Jesus Fucking Christ.
She’s here.
Foolish and reckless. And in over her pretty head.
She’s getting better at stalking me. Or was I too consumed with Massimo’s men to notice her?
This changes everything.
They’ll see her. When they do, she’s dead.
I need to end this fast.
“And two…” I slam my forehead into the big guy’s nose. Bone cracks. Blood explodes.
The knife clatters to the ground.
Tattooed Guy lunges.
I catch his wrist and twist hard until it snaps.
The third man comes at me, blade flashing in the moonlight.
“Deliver my message to your boss before I really hurt you.”
That pisses him off.
He points the knife at me, lips curling. “You’re lucky I don’t carve you into pieces.”
I exhale. Crisis nearly averted.
“Hey!”
Her voice slices through the shadows. Everyone turns.
There she is. Fina, gun raised, eyes blazing.
Shouting erupts as panic spikes sharp in my chest.
Fina steps forward, waving the gun at the third man.
Then the big guy moves.
Crack. A deafening gunshot rings out.
I throw myself in front of Tattooed Guy, with barely enough time to react—if any of Massimo’s men die, war will erupt between our families. Fire burns through my chest, but I push forward and grab the big guy by the throat. “Touch her, and the deal is off.”
Our eyes lock, then I relax. He reads me perfectly.
“Let’s go,” he says to the men, voice calm.
The others hesitate, glancing from me to her, then follow him into the dark.
I fall to my knees, fading fast.
“Oh shit. Renzo …”
I stare at her, eyes wide, mouth trembling, then smile.