A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

seriously considering just shooting me, and I see his shoulders roll as the muscles tense below his shirt. "I can see you are protective of her, and while it is commendable, I don't suggest ordering me around in any way. I will let it pass this one time, but do not do it again." His voice holds authority, while his eyes shine with a fierce intensity. "She is coming with me as we have things to discuss. Now get out of my way." He growls out low.

I can feel the power rolling off him, and I'm tempted to back down. I look over at Lil, wanting to see what she thinks. She doesn't look scared, and considering how she looked and moved against him on the wall just now, I would think she isn't too opposed to the idea. She gives me a slight nod while mouthing; it’s ok.

Not super thrilled over the idea of letting him take her. I know I hold no authority over the situation. I couldn't stop him if I wanted to. However, I could make it fucking hard for him, probably getting myself killed in the process.

Pulling her to me, I give her a quick hug as she goes to pass by I whisper to her. "Be careful and call me when you're home. If I don't get a call, I'm calling everyone and telling them the New York Familia boss lord kidnapped you."

"Gianna!" She exclaims, swatting my arm. "I promise I'll call you.” She looks at me, mirroring my concern. “Will you be okay getting home?"

I know she is concerned about leaving me by myself. "Yes, I will. I'm going to hang out for a few more minutes. Then I'll have my guards take me home.” I reassure her, waving it off like it's no big deal. “Happy birthday, babe. I love you." I lean in, kissing her on her cheek before she turns and walks up beside Nicoli. I notice him reaching down, grasping her small hand in his, and pulling her next to him protectively before leading her out.

I'm left there standing alone for a moment before going back to the bar to get another drink. I sip it as I glance around, searching the crowd once more. It takes a minute before I realize I am searching for him, the man from outside. After a while of searching to no avail, I give up, knowing it is for the best. What would I even have done anyway if I found him? Pushing from the bar, I go to my guards letting them know I am ready to leave.

That night I waited for Liliana to let me know she made it home safe. It's getting pretty late, and I begin to worry when I still haven't heard from her. Should I call her? A minute after I think it, my phone rings, and I answer it instantly. "Bitch, you were five minutes from me calling in the cavalry on you. Where the hell did you go?"

"Relax, G. I'm fine. He took me to a place he owns here in L.A." She sounds fine, maybe a little apprehensive, but that’s all.

He owns a house in L.A? "And..???"

"And we talked, he gave me a ring, told me our plans, and G…” She pauses. “I am leaving for New York in two days."

"WHAT?? TWO DAYS!" My voice raises in my shock. I shake my head against the phone. "You have got to be fucking joking. You can't leave in two days, Lil! Tell him you won't go. Tell him you want to stay at his house here." I don’t know what I was expecting, but it feels too soon.

"You know I can't do that." She sighs, sounding defeated, mirroring what I feel myself. "G, I'm scared. I don't know how to do this. Start over in New York, be a wife. A flippin’ Capo’s wife! I am just a lowly daughter of a soldier, a traitorous soldier at that. How do I go from that to the wife of the most notorious mafia boss on the east coast? On top of that, how will I come back and see you? I can't just walk up to your place or be seen with you after all of this. People will notice I am gone. They will start asking my father questions. What will he tell them? At some point, they will find out. I'm sure it won't take long." Her words and fears come rolling out, running into each other in her haste to acknowledge them all. I know I need to calm her down and help her relax a little despite my inner turmoil.

"We will figure it out. I don't care if we aren't supposed to see each other. Lil, you are like my sister. I will always be there for you. As for everything else, just be you. Who cares what anyone thinks. Fuck them and fuck your piece of shit father. He may as well be dead to you now." A wave of slight anger settles over me at thinking of her father for giving her to this man.

"Yeah, okay. I'll try to calm down. Everything is just changing so drastically and so fast. I can't keep up." She pauses on the phone. "Hold on, G." My brows pinch at her sudden halt in her conversation before she startles me by calling out. "Oh shit!"

"Lil, what's going on?" I can hear water running in the background for a moment before gargled silence. "Lil?" I call out into the phone. Silence answers me before I hear the audible tone as the line goes dead. I pull it from my ear, looking back at it.

What the fuck. I redial her number, and it goes straight to voicemail. My stomach bunches up as I wonder what is happening. I want to leave and search for her, but I would have no idea where she is. She didn't seem to be in harm when I saw him