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“Wait!” A new voice boomed through the basement. “This isn’t what we discussed.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the horrific sight of Rocco’s knife just below her left eye, so I read her lips clearly when she soundlessly said the man’s name.
George.
Chapter 11
Evelyn
My brain stalled out at the sight of my ex-fiancé descending the stairs, rushing into the dank basement. He looked exactly as I remembered him: carefully styled, dark blond hair, cleanshaven, square jaw, and navy blue eyes framed in thick lashes. He looked every inch the righteous federal agent, but he wasn’t here to save me from the Camorra.
“Don’t hurt her,” he snapped at Rocco.
For a moment, my heart leapt. Maybe George had realized the depth of his sins. Maybe he wasn’t here to kill me and keep his sordid secret.
Rocco’s knife remained ice cold against my cheek. The barest pressure would slice into my skin.
“You told us about Massimo’s deal with the cartels to undercut our business here in Naples,” Rocco said to George, his voice even icier than his blade. “In exchange for the information, I promised you I’d handle your ex. She won’t tell anyone about your relationship with Los Zetas. I invited you here as a courtesy to see that the job is done. Shut the fuck up and let me handle my business.”
A muscle ticked in George’s jaw, a warning sign that his anger was mounting.
The man I’d once thought I loved was a stranger to me. I’d planned to spend the rest of my life with this monster, but all he cared about was saving his own reputation.
I found Massimo’s silver eyes, allowing him to look straight into the core of me, to see my love for him. His beautiful features were twisted with rage and terror for me. An odd sense of calm settled over me.
Despite the fact that I faced a painful death, I didn’t regret meeting Massimo. For years, I’d made myself small for George. I’d done everything in my power to make him happy, desperate to earn his love in return.
With Massimo, I allowed myself to be difficult at times. I’d challenged him for keeping me against my will, and I stood up to him when he made demands of me that I didn’t agree with. I felt empowered to express my full range of emotions with him because I felt inherently safe with my dark protector.
He had offered me his love freely and fiercely. He hadn’t said the words to me yet, but he’d proven his love for me so many times.
“I didn’t agree to you torturing her,” George ground out.
Rocco barked a frigid laugh. “She’s fucking your enemy, and you’re trying to spare her some pain? If you’re too much of a pussy to watch, then you can leave. I’ve been waiting to punish Massimo for far too long. You won’t ruin this for me.”
I opened myself to Massimo, allowing him to see my devotion and gratitude shining through my eyes. No matter what happened now, I wouldn’t change one moment we’d shared. He had allowed me to truly be myself for the first time in my life. I would never regret that.
“I love you,” I promised just before the bullets started flying.
Chapter 12
Massimo
Muted gunfire popped through the basement, and a gory red hole was torn through George Crawford’s chest. His body started to fall, and my captors’ hands loosened on my shoulders as they turned to face the threat posed by Gian and Enzo.
I launched myself at Rocco, who still held a knife to Evelyn’s cheek. He might manage to cut her, but I would have to be faster. I’d always been stronger than my enemy, but I’d never been allowed to challenge him before. Not without risking a war.
Now, I didn’t give a fuck about the consequences. My entire being was consumed with the desperate need to wrench her away from him.
I grabbed his wrist, yanking the blade far away from her porcelain skin. With a sharp twist, his bones snapped, and the knife dropped from his limp fingers.
His scream resounded through the cramped basement, accompanied by the muted pops of more gunfire. His friends had silencers on their weapons, but none of the bullets were aimed at me; they were trying to fight off Gian and Enzo.
I shoved Rocco back and put my body between Evelyn and our attackers. As I whirled to face the stairs, I saw my friends storming into the basement, their guns drawn.
I trusted the brothers to make quick work of our enemies.
Crawford was already dead.
