Page 84 of Auctioned To Her Dad's Mafia Enemies

I’m tired down to my bones, sick to death ofthis pain, and misery. All I want to do is wash my hands and take Aemelia tobed. Use my body to make us both forget.

Enzo, despite the knife still embedded in hishand, chuckles darkly. “It’s too late, Venturi. They’ll be bleeding out beforeyour men even get there.”

Luca doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns toAemelia.

“What do you want to do with him?”

Her expression is blank, unreadable. But whenshe speaks, her voice is steady, absolute. “Kill him.”

Enzo scoffs. “You think you have the stomachfor this, little girl? You’re like your father. A coward who couldn’t face upto his own mistakes.”

She steps forward then, close enough that hecan see the fire in her gaze. “You made your choice,” she says, her voice coldas ice. “Now live with the consequences.”

Before Alexis can react, she snatches theblade resting loosely in his palm and plunges it into Enzo’s chest.

“NO,” we all shout in unison, not because wewant Enzo to live but because none of us want Aemelia to live with this bloodon her hands. I’d shoulder that burden for her. All of us would. But it’s donenow.

Enzo’s eyes are wide as he stares at hisniece, leaning over him. “An eye for an eye,” she says softly. “You better hopemy family is okay, or I’ll come looking for yours.”

He opens his mouth to speak, but a well ofblood spills over his lip with a gurgle of garbled sound. His gasped breathingis wet, forming bubbles in the blood that coats his lips.

I think about all the years we’ve grieved ourbrother while the opportunity for retribution was out of our hands. Now, wefind out Enzo took Carlo’s life for his own vengeance. What a twistedsituation. What a waste of anger and pain. All because Mario and Carlo couldn’trespect the marriage vows of others.

Aemelia steps back, but she doesn’t take hereyes off her uncle. She watches him twitch and gasp and choke, watching himtake his last breath and flop forward, limp, as life drains from him.

Alexis shakes his head. “Amademandying like a dog in the dark.”

“Justice,” I say as Aemelia finally turns awayto seek comfort in my arms. I’m so proud of her and devastated for her. Thislife. All it does is take. “And justice in our world is never merciful.”

She shakes in my arms, the shock of what she’sdone registering too late. I cradle her close. “Forget about this,” I say. “I’lltake your darkness and make it mine. I’ll carry it, so you never have to.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, and it’s enough

37

ALEXIS

FAMILY TIES

I leave Aemelia with Luca and Antonio,trusting them to keep her safe and ensure the mess is cleared up. This war withEnzo is reaching its peak, and while my brothers handle one end of thebattlefield, I take four of my best men—Nico, Leo, Rafa, and his brother,Sandro—to handle the other.

The ride to Aemelia’s aunt’s apartment istense, the low growl of the engine the only sound as we weave through the citystreets. Vito, Andre, Gabe, and Matteo got there ahead of us, and their lastupdate confirmed two of Enzo’s men had been captured and another three werebeing pursued. That’s a small comfort. It means we still have the upperhand—barely.

As we pull up outside the building, I surveythe rundown complex again with a frown. The place is a dump, bricks crumbling,windows stained with years of city grime—no place for anyone, least of all themother of the woman we love.

Vito and Andre are waiting by the sideentrance, their boots planted firmly against the backs of two restrained menwho are on their knees, heads bowed in forced submission. One of the bastardsis bleeding from his temple, his face half-swollen, while the other keeps hismouth shut, likely contemplating how much more of his own blood he’s willing tolose tonight.

“Where are they?” I ask, stepping out of thevehicle, the night air sharp against my skin.

Vito jerks his chin toward the alleyway. “Theycan’t have gotten far. There’s an alley further down. Try there first.”

I nod once, imagining Aemelia’s sick aunt outin the cold. That motherfucker Enzo trying to kill a woman who’s already on herdeathbed. If Aemelia hadn't pierced his heart with my knife, I’d have done itwith pleasure. Remembering the cool way she handled business makes me smile.She’s fire and ice, heart and blood, sweet and vicious, a delicious conundrum. “Securethese two. I’ll handle the family.”

Vito grins. “Already got a place picked outfor them. They won’t be a problem.”

I wave him off and gesture at Leo and Nico tofollow me. The alleyway is dark, the weak glow of a flickering streetlampbarely illuminating the narrow path between buildings. The scent of rottinggarbage clings to the damp air, and my stomach turns at the thought ofAemelia’s family crouched out here, hiding like prey.

Then I see them.

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