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Now that he’s bad mouthing Gabriella, something inside me snaps and instantly comes to her defense. “Don’t you dare say one bad word about her. I don’t know how you can share the last name much less have the same blood running through your veins. She is the most intelligent and amazing woman I have ever had the good fortune to meet. How you can claim her as kin blows my mind. Compared to Gabriella, you’re nothing. You’re shit.”
Once my spiel ends, I’m rewarded with another punch to the face. Lovely. My head is hanging down between my shoulders and I work my jaw back and forth, making sure it’s not broken. Then I turn my face to the side and spit out a mouthful of blood.
But, I don’t regret a word I said. It’s all true. Gabriella is a beautiful light and these two fuckers shouldn’t be allowed to share the same air as her, much share the same last name. But, if I have any say and manage to get my ass out of here in one piece, then I’ll be changing her last name. Soon, she will be Gabriella Rossi. My wife.
Tommaso nods to my legs and Romeo kneels down, grabs my ankles and forces my feet into the bucket now filled with wet cement. Shit, shit, shit. I fight against the hardening cement, doing my best to kick and keep shifting it around so it doesn’t get the chance to freeze my feet in place. But then Tommaso gets down and holds them, too, and I’m fighting a losing battle.
Once again, the idea that Gabriella could possibly be pregnant crosses my mind. That gives me the renewed purpose to fight for my life and escape. But they’re so strong, constantly teaming up on me, and soon my strength lessens. It also doesn’t help that I was zapped by a taser countless times and my muscles still feel weak
What the hell am I going to do? I can’t let them weigh me down and toss me into the water. It’ll be over in a few minutes, but that’s not how I want to go out. I still have too much to do.
The worst part is I never got the chance to tell Gabriella that I love her. Because I do. God, I love that woman so damn much, my heart and soul ache for her.
“Time to sleep with the fish, Rossi,” Tommaso says and gives me an evil grin. Then he and Romeo grab my chair and start hauling me toward the edge of the dock.
I love you, Bri. And I’m so damn sorry that I never got to tell you in person.
21
GABRIELLA
After I slip out of my car, I’m tip-toeing across the sidewalk when I hear someone hiss my name. Spinning around, I see Angelo hurrying toward me.
“Oh, thank God,” I murmur and grab onto his arm. “We need to find Enzo fast.”
He nods and lifts a finger to his lips, shushing me. “See that SUV over by the boathouse?”
“That’s Romeo’s,” I confirm softly, noticing the car.
“Yeah, I think they’re in the boathouse.” Angelo reaches behind him and removes a gun from the back of his waistband. “Stay close. If they’re in there, you need to stay out.”
“I am not staying out,” I argue.
Angelo rolls his eyes at me, but then he grins. “Enzo said you were a pain in the ass.”
“Damn straight. Now let’s go rescue my man.” I lift the knife in my hand and march across the street. His eyes momentarily widen in surprise then he hurries to catch up, snagging my elbow.
“Quietly,” he reminds me. “And let the guy with the gun go first, okay?”
Even though I don’t want to, I slow down and fall behind him. He has a point and rushing through the door waving a knife around isn’t going to accomplish a thing. When we reach the door, he peers inside. I can hear voices and I squint, cocking my head, trying to hear better. It sounds like Tommaso and then I hear Enzo.
Oh, thank God. He’s alive and so close, I swear I can smell his sandalwood cologne. I step closer and Angelo holds up an arm, blocking me. He looks at me and shakes his head. Everything in me wants to break in and stop my evil cousins, but Angelo seems to have a plan, so I relent, nodding in response.
“Stay put,” he hisses then slips inside the door, sticking to the shadows. Heart in my throat, I watch him sneak forward. But my attention immediately turns to Enzo. He’s sitting in a chair, hands tied, and I can hear them now.
“This is what you deserve,” Tommaso growls. He rips a bag open and dumps something into a bucket. “Miceli killed my brother and you fucked Gabriella. We know all about that. I’ve always questioned her decisions, so I can’t say I’m surprised. She isn’t the smartest.”
My eyes narrow and I’m one second away from marching over there and slapping his arrogant face. But I do what Angelo says and keep quiet.
Enzo looks up at Tommaso, and even from this far away, I can see my man’s dark eyes turn livid. “Don’t you dare say one bad word about her. I don’t know how you can share the last name much less have the same blood running through your veins. She is the most intelligent and amazing woman I have ever had the good fortune to meet. How you can claim her as kin blows my mind. Compared to Gabriella, you’re nothing. You’re shit.”
My chest tightens at his words and, as much as I appreciate them, I know Tommaso is going to lose his mind over the insult. And, he does, because a moment later he punches Enzo in the face. I gasp, quickly covering my mouth to stifle the sound, but I don’t think anyone hears me because a commotion breaks out.
My cousins are trying to shove Enzo’s feet into what must be a cement mixture and I feel sick. I can’t believe this is happening and they’re trying to kill the man I love. I force myself to stay where I am while my gaze desperately searches the shadows for Angelo.
Where are you? I wonder, starting to panic. Do something!
“Time to sleep with the fish, Rossi,” Tommaso says. Then he and Romeo grab the chair and start hauling Enzo toward the edge of the dock.
