Page 17 of Revenge of Sin

Nicolo’s not wrong, but Anna’s safety comes first, before Massimo Roselli’s temper or any material possessions that I own.I’ll deal with that bullshit later.First things first.“I want a meet up with Roselli.Set it up.”

His eyebrow arches.“What reason am I giving for this spur of the moment meetup?Nothing about Anna or your sudden obsession to kidnap the fucking rival’s sister-in-law and join in this revenge of sins game, I assume.”

Fucking smart-ass.“Tell him we have more information about the Gallinis.Ask him to meet us at the strip club but surround the block with soldiers before the meet.Ask him to send you some men to help keep the meet clear of any Gallinis or Sarones who want to crash the party.And let Gianni in on it so he doesn’t get his panties in a bunch and can clear the club.Shut it down for at least a few hours.We don’t need the fuckers getting their eyes on any of our girls.”

That should be it, the way we’ve always done business.Get things done, short and sweet but the way he’s looking at me tells me he’s still got something on his mind.“What Nicolo?Spill it.”

“Are you going to tell Massimo you have Anna at this meet?”

Not once has Nicolo ever questioned me or the decisions I make for the family, always right there to step in and shoulder the responsibility of those calls for the good of the family, all of the family.Now not only has he done it once, but twice.

My chest tightens with an unfamiliar emotion.Pure raging anger at the thought of what could have happened to Anna.Already drugged and in the back of the enemy’s car.“You think I should have let the Gallini fuck take her back to his lair, rape her, gut her like a fish and send her body parts back to Massimo as a final fuck you?Think he’d be happy then?”

Not much fazes Nicolo and neither does my ire.“Tell me something, Vincenzo.Does she mean something to you?Really mean something to you, besides a fuck?”

I shove the papers on the desk in front of me onto his lap.“The fuck kinda question is that?You think I’d risk getting into a war with multiple families for a fuck I can get in the clubs any night of the week?I can’t fucking believe you of all people would ask me that.”I stand, pacing to the window wound tighter than I’ve been in a while.

“So she does means something to you.”

I stare out the window, still uncertain how to answer a question that my younger brother shouldn’t be pushing me to answer, yet, still, involving the family makes it his business too.As boss making someone yours, official titles or not, once people know a woman’s your weakness she has a target on her fucking back.But in this case, she already does.A billion-dollar target and lots of people will be eager to cash in on capturing her and taking her to Gallini.

The sadistic fuck isn’t getting his hands on Anna, that’s for fucking sure.Because I’ve already decided to put her under the family protection, already kidnapped her for that very fucking reason.I turn toward Nicolo.“Hell fucking yeah, she means something to me.She’s mine.”

His face splits into a grin as he stands and meets me halfway across his office.He claps a hand on my shoulder.“I never thought I’d see the day, but if she means something to you, I’m in, all the way fucking in.Count on it.Those Gallini fucks won’t get near her, Vincenzo.We’ll put the weight of our entire army between her and them.”

I clap him on the back, unfamiliar emotion bubbling deep in my chest, sitting heavy, knowing that it’s going to throw us into a war, cause Mamma and Lanah to deal with more security too.“You have the security increased at Ma’s?”

“First thing we did.”

“Move them both to one of the penthouses for now.”

His eyes go wide.“Lanah’s going to hit the roof.She’s got school, everything.”

“Don’t care.I’ll deal with her.”

He nods.“You’re not wrong.Better we deal with her attitude for a while and know they’re safe.I’ll get them moved in the next hour.We’ll see the Gallini fucks coming from miles away from here.We have the perimeter at the city edge, and two more layers between that and us.We meet with Massimo like you said and get more of his men to help layer in too.We’re solid.”

“Yeah, now I just have to tell Massimo that the Sarones and Gallinis are joining forces to take him and his family out, and that I have no clue yet who took Anna, because I’m certainly not telling him that I have her yet.She’s not going back under his protection after what happened to her last time.”

Nicolo’s brow crinkles.“Why not tell Anna and Massimo the truth?She’s safer here for now.Have him agree to us keeping her.It seems simpler.”

He’s not wrong but it’s not as simple as that, especially when Anna doesn’t trust anyone but Massimo and her sister.“The minute Anna knows the truth, she’s going to demand to talk to Massimo, the minute Massimo knows, his rats find out and there are far too many rats swimming in the waters who are far too eager to get a cut of a billion-dollar pie.”

He shakes his head.“You’re seriously going to just keep her captive then.”

My eyes meet his.I have a feeling even when I walk out this door it’s not going to be the last of this conversation.“For as long as it fucking takes to keep her alive, Nicolo.For as long as it fucking takes.”

12

Anna

Loud shouting coming from a distance pulls me from the serenity of dreaming about the last five nights in bed with Vincenzo.I tilt my head listening carefully but the voices lower too quickly for me to make out what they are saying.Curious and awake now, I retrieve the book I was reading from the mattress by my side and check the ornate circular clock on the wall.My stomach growls confirming that it will be time to eat again soon.Whoever left that scrumptious breakfast on the table is owed a huge thank you.

Staying up half the night tumbling around in bed with Vincenzo took all of my energy and was a great reason to sleep in this morning.

I slide out of bed and pad barefoot into the bathroom to freshen up and get ready for the day, paying far more attention than I should to the sparkle of my teeth and shine of my hair for the dark-haired adonis who may walk into my room at any minute completely unannounced.

I’ve barely zipped up the pretty little green dress and slid my feet into a pair of flats before I hear the argument start up again, this time almost loud enough for me to hear.