Page 33 of Shield

Olivia nods, already pulling out her phone, but before she can step further out onto the terrace, Valentina stumbles through the door, shoving Olivia aside.

When Valentina’s eyes light on Siena in my arms, her face twists in fury. “What the actual fuck!”

She lunges at Siena and me, but Vin intervenes. He grabs her around the waist, spins her around and bends her over the terrace railing, pinning her in place. Vin viciously clamps his hand around her throat, yanking her up, and whispers something in her ear.

Valentina lets out a guffaw of laughter. “You know better than anyone that I love that, Vin. Don’t play like it’s some kind of threat.”

“Repulsive. Pick a fucking dick already,” Olivia grumbles, tapping out texts rapidly on her phone.

“Fuck yourself, prude,” Valentina snaps at her.

“Die, whore,” Olivia fires back.

“Matti, why are you carrying that trash around? Shouldn’t you be the one bending me over right now?” Valentina is talking to me, but she’s smirking over her shoulder at Vin. He looks bored.

My black sedan pulls up silently in the alley running along side the terrace, two more following closely behind. I push through the little gate, carrying Siena as Grit gets out of the middle car and opens the door for us. Carefully placing her inside, I pause and smooth her hair, running a finger down the side of her neck and gently pull the necklace she’s wearing, my St. Michael’s pendant, so I can see the pendant. She hasn’t taken it off. That’s a good sign.

Fuck, she’s gorgeous. I run my thumb over the dark pink lipstick smeared across her cheek, then brush the back of my knuckles over the mascara and eyeliner running down her face. A beautiful mess I wish I had made with my cock and not—

“Let’s goooo!” Vin growls from behind me.

“Yeah, stud, let’s goooo,” Valentina says, drunkenly grinding her ass against Vin.

“Ew, Vin, don’t play with that,” Olivia says, pushing past me to get into the car. “Rats carry diseases.”

“I’m not a fucking rat, bitch,” Valentina spits out, lunging at Olivia.

Olivia smirks and gives a little wave as she climbs into the sedan and shuts the car door. Grit nods at me from the driver’s seat, his gaze shifting to Valentina as Vin grabs her, holding her back, as he merges into traffic. Valentina twists out of Vin’s grasp and slaps at him, stabbing him in the eye with one of her long talons.

“Shit!” Vin grabs his eye, and Valentina pulls back to sucker punch him while he’s distracted.

I move without thinking to stop her, sweeping her legs out from under her. She collapses into my arms, her drunken giggle muffled against my neck.

“Oooh, Matti, are we doing a romance thing?” she coos, licking her lips. “Not my usual vibe, but I’ll make an exception for you, lover.”

“Shut the fuck up, Valentina,” I snap, then turn to Vin. “I’m throwing this bitch in the river, along with the Ruggerio brothers, after I take them apart piece by piece.” I jut my chin toward the door leading to the club, the loud music pulsing over the hum of the crowd dancing inside.

Vin’s jaw is tight, and he shakes his head. “That’s not happening. Tommy just texted me. The old man is prepared to go to war tonight if anything pops off. He’s looking for a reason, and he’s out of his fucking mind right now.”

“So am I. Let’s fucking do this,” I growl, shifting Valentinaand pulling away as she drunkenly trails her nails over my neck. “Get Tommy over here, put your guys and his together with my guys, and we’ll end this right fucking now.”

Vin shakes his head. “You just sent three of your best guys off with your girl. Tommy’s men are busy helping him hunt down Giovanna. You and I are both at the bottom of a bottle right now—”

“I’m fine,” I snap, my blood boiling at the thought of letting the Ruggerio brothers go. “What if they go after Siena at her house tonight?”

“If they knew where she lived, they would have done that already. Tommy says Aurelio’s guys lost you when you drove her back to Jersey. Something about you fucking up traffic and driving on the sidewalk? It’s only when she pops up on Demonio properties that she triggers the old man’s radar.” He sighs, seeing me flush red with anger.

“Fuck, I told you she shouldn’t come around us. I don’t like it when she’s exposed.” The look of indictment and heartbreak on Siena’s face a few minutes ago when she called me out for not protecting her, cracks my heart in two. No way am I letting this happen again. I start to shove Valentina at Vin. “I’m going to Jersey to cover Siena.”

Vin shoves Valentina back at me. “Take a breath. That’s how Aurelio found her at the Edge; they followed you from the estate, remember? Let’s do this the right way. Let the Ruggerio brothers think she slipped out when they weren’t looking. We’ll get Valentina working on the flash drive to see if there’s anything that can help us, get Tommy over here to strategize, and—” he blows out a breath. “And we’ll make our move.”

“When?” I’m not interested in any plan that has me awayfrom Siena for much longer.

“We’ll start tonight. So you can’t throw her in the river—yet. We need her,” he says, nodding at Valentina.

I snort. “No way this drunk bitch is going to be worth anything tonight.”

“I’ll sober her up,” he growls. “We’ll get her on that flash drive right now. Get the info we need. Do the Luminous job, get the cash—”

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