Page 11 of Tesoro: Mayhem Makers

The man huffs, but remains silent.

“My name is Kate Romano and I’d like you to come inside so I can clean this up and have?—”

“No,” he shakes his head violently. “Thank you, Kate.” The way he says my name as if testing it out makes me smile. “But I need to check on Angelo and Frankie.”

Tipping my head to the side in confusion. “Who are Angelo and Frankie?”

“Maron.” He stands to his full height. “Those lying bastards said they brought them here.”

“Hold on…” I drift off, offering a silent invitation for him to tell me his name.

“Dante.” He finally admits. “Cavaletti.” Closing his eyes and letting out a held breath.

“Do you know if Angelo was shot in the leg or chest, Dante?”

“Chest.” He answers with a slow and questioning tone, his eyes narrowed as he perused mine.

Before I can confirm for him they are here, Dante jumps to his feet, pushing past me and leaping from the ambulance. “Tell me those motherfuckers didn’t bring Chuy here too.”

Chapter

Eight

DANTE

“Dante.”

A sense of deja vu blankets me as I hear Kate calling my name. Kate, not Bella, I remind myself inside my head as I burst through the doors of the ER.

I spotted Chuy immediately, his face red as he spews empty threats at the cops who are restraining him. He lets out an evil cackle as our gazes collide.

“Who is the bad ass now, maricon?” Chuy cackles, nodding his head in my direction.

“Hey, watch your mouth?—”

“Fuck you, chota.” Chuy cuts the cop off, jerking his hands as if he stands a chance of escaping. “Don’t forget who fucking owns you.”

I’m not surprised by his statement, most of us have officials on the payroll. However, Chuy may think he has purchased a blind eye from the cops, but I’m about to open his.

“Let him go, gentlemen.”

I take great pleasure watching the smugness melt from Chuy’s face as restraining hands drop away.

“It’s a good thing you’re in the hospital, puta.” I emphasize the latter, tossing his words back at him. “You fucked with thewrong family.” Taking two measured steps toward him, I shed my jacket and what is left of my shirt.

“Stop!” I hear a feminine voice yell behind me, a second later the feel of a warm hand on my chest.

“You can kill each other in the streets, but not here.”

Glancing to my right, I lock eyes with Kate, a single tendril of hair caressing her cheek. Despite the tension in the air, I’m struggling with the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

“You,” Kate points in Chuy’s direction. “Are stable enough to be transported to another hospital.”

“That bastard shot me in the leg,” Chuy points in my direction, his voice mimicking that of a small child.

“Keep up your antics and I’ll pull it out with tweezers.”

Unable to control myself, a chuckle leaves my throat. Like Bella, Kate is a petite woman with a fire burning deep in her belly.

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