Page 4 of Savage Enemy

“Open the fucking door, Vignali. Give us the girl.”

My brother’s voice hadn’t changed much over the years, his low timbre and thick Chicago accent still crystal clear.

It took Marco only one day to track me down after the press ran Stefano’s engagement announcement.

It wouldn’t be easy to get away now, but I had to try.

For Enzo’s sake. For Stefano’s.

My father would kill them both.

Stefano had me caged in his arms, my back pressed against the wall. Fear paralyzed me, making it easier for him to hold me there, fully under his control.

The hurt in his eyes sent a shock wave of pain through my chest. I wanted to rip my heart out.

But I had to hurt him, so my boys could live.

I pulled his mouth to mine and kissed him.

The taste of whiskey and sweet citrus from his beloved old fashioned still lingered on his lips.

His addictive scent and the heat radiating from his body pressing against mine paralyzed me further. So safe. So warm. I didn’t want to let go. I could hardly pull away from his mouth.

Could he take on my family and keep us alive?

I wanted nothing more than that, but the price of finding out if he could take on my father was too high to risk.

No. We couldn’t take that chance with our son’s life.

“I’m so sorry, Ace,” I whispered.

His dark eyes narrowed in confusion, he tilted his head, and his grip on my chin softened.

“I’ll take care of you, Angel. Whatever you’ve done, I don’t care. I’ll make it go away—whatever it takes.”

His words broke me. I closed my eyes for a moment.

There was no other option. Enzo and I had to leave.

So, like the lying snake of a bitch I’d become, I used Stefano’s tenderness to duck beneath his arm and sprint down the hall to my room.

Stefano had moved our son’s room farther from mine.

I slammed the door and locked it before he caught me. Just as expected, he pounded on it and threatened to break it down.

“Val, goddamn it, open this door right fucking now or I’ll tear the motherfucker apart!”

He would. That much I knew. I had to hurry.

After I quickly pulled on jeans and a sweater, I slung my emergency escape bag over my shoulder and opened the door. I brushed past him, catching him off guard, ducking beneath his arm before he could grab either of mine.

I avoided the gallery overlooking the foyer, making sure Marco couldn’t see me.

Trying to avoid Marco was stupid as fuck, though. I couldn’t hide anymore, not now that he’d come for me. Not even in this massive house.

Once he saw me, it would be over.

An icy chill rushed through me.

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