Page 154 of A Bond Beyond Blood

His teeth clenched, nostrils flaring as his anger returned tenfold.“Ricci.”

“You’re surprised by the news that he’s connected to Carmine Donati?”

He puffed up his chest.“No, I...I—” He growled as his hands fisted at his sides.“I knew he was bad news.He’s a Staten Island Ricci.Our parents warned us about them.Fuck!”His hands dug into his hair.“Franco would kill me for letting her near a Ricci!”

I chuckled.“I think we both know you have no power toletJack do anything.”

His nostrils flared on angry breaths.“Still.I should have never left her.”

“We agree on that, but beating yourself up over it is pointless.”I settled onto one of the few remaining items I’d decided to keep from the former manor, dragging my fingertips over the lush red velvet upholstery.

“We have to get rid of him,” Gannon growled, and my eyes flicked to Sam’s as his eyebrows lifted a fraction.

“Let’s not be hasty.I have no desire to see the girl’s heart broken.”Shaking my head, I rubbed my chin.“No, I think we need to sit on this information.Lieutenant?”

“Agreed, sir.”

Gannon’s mouth dropped open on a scoff.“Bu-but—”

“The King has spoken.”

Gannon turned those furious eyes on Sam.“He’s connected.You said so yourself.Jackie’s in danger!”Looking back at me, his eyes turned pleading.“Eli—”

“King Bristol,” Lieutenant Sam snapped.

“What we’ve learned about Vincenzo is troubling, yes, but I don’t believe the girl is in danger—at least, not by his hand anyway.”

“Okay,” Gannon said on a huff.“And what about his friends?The fucking criminals of the Donati family?What about when they come for her?”

I inclined my head, in agreement on this point.“This does create a problem.”

Rising to my feet, I draped my arm over Gannon’s shoulders.“Come, let’s see if we can come up with a solution.”

“Easy.Get rid of Ricci.”

Itsked.“First, let’s get rid of some of your anger.”I motioned toward the hideous statues lining the circular foyer.“Get the door, Sam,” I said, then pointed at one particular monstrosity.“Get rid of that one.”

Gannon’s eyes flicked toward the statue, then back at me, brows furrowing.

“Pretend it’s Vincenzo.”I shrugged, and his eyes lit up.Stepping back, I leaned against the wall, scowling at the velvet-flocked wallpaper.

With a roar, Gannon grabbed a bust with both hands and curled it back over his head, then hurled it out onto the stone steps.It crashed and splintered into a thousand pieces, crumbling onto the growing pile of garbage below.

The guards milling about while they waited for the go ahead to return to their tasks tensed, assessing the situation, but I waved a dismissive hand.Where was this rapt attention when Gannon was sneaking back into the manor to spy?

“Return to your duties,” the lieutenant called.

Turning to Gannon, I lifted a brow.“Feel better?”

He spun toward me, panting as he grinned wildly.“Actually, yeah.”

“Well, then, don’t let me get in your way.I want all of this out.”Motioning toward, well,everything, I strode from the foyer, heading deeper into my new home sweet home, smiling at the sharp scent of fresh paint.

Out with the old, and all that.

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