage. Wailing. Crying. Snot everywhere.
I hook my arm through Cassian’s and walk out.
I don’t look back.
Behind me, my family is screaming for mercy. Nobody moves to help them. Every guest in that room is already backing away from the sinking ship.