Page 115 of Tempted By the Devil

Sergio’s wide mouth spreads in a grin. “I guess the secret’s out. I know how to gettheRafael Calderone’s attention. All I’ve got to do is kidnap his girlfriend. You’ve been so elusive, but I see right through you, Mr. Big Time Businessman.”

My jaw clenches and I grind out, “ Tell me what you want and give me her back!”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” He glances at his men fanned out behind him, then grins back at me. He’s wrapped up the gunshot wound in his shoulder with a torn piece of fabric that looks suspiciously like part of Portia’s dress.

If this motherfucker hurt a single hair on her head, there will be no holding back.

I will gladly become the devil he’s so fucking eager to provoke. I will make his existence hell in every way imaginable.

“So I left that warehouse with a hundred different questions,” Sergio says. “How could Il Diavolo set me up like that? Why the hell would he invite you there? What would my boss say when I told him about his demands? Then I got an idea.”

“Spit it out already.”

The grin drops from his face. “Don’t rush me, cocksucker. I’ll go at the pace I wanna go.”

It’s clear Sergio thinks he can boss me around. He can intimidate me.

His takeaway from the meeting at the warehouse was that I’m not Diavolo. I’m just a regular businessman with no official allegiance—and I’m dating the woman who just so happened to be snooping in all of our business.

He’s decided he can bully me into some kind of alliance. I see it a mile away before he ever speaks it into existence.

“Il Diavolo demanded you cut business ties with the Tucos. I’m demanding you cut ties with the Belluccis.”

I glare at him, tracking his every move with my hard gaze. “I have no ties with either of you. I am not allied with either of your families and won’t be.”

“Really? That’s disappointing to hear, Mr. Billionaire. ’Cuz we’ve got a better deal for you than Il Diavolo was offering. We’ve got your girl.”

Sergio gestures to one of the tallest cranes off to our right.

I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before—there’s an SUV dangling from the hook on the crane, the front end pointed toward the water.

The tinted windows have been rolled down to show me what’s clearly Portia slumped in the driver’s seat. She’s out cold, suspended several stories in air. If the Escalade were to crash into the water, it would be so heavy, it would immediately start sinking.

Portia’s not a strong swimmer. She would be done for, even if she were to wake up during the fall.

I rarely reveal my true emotions on my face. But this is one of those times.

Sergio laughs at the expression I wear as I glance up and survey the crane. “That took some work. You see my guy inside the operator cabin? All it takes is one pull of the lever and SPLASH! Your girl’s going for a swim in the big blue ocean.”

“Money,” I say, finally dragging my gaze away from the crane. It returns to Sergio. “How much do you fucking want? I’ll cut you a check right now.”

He throws his head back in a dramatic laugh. “You still don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about the money, Mr. Big Shot. It’s about having an asset like you in our back pocket! Il Diavolo thinks he owns you, but he’s got it backward. You’re doing business with only us from here on out.”

I look over my shoulder at Adagio who stares back looking about as pissed off as I do. He’s hot-tempered and the type to shoot off at the hip. I don’t need to exchange any words with him to know he wants so badly to blast these motherfuckers in their faces.

But we’re outnumbered five to one ’til backup comes.

My attention shifts back to the crane holding the Escalade. A strong gust of wind blows in from the ocean and precariously rocks the vehicle side to side on its hook. It doesn’t look like it’s secured the right way, like a few more gusts of wind and it’ll blow the vehicle right off the hook, into the water.

Likely what Sergio wants to happen. His guy controlling the crane won’t even have to lift a finger.

I don’t have much time. I have to do whatever it takes to make sure Portia comes out of this situation unharmed.

“Alright,” I say finally. My gaze drops back down to Sergio and his fat fucking grin. “Alright, you have my word. I’ll end all ventures linked to the Belluccis. I’ll only do business with the Tucos from here on out.”

“Was that so hard? Was it that tough a pill to swallow? This could’ve been solved in five seconds if you’d agreed upfront!”

“Put her down,” I command. “You got what you wanted. Now release her.”

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