All Chapters of Best Friend's Daddy, Billionaire Devil: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

CATERINANow I understand why Tatiana was dead set on getting dressed up tonight. We’re both wearing cocktail dresses and sky-high heels when we enter the upscale restaurant Gianni owns.I have to remind myself to not look like too much of a rube as I try to take everything in, the sleek, dark interior, the shining bar spanning one wall, and the open kitchen further back. The crew works like a well-oiled machine, moving quickly but smoothly through the process of creating food that smells good enough to make my stomach clench with hunger.“Right this way,” the perky hostess beckons with a smile. “It’s been a long time since we last saw you, Mr. Rossetti. But we know you’re a busy man.”“And let’s be honest,” he replies with a charming grin. “Nobody wants to work with the owner looking over their shoulder.”She blushes and giggles, which makes me want to scream. Where did that come from? That sudden, blinding rush of rage? I never thought of myself as a jealous person, but maybe I was

GIANNIIwish I could say the satisfaction of claiming my woman has calmed me down, but that’s not exactly true. I know she’s mine; no one’s taking her from me.Certainly not some sleazy piece of shit like Donovan Moroni. His last name is the only reason he’s still breathing. That and the witnesses present at the restaurant.Still, I’ve been insulted. That kid was supposed to be here to meet my daughter, not to feel up another girl while sitting at the same table as Tatiana. Jack had better do a lot of thinking on how to make this up to me. If not, I’ll set the terms myself.Terms he will not like much.Our table is empty now, and our servers stand around looking guilty and confused.“Sorry to have broken things up,” I murmur, but it’s Tatiana I’m concerned with now. Scanning the dining room, I find her sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of wine. Something about the way she holds herself gives off aDo Not Approachsignal, but I’m her father. That sort of shit doesn’t work on me.

He doesn’t listen to either of us, letting go of one of my wrists to reach for something at his side. All I catch from the corner of my eye is the glint of steel before he touches the cold switchblade to my throat. I can’t breathe. I can’t do anything but lie here, helpless, afraid of what will happen next.“I’d rather see her dead than let you put your hands on her again,” he snarls at Gianni.It all happens so fast. The boom of the gun as it goes off. The spray of warm blood across my face. The sudden release of my wrist. He drops the blade before falling onto his side. For a moment, I can’t comprehend what has happened.A scream rips from my throat.There’s so much blood. His blood.Gianni’s hands roam my body, touching my face, arms, and legs. All I can see is his face filling my vision. His hands cup my cheeks, and they’re warm, so warm.“Are you okay? Did he hurt you at all?”He’s here. I’m safe.There’s so much blood. Luciano is dead, but I’m safe. My screams fade to gasps as I t

The thing is, I’ve already considered it. That’s how crazy this has made me. I actually considered reaching out to that prick detective to ask him for help to find his kid. He doesn’t need to know about us, only that the girls are missing. He’d have fifty cars out there looking for her within minutes, if not more. I already know how far he’s willing to go when something matters to him. But I also know what a pain in the ass he is, and I’m not about to have him barking up my tree with questions.That’s an absolute end-of-the-road, “all other possibilities have been exhausted” sort of step. We aren’t there yet. After calling all the hospitals in the area to ask if they brought in any girls matching their description, there’s not much we can do but wait for one of them to show their face.And when they do? This isn’t going to work out well for either of them.Especially my little bird. Roger could be right. She might still have been in shock and reacting rather than thinking. That doesn’

“No. But I don’t want to cause trouble.” She squeezes Gianni’s hands. “Please, don’t do something stupid because of me.”“All right, sweetheart.” He cups the back of her skull in one hand and kisses her forehead again while looking over her head at Roger.Their eyes meet, and even though I’m not a mind reader, I know Christopher’s days are numbered. The thought of a murder being decided that easily, without using words, makes me shiver, but I can’t find it in me to care, not after what Christopher did to her. He doesn’t deserve to live. I wish I could kill him myself.“Let’s get you home.” Gianni helps her to her feet but gently hands her off to Roger. “He’ll take you to the garage, and I’ll help Caterina get your things together.”There goes the pit in my stomach. For Tatiana’s sake, I put on a brave face until she’s out of the suite, and I can let out the breath I was holding. Now it’s just the two of us. Nobody’s here to protect me. Nobody to keep me from throwing myself into his a