My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 660

Chapter 660

Raphael 

I stood at the far end of the loading floor, hands resting behind my back as I watched my men complete the final security sweep.

Every entrance had been covered, every rooftop had a sniper, every camera was live. Every radio channel had been tested twice. No one entered this building without my family knowing exactly where they stood.

And I didn’t want any surprises today.

Two black sedan rolled through the gate, they stopped precisely where I’d ordered them to. The engines died.

One of my soldiers stepped forward, opened the rear door, and Don Giovanni Toricelli climbed out.

His Underboss, Leone Caruso, stepped out of the second car before one of my guards immediately raised a hand.

“Only the Don.”

Leone’s jaw tightened.

Giovanni stopped him with the smallest shake of his head, “I’ll go alone.”

Leone stepped back. Giovanni walked toward me without rushing. His eyes moved once across the warehouse.

He stopped several feet away, neither of us offered a handshake, “You asked for a meeting,” he said evenly.

“I did.”

“I’m here.”

“If you’re expecting this to become a negotiation, it won’t.”

He gave me a nod, “I expected as much.”

“You want to see Gianna.”

“I do.”

“You will… but,” I continued, “you’ll see her on our terms.”

He gave one slow nod, “I’m listening.”

I stepped closer, “The meeting takes place at the cemetery. You don’t bring additional men. You don’t change the time. You don’t attempt to remove her from this property.”

He gave his head a shake, “I won’t…”

I looked directly into his eyes, “I don’t trust you… I don’t trust you because everything I know about Gianna tells me trust is something very few people have earned from her. You weren’t there when she needed you.”

His jaw tightened, “I know.”

“So, if tomorrow’s meeting causes her more pain than comfort there won’t be another one.”

His eyes never left mine, “I didn’t come here to cause my daughter more pain.”

I gave a single nod, “Because if you’re lying… you’ll only get one chance to disappoint her.”

His brow lowered slightly, “And after that?”

“After that… you stop being Gianna’s father in my eyes. I don’t care what name you carry. I don’t care how many men answer to you. I don’t care how much territory belongs to you. I’ll make sure you’re buried. The Capones don’t fear war, Don Toricelli. We were raised in it. If protecting Gianna costs us another one,” I gave a single, almost imperceptible nod, “…then we’ll be the ones deciding how it ends.”

“I get that,” he said with a single nod, “But if she decides she wants to spend a few days in Philadelphia with me?”

“We’ll discuss the arrangements.”

“And if she asks to stay longer?”

I answered without hesitation, “Then that decision will be hers.”

He studied my face, “You’d let her leave Chicago?”

“I’ll respect whatever decision Gianna makes but she won’t travel unprotected.”

His brow lifted slightly.

I continued, “If Gianna is under your roof, my men will still be watching. They won’t interfere with your time together, but they’ll be close enough to reach her before anyone else does.”

Giovanni’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“It’s not negotiable. Because if Gianna chooses to rebuild a relationship with you, I’ll respect it but understand the difference between respect… and permission.”