Page 73 of Deadly Vows

The crowd’s roar drowns out my panicked gasp as Ari is dragged onto the stage. I was right about this being a spectacle. Luca wants everyone to see what happens when you fuck with the Pasquinos. He has created a new reputation for himself, using my brother to extinguish whoever’s left. And after tonight, no one would dare cross Luca Pasquino.

No one.

I step forward when someone grips my arm, holding me firm. Nicolai is holding me with a grim expression.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Pasquino,” he says.

And when I look back at the stage, Luca is watching me with a wicked grin as he steps aside, pulling a gun from his holster and handing it to Enzo.

“After this, you will be one of us,” Luca says.

I shift my attention to my brother, but he doesn’t look conflicted in the least. Hatred covers his features as he aims his weapon at Ari, his finger hovering over the trigger. Shouts ofexcitement erupt all over the room as everyone urges Enzo to pull the trigger—to finally end the Trovoli problem for all of us. And judging by his expression, he is going to give that to them.

“Enzo Trovoli has proven himself in all aspects of this life. He has been resilient, cunning, and loyal throughout. This woman has been responsible for countless troubles among us since the murder of my father. She even attempted to abduct my wife. She is a rat who steals and sells information for the benefit of the Trovolis, who no longer exist. And tonight, Enzo Trovoli will put an end to all of that. And become one of us—a Pasquino,” he says.

Luca steps around Enzo, looking Ari in the face as he speaks. “Any final words?”

I try to pull my arm from Nicolai’s grip, but he’s too strong and easily holds me back. So, I turn to face him, doing the last thing he’d expect. I bring my knee up, hitting him right between his legs. And as he collapses, I push through the crowd. The crowd is too unruly as someone knocks into me, causing me to lose my footing. I cry out as I hit the ground, scrambling up as fast as I can to make my way to the stage.

“I have no regrets, Pasquino. Only that you didn’t join your father in hell.” Ari shifts her gaze to Enzo, her eyes narrowing.

“Your mother was a burden on this family, just like you. She was an outsider and a junkie, and you are nothing but a bastard child we accepted because we were too blind to see how much of a waste you were. I didn’t kill her, but I’m glad she’s dead,” she spits in disgust.

Luca smiles, looking at Enzo. “Go ahead. Take what’s yours.”

“You have no idea, the storm coming for you, Pasquino,” Ari shouts as Enzo holds the gun against the back of her head.

“No!” I scream as I break through the last of the crowd.

The sound of my voice pulls Ari’s attention, and shock descends on her features when she sees me.

“Elise?”

Enzo pulls the trigger.

Excited shouting erupts throughout the room as Enzo puts a bullet in Ari’s head. My screams are drowned out as her lifeless body collapses on the stage, and I move as fast as I can to join her lifeless body. Tears burn my eyes as I reach for her, but Luca has me before I can, holding me flush against him as I scream for Ari’s life.

Through the excited screams, I don’t hear the new gunshot. But I see Enzo suddenly clutch his side in pain, dropping to one knee. Before I can move, Luca suddenly shoves me hard enough that I am thrown into the crowd. I fall to the floor, engulfed by the panic as everyone realizes what’s happening.

As I try to look through the fray of frantic feet, I see Nicolai and Romelo jumping on stage to tend to Luca and Enzo. I cry out as some people trample me, making it difficult to see what’s happening, but as the crowd slowly decreases, I am finally able to stand and move back to the stage where Nicolai is doing compressions on a pale Luca.

I shift my attention to Enzo, and Romelo has already torn pieces of his shirt to tie around Enzo. His expression is contorted in pain, but other than that, he’s conscious at least. I note that Luca’s men clear the room as I move to the stage, dropping next to him where Nicolai is still doing compressions.

Luca’s skin is clammy and pale, his eyes fluttering rapidly as he loses consciousness. It’s unnerving seeing him this way—this vulnerable.

“W-what do I do?” I ask frantically.

Nicolai grips my hands, pressing them into the wound on Luca’s chest, and I tense as the warmth from his blood seeps between my fingers.

“Press his wound!” Nicolai shouts as he gets up, running in the opposite direction. More blood pours between my fingers, and Ishakily reach for the lapel of Luca’s jacket, pressing it against the wound.

There’s so much blood.

“We need to call an ambulance!” I shout as I study Luca. He needs an entire team to keep him alive, not one doctor who takes money under the table for the sake of records.

I tense when I suddenly feel a hand on my cheek. Luca’s eyes flutter as a lazy smile forms on his lips as he looks at me.

“I knew you cared,” he murmurs.

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