The Evil Stepsister (Fairytale Killers #2)

Polite Smiles And Short Skirts

"Both of you will be all polite smiles and short skirts," Franco threatened, talking exclusively to Carmela after being left alone with his daughters. "If you manage to tank my business relationship with Old Rawlings, it's not only your mother who'll suffer. I might send Catalina with his son, get this over with."

"You can't do that!" Carmela challenged him. "She's not even eighteen!"

"She plays along better. She'll do what it takes, you know that. She knows you three are a unit, so she trusts me more," Franco reminded them of their other failed attempt to escape. When they told Catalina about their first plan, years back, asking her to join them, she went to Franco. "Unless you decide to finally play your part."

Both twins nodded.

"Make it work with Rawlings. Keep your smart mouth to a minimum," were the closing words of Carmela's only father figure.

Out of his office, Caterina hugged her, "That was rough, but don't worry, I'll marry Jack and keep him and Franco happy. There's no drama," she smiled into Carmela's shoulder.

"Don't marry him just because of this. Promise me you'll rethink it, after the dinner."

"Fine, we'll see how Jack Rawlings is, in person," Caterina allowed.

They both got a notification, taking out their phones from the same side pocket. Their joint Caterina Walter account had a new message from Oz. 

Meet me in my room asap.

Caterina frowned, then side-eyed Carmela, who exhaled, caught. 

"I don't know what I want from him. Every time I try to talk to him, to see where we stand, we just unravel like a mohair ball. I think it's best I cut him off, but I just can't seem to get the message across," she bravely faced her sister's skeptical look.

"Don't worry about him now, we have enough going on," Caterina embraced her again, tighter.