to my father's side. He was so shaken that he was crying. It took us a good fifteen minutes before we were able to pull him together. All he kept repeating was, “What are we going to do?”
I had the answer though. I had made up my mind the moment that my father was in danger. We were going to negotiate. Me in exchange for them leaving the store alone. Permanently. Because one life is surely worth a lifetime of payments.
When I had told my parents about my plan, they were both adamantly against it. They had done so much for me though. Raised me the best that they knew how. Provided for me even when they barely had enough to provide for themselves. They were good parents. Loving parents. Some of the best parents that a girl could ever hope for. I owed them this. At least, I felt like I did.
“We don't know what they're going to do with you. They might kill you,” my father had said, putting emphasis on the kill part to drive home the insanity of my decision.
“They won't kill me.” They wouldn't. It wouldn't make sense for them to. But there were a whole lot of other horrible things that they could do to me. Sell me off as a sex slave. Use me as a prostitute to make more money for them. Those were the two most probable things that came to mind. And I would have no choice but to accept it because they could always just return to the store and make good on their threats if I didn't follow through with my end.
“I won't allow it,” my mother insisted. But my mind was already made up. I was an adult. It was my body to do with what I wanted, and while I didn't want this...I knew that I had to do it.
“It won't be forever,” I told them with a weak smile. “Just until you can sell the store and save up enough money for us to move far away from here. Then I'll come back to you.”
I knew I wouldn't come back the same person. My years of being sheltered and living a happy life were about to be over. When I finally returned to my parents, I would be irreparably damaged. But they would be safe. We would all be safe, and that's all that mattered.
My breath hitches as the electronic bell installed in the front door chimes. It could just be a customer. It could be, but I know that it's not. It's Giovanni Bianchi, and he's come to collect on my parents' debt.
CHAPTER TWO
RYDER
“My little boy is finally all grown up.” My father hooks his meaty arm around my shoulder, and I groan internally. I hate it when he treats me like a kid in front of other people, though I know he probably doesn't even realize he's doing it. He's beaming with pride after handing over a ring of keys to the high-rise that I've been living in ever since I was eighteen. I have prominent placement on the top floor. The entire floor is my loft. Now I also own the entire building. The rent from all of the tenants will be going into my pockets now instead of his. It's my first business and my first taste of helping to continue his legacy.
I'm proud to be a part of the Bianchi family. Through my father's tireless efforts, we're one of the wealthiest families in Manhattan, though his reach extends far beyond. This high-rise is one of many that he owns. In fact, he owns so many that he's been traditionally giving them out to his kids on their twenty-fifth birthday. This one is mine. The only handout he'll ever give me. With the money that I earn from this high-rise, I'm expected to go out and make a life for myself. Or I could just continue to leech off of the wealth that he's built and simply live off of the rental income from this place for the rest of my life. It's my choice. But if I squander everything away, sell the high-rise and somehow manage to blunder my way into poverty, he won't be there to put me back on my feet. That already happened to my older brother Moe, who he always makes sure to point out as an example.
I won't be like that guy. Everyone knows that Moe is an idiot. The rest of my siblings and
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