Page 214 of Salvatore

That’s all I care about.

“Where were we?” He stops before me, flicking open the blade.

“I think we were in the middle of you getting triggered by the topic of your dad’s dick.”

His eyes flare. “You don’t learn, do you, Costa?”

“I do.” I shrug my good shoulder. “But you’re fun to mess with. You’ve got the temper of a five-year-old.”

He raises the blade, placing the tip to the top of my sternum.

“Don’t forget Daddy told you not to kill me, motherfucker.” I attempt a grin, but even that hurts. Not that I’m confident he won’t betray his father’s order. It’s just all about the triggers.

Keep Ivy safe.

Help her survive.

“He did.” He slowly drags the knife down my chest, a light-slicing tease, deep enough to draw blood but not enough to part skin. “Problem is, I have a hard time listening to authority.”

I wish he’d get close enough for me to be able to grab hold of, but I’m not sure my dislocated arm even works anymore. “One of Lorenzo’s men had the same problem today. Or should I refer to him as one of yours?”

He smirks, the blade pausing a moment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Figures. I didn’t think Gabriel would tell you the big boy plans. But just so you know, I had to teach the guy a lesson of the permanent variety.”

His smirk falters, a sneer taking its place. “You enjoy killing our men, don’t you, Costa?”

“Without a doubt. Especially when they’re dumb enough to come into enemy territory.” I close my eyes as he cuts deeper, the blunt metal dragging through my skin. “He barely lasted five minutes. The cleanup took longer than the slaughter.”

“Is that so?”

“I almost didn’t have to slit his throat at all. He was choking on your secrets as they spilled out.”

A low growl emanates from him as I clench my teeth through the pain, my thoughts consumed with Ivy—her smile, her laugh, her sass.

“Do you want to know what he told me?” I open tired eyes and meet his gaze.

“I’m dying to hear,” he snarls.

I chuckle to myself, just because I can, because it hurts him, because it increases his blinding anger. “He said Gabriel thinks you don’t have the brain capacity to run the family and plans to replace you.”

He’s silent a beat, his cheeks darkening as the blade stops halfway down my sternum. “Fucking liar.”

“Am I though? It feels like a sensitive topic.”

“I’ve got the fucking brain capacity,puta. Just wait and see what’s in store for Isabella.” He plunges the knife between my ribs, stealing the air from my lungs. “What he’s going to do to her was all my idea.”

46

IVY

I easethe stolen Camaro toward the white metal gates of my late uncle’s sprawling estate, beyond the city limits of Baltimore.

Guards approach, guns raised. Four of them.No, five.

“Get out of the car,” one barks, his pistol aimed between my eyes.

I kill the engine, grip the wheel for a reassuring second, then push the door open and climb out.

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