11. Chapter Eleven

"Are you sure this is the only way?" Matteo asks for the hundredth time.

"We've gone over this, Matteo. There are no other options." He huffs out an annoyed sound and I lean closer, tapping the table with my finger and holding his gaze. "Do remember, I'm not the one who did this. This is your fault."

"You think I don't know that?" he hisses.

"You should be thanking me rather than giving me lip over being backed into a corner. I'm the one saving your ass."

Of course there is one other option—I let them die. I'm fine with him dying, but ever since I spent the night with his daughter, I haven't been able to stop thinking about her. This whole situation might cause me issues, but I'm not giving this up.

"What if they don't accept it? You know how they are," he grumbles.

The fact this man is speaking to me as if we are still friends, as if he didn't screw me over, has me wondering if he's truly lost his mind. The man owes me millions. Was lying straight to my face for years. Making me look like a fool. And he thinks I've just shown back up, willing to help him out of the goodness of my heart? I didn't think the man could be so dense, but apparently, he is. That, or he's delusional.

"I'm prepared to handle it."

A flash of long brown hair pulls my attention from the imbecile in front of me and turns it to someone completely deserving of it.

Jordan Delise. Standing as still as the statue beside her.

I knew she wouldn't expect me. Knew the look on her face would be priceless when she saw me enjoying breakfast with dear old dad. And boy, was I right.

Her father is drawling on about something I couldn't care less about. I smile politely, causing him to bring his attention to her too. Good. Now she can't run away because Daddy has seen her too.

I wink at her. The fear in her eyes is bright and delicious. I get to my feet, and take the few steps to her, offering her my hand.

"You look gorgeous this morning." She gives me her hand robotically, not responding verbally, and I kiss the back of it. "Manners, angel," I remind her quietly.

Her brow furrows and she mutters a, "Thank you."

I lead her to the table with my hand on the small of her back. I pull out the chair, help her into it, and take my seat.

"Jordan, you look lovely this morning," her father says pridefully.

He does a good job of hiding his annoyance with her. Though she is the apple of his eye and he's always had a soft spot for her, she's fucked him over and doesn't even know it. The man confided in me not ten minutes ago how angry he is with her being so foolish. It took everything in me not to knock him out right then and there. How dare he call my future wife foolish?

The man has spent his life giving his daughter everything, and she has no idea it's only been to keep her from asking questions. She's been groomed to be compliant. Probably why she responded to me so well over the weekend. Matteo Delise has been using his precious daughter for leeway since the day she was born, and she has no idea. She'll tell you until she's blue in the face how amazing and wonderful and doting her father is. But now he's gone too far and pissed off the wrong people, and guess who is suffering? Or who would have been suffering if it weren't for me swooping in to save the day? Or save her life, I guess.

But I gave him an offer he can't refuse—not if he wants their lives spared.

Breaking his daughter's heart, like he's about to do right now, won't be easy for the man. He's not a complete monster. Of course he cares about her. She is his daughter. And though I don't want my sweet little angel hurting, it's okay that her world is about to be shattered. Because I'm right here to pick up the pieces and stitch it back together to make something much more beautiful. Hopefully in the form of a successful marriage, plenty of children, and fucking her brains out every night.

Matteo is lucky I haven't killed him myself. It's a wonder he's made it by unscathed for so long. The man is a menace. Always has been. A liar, cheater, sneak, and a horrible business man. I looked the other way for too long because we were childhood friends. My father considered him like a son for many, many years. But at the end of the day, Matteo isn't a Bramante. He's a Delise and a fucking problem that needed to be dealt with.

"Thank you, Daddy," Jordan says, her voice quiet like a mouse but as polite as expected.

It's adorable. Especially considering I'd listened to her scream in pleasure for hours a few days ago. Especially when you tease her. She somehow turns into something akin to a cat in heat. What a lovely and intriguing contrast.

A smirk slides across my lips as my gaze dips to her cleavage. I bet her nipples are so hard beneath the little dress of hers. Bet she's thinking of all the ways she came in front of me on Saturday night. The way I jerked off all over her and fed her my cum. It's probably why her cheeks are a slight shade of pink. It's not like it's hot in here. The place is well air-conditioned.

Little does she know it'll happen a lot more from this point on. Bigger and better things too, because the weekend was only a taste of what's in store for her.

It was so hard to let her go Sunday morning, and I almost didn't, but I needed a few days to get my affairs in order. I'd considered telling her the good news before we parted ways, as I'd already made up my mind, but I didn't want to get ahead of myself. I couldn't risk Jordan telling her father before I had the chance to. I'm not stupid. She isn't going to take this well. I don't anticipate her leaping into my arms and begging me to whisk her away.

But she'll get used to it. She doesn't have a choice. Daddy has agreed to the deal, and he knows the price of not following through this time is ending up at the bottom of the Pacific with a courtesy cinder block anklet or two.

How do you sleep with yourself at night, Matteo?

He and Jordan share small talk that I'm not tuning into. I'm so taken aback by the way this man keeps his cool. I mean, when I have children, which I will sooner rather than later thanks to this new arrangement, there isn't a single thing in this world that would make me okay with giving them up to pay a debt. Not a single thing.

But that's the difference between Matteo Delise and me. He doesn't have a heart. I do. Just because it's stone cold doesn't mean it isn't there. Perhaps he takes comfort in the fact Jordan knows me. Maybe he thinks it'll be easier for her. What a fucking lie. His previous deals blow that theory right out of the water. This has nothing to do with making Jordan comfortable. It's all about getting his ass out of the hot water he found himself in.

I glance at Jordan as she smiles, taking in whatever it is her father is talking about.

She's a bombshell. So gorgeous and compliant and submissive that it's hard to believe.

She's dangerous, but she's going to be so much fun.

"Will you have your usual, Mr. Delise?" A young blond waitress stops at the table, looking at Matteo first.

"Yes, please," he says. "Jordan will as well."

I narrow my eyes at the man, wondering if Jordan is allowed to make any decisions for herself. I don't want my children to be incapable of using their brains.

Jordan is smart, always has been. Which is why it's so surprising she hasn't discovered who her father truly is yet.

"And for you, Mr. Bramante?" the waitress asks, looking at me with little hearts in her eyes. It's always the blonds who get the little hearts in their eyes. Too bad I'm never interested.

"Just a scotch for me. Neat."

She smiles and leaves us.

"So," Jordan finally says, reaching for her glass of water. "Why is Enzo joining us for breakfast?" she asks her father.

Matteo opens his mouth to answer, but who the hell knows what he's going to say, so I butt in. Besides, from today on, she doesn't get answers from anyone but me. Her future husband and father of her children.

"That's a discussion for after you eat," I tell her.

She furrows her brows at me, before looking back at her father as if he's going to answer her. She'll soon realize what I say goes—in all aspects of her life. He's disgruntled at not giving her an answer, but he'll get over it. He knows not to cross me.

But then it hits me…

Is she worried I'm here to spill her dirty little secret? Does she think I told dear old daddy how hard she likes to be fucked? That she can ride a cock better than an award winning jockey can ride a horse.

She doesn't look scared enough for that.

Jordan narrows her eyes at me and lifts her chin.

"I was speaking to my father."

I can't help the tug on my lips.

Feisty this morning, are we?

The waitress returns with my drink, and I take a sip.

"He's right, Jordan. We'll talk about it after we eat," Matteo quickly says, patting her hand.

She scowls at me, and I mouth, "mind your manners." This only infuriates her, which I find to be so damn adorable. She grits her teeth, and I think there's steam coming out of her ears.

"How was your weekend?" I ask Matteo, leaning back in my chair. "Did you do anything fun? Go out anywhere?"

Jordan glares at me, but I ignore her. This is certainly going to be fun. Let's see how feisty she can get first thing in the morning.

"Busy, as usual," he says as he reaches for his whisky.

"That's unfortunate," I say. "I had an extraordinary weekend."

From the corner of my eye, Jordan's eyes widen, pleading with me not to say anything. Still, I ignore her.

"No work this weekend?" Matteo asks casually.

"Took the weekend off. Needed some me time. You ever hear of a key party, Matteo?" I ask, dragging my finger along the rim of my glass.

Jordan reaches for her water and brings it to her lips, taking the smallest sip. When she puts it back down, I note her fingers are trembling. I reach under the table and place my hand on her knee, scooping her dress up so I can touch her soft skin. She doesn't fight me, but her legs are trembling too.

"Yes, I believe so. They're quite expensive. Looked into them for one of the clubs but it was too much work." He waves a hand in the air, his face scrunching up like he sucked on a lemon.

He'd never be able to pull something like that off, so it's a good thing he didn't try.

"Expensive, but worth it. They handle everything. Scout the people joining, and it's a long and thorough process to be accepted. Only the best of the best gets accepted. Quite the experience too."

"I'm glad you enjoyed your weekend," Matteo says with a sigh and goes for his drink.

"I certainly did. I like to think the woman I spent time with did as well."

Matteo winces, putting his glass down, and says, "Vincenzo, I don't mean to be rude, but is this the conversation we should have over breakfast, in front of my daughter?"

I smile, staying silent for a long moment. "I suppose not." I give Jordan's thigh a little squeeze.

Their food is brought a moment later, and I spend time on my phone dealing with emails as they eat and share small talk I couldn't care less about. I look up now and then to see how long until they're finished. I'm itching for Jordan to hear the news.

When they're finally done, and their plates are cleared, I put my phone down.

"Do you want to tell Jordan the good news, or shall I?" I ask, looking at Matteo. His eyes are burning with rage, and I half expect him to pick up his fork and stab me in the throat with it. Of course he doesn't do that, and instead, his shoulders sag and he sighs.

"I'll do it."

He reaches for Jordan's hand, taking it between both of his large ones.

"What's wrong, Daddy? What's going on?" she says, looking from him to me with a crease between her brows.

"Jordan, you know I love you dearly, yes?"

"Of course…"

"You are the only thing in this world that matters to me anymore, which is why I have to do what I have to do. It wasn't an easy decision, but if things are to stay as they are, this is how it has to be."

Wasn't an easy decision? I barely blinked before the man was agreeing to my terms.

"I don't understand what's going on…" Jordan says with a small shake of her head.

Oh, things are about to get good.

"I got myself into some trouble, Jordan," Matteo explains.

"What are you talking about? What kind of trouble?"

Matteo lets go of Jordan's hand and grabs his alcohol, finishing it off in one mouthful. "The details don't matter. All you need to know is I got myself into some trouble, and in order to keep you safe, I had to make a deal."

I keep my gaze on Jordan, wanting to see the exact moment she realizes what's going on. The precise moment she realizes her life is mine.

"What kind of deal?" she asks in a trembling voice.

Because I'm a businessman, I know how to make deals. I know if I want things to go my way, there has to be some give and take where it's possible. Which is why I agreed Matteo wouldn't have to tell her everything. Though he may think it's me being fair, it's not. I'm ten steps ahead of him and plan on using his mistakes to gain Jordan's trust. I'm not going to make the man spill every secret he has right here and now. Some of them need to stay in the dark for a little while longer.

When she wants to tell me how horrible I am, what a terrible and awful man I am—because she will—and throw in my face how great of a father Matteo is, I'll hit her with the hard truth. The facts.

She can learn the easy way or the hard way that I don't lie. That I am an honest man.

Matteo sighs again. "Vincenzo has agreed to help us. He's going to pay the debts I owe, but he needs something in return."

"Daddy, you're scaring me. What is going on?" she demands.

I can't wait to take her home and make everything all better by licking her sweet cunt until she's coming on my face.

"Sweetheart," he begins, taking her hand again. "You, uh—" He sighs heavily, and says, "Sweetie, you have to marry Vincenzo." He winces, closing his eyes and shaking his head as if he's the one getting the bad news.

She's silent for a long moment, then she laughs.

"You're joking." She turns to me, her eyes bright and shining with humor. "This is a joke." She turns her attention back to her father, who is frowning deeply.

"This isn't a joke, Jordan. It's already settled," he says solemnly.

"I don't—" She gasps, her hand jolting up to cover her mouth. Her bright honey eyes widen as she stares at her father. She's frozen, as beautiful as a goddess, like the Aphrodite statue a few feet away.

"I-I don't understand," she chokes out. "I don't want to marry him, Daddy. I want to stay with you. I just broke up with Zach. How can I get engaged again so soon? What will people say?" She looks at me like I've turned into an alien with three heads. "And he's so—so…" Her eyes fall shut and she turns back to her father. "You can't make me do this."

Well, she's taking it better than I thought she would. I was certain I'd see that hot temper of hers.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he says, choking up. "But there is no other way. It's done."

He looks like he's on the verge of crying, while she goes through a myriad of emotions. I watch them, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Show me your anger, angel. Show me what you've got.

It doesn't take long. She whips her head toward me, standing suddenly. The chair scrapes loudly along the floor. She leans close to me, her hands balled into fists.

"I'd have preferred you just tell him," she hisses, turns on her heel, and rushes out of the restaurant.

"Jordan!" her father calls, getting to his feet. He moves after her.

"Stop," I demand before he gets too far. "Sit down, Matteo. We have matters to discuss."

"But…" He looks from me back to Jordan, who is now out the door. His shoulders sag, and he brings his attention back to me, his mouth opening like he may argue.

I raise a brow, gesturing toward his seat. He better sit his ass down before he makes more of a scene than was already made. Matteo Delise has no room to argue with me. If his debt isn't paid, both he and Jordan are dead, and it's out of my hands.