Page 15 of Shattered Choices

I raise my eyebrows, questioning him.

“After what she has gone through because of you. I could kill you myself.”

“Thank you for telling me that.”

He drinks his drink, his eyes catching movement behind me. “It’s time.”

I turn toward where he’s looking and catch a glimpse of a petite young woman. He goes to stand behind the curtain, and I stay in my place, waiting for his directions.

Soon enough, just as he told me, Pino exits that door, his eyes searching for the woman. Worry shows in his eyes just for a moment before it’s gone. But it’s enough to distract him from the attention of the door.

My cousin catches the door, and I get up, staying in the shadows, and walk toward that door. As soon as I enter, the door closes behind me and I’m faced with the narrow space of a dim hallway.

There are three doors on my left and two on my right. I look for the lights behind the door, walking carefully, and listen to hear anything that could lead me toward Isabella.

When I reach the end, I can see a light behind the door. I can hear hushed voices, but not loud enough to understand what they’re talking about.

As I’m about to take a step back, a hand lands on my back and grabs me by my jacket.

“Son of a bitch.” He throws me against the wall. “How did you get inside?”

I look toward the man who is not Pino but a bulky guy who has a good eighty pounds and a few inches on me.

He pulls out his gun, and I raise my hands, surrendering. I need to show that I come in peace if I want to see her.

“I need to see Isabella.”

He laughs. “Sure you do. Everyone wants that, but only a few have that privilege. And you aren’t one of those who does.”

“I’m her husband,” I growl.

If I thought he would go easy on me because of that, I was wrong. His face transforms to full anger, and he grabs me by the lapels of my jacket and raises me a few inches from the ground.I hold off from fighting back. If I wanted to, I could. I just don’t see that as a solution, at least not until I see her.

“I should kill you now. Unfortunately, that is not my decision.” He gets in my face. “First, you will kneel before her, and then you will beg to be killed.”

In a second, he spins me and seizes my hands, leading me behind the closed door I spied on seconds ago.

All eyes turn to us as we enter, but my eyes catch only hers, clashing like a storm and the ocean. My attention doesn’t go to the men sitting in their seats or to the poker game. I smile like I just won the most precious prize, ignoring the fact I’m being pushed toward her.

I can only feel my heart dancing and the feeling of longing that needs to be satisfied.

I only fully understand my situation when I land on my knees in front of her and my face meets her feet.

“Now, you beg for death.”

eight

Isabella

As soon as Pino exits in a hurry, I feel the same flutter in my stomach as I felt in the restaurant earlier. And as soon as I exited the hair salon. I looked around and tried to comprehend why I felt that way, but I couldn’t. There was no explanation.

Or so I thought.

The door opens with a bang, and Raffaele enters, dragging a man with him. When the man drops to his knees in front of me, everything starts to make sense.

Salvatore.

He is here, brought to his knees at my feet.

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