Page 109 of The Art of Ruin

Not surprise.

Not even anger in the way most people understand it.

Just pure, unadulterated rage, followed by a single, immediate thought—

He has no right to be anywhere near her.

My grip tightens around the phone, my focus narrowing fast, everything else dropping away as distance and timing become the only things that matter. Nico is standing at my shoulder, worry falling off him in waves as he picks up on my emotions.

He showed up.

He stood in the same space as her and thought that was acceptable.

That ends now.

“Is she alone?” I ask, already moving.

“I’m with her,” Isabella replies immediately. “But he’s watching her, Adriano. His side piece just confronted Casey.”

He’s a dead man.

My jaw tightens as I realize I mean that literally, not figuratively. We may have given up our mob life, but some things are in us from birth.

“Stay with her,” I say, already moving. “Don’t let him near her again.”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

I can hear the vehemence in my sister-in-law’s voice and have never been more grateful for the strong, badass woman my brother married. “I’m on my way.”

I end the call before anything else can be said.

“What is it?” Nico says, already stepping closer.

“Jasper is at the lodge.”

That’s all it takes. His expression shifts instantly, the easy amusement gone, replaced by something sharper, colder. “With Casey and Bella?” he asks, his voice turning deadly at the thought of a man capable of lying as he did to Casey anywhere near his wife.

“Yes.”

That’s enough for him too.

He turns, already scanning for Letty. “Matteo—”

“I’ve got her,” Matteo calls back, further down the slope, his attention snapping toward us the second he hears the tone.

“Stay with her,” Nico says, not wasting time. “We’ll be back.”

Matteo nods once.

No questions.

No hesitation.

We move like a well-oiled machine. Everyone moves to do what’s needed to keep one of our own safe.

The descent is faster than it should be.

Not reckless, controlled, but barely.