Page 147 of The Don’s Omega

I only care about one thing.

Getting out of this fucking house alive.

I somehow wiggle away from Turi and scramble to my feet, bolting down a hallway. I wrench open the first door that I come to and run into what looks like a study. Fuck. I’m trapped. I slam the door closed behind me and lock it.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Turi hits the door from the other side and the wood jumps in the frame. I stumble backward as he slams into it again. Turi comes through the door like a crazed bull. I grab the first thing within reach, a heavy brass bookend, and throw it at him. He ducks and it smashes into the wall.

I grab another. “Stay the fuck away from me.”

“Elio.” Salvatore’s voice comes from somewhere behind him. “Enough.”

My laugh is borderline hysterical. “Enough? You think I’m just gonna roll over and die cuz that would be more convenient?” My chest is heaving. My hands are shaking so badly I almost drop the bookend.

Salvatore says nothing. Why would he? We both know I’m trapped.

I look at Turi. Then at the doorway behind him. There’s no way I’m getting past him, but I have to try. Feeling hopeless, I charge. I swing the bookend at his face and he blocks it with his forearm. I slam into him, clawing, kicking, trying to get around him.

By some miracle I slip past him, but I only make it two steps before Turi catches me from behind. I twist around and swing at him, but he blocks the punch and drives me backward into the wall. My head cracks against the plaster and flashes of light flicker on the edge of my vision.

I sag, but I’m still conscious. Still fighting. I claw at his arm and try to shove him away. I’m too winded to scream, I just keep clawing praying he’ll just give up. Let me go. Take pity on me. But he doesn’t. Turi is done playing.

He hits me.

Hard.

The blow catches me across the side of the head and the room disappears for a second. My knees buckle and I hear Salvatore shout as I’m falling. My last thoughts are of Marcello and our baby. I failed. I couldn’t do it. I gave it everything I had but I couldn’t fucking do it.

Everything goes black.

Chapter Twenty-One

Marcello

The gravel on Salvatore’s drive pops under the tires as Carlo pulls the car to a stop in front of his house. I lied to Elio about going on a trip. It was a necessary lie. I needed to see what he was up to and he wasn’t going to tell me. He’s been hiding stuff from me and it has something to do with Salvatore. So I spent the night at Carlo’s so we could figure out what the hell Elio is up to.

It’s a good thing I didn’t leave town too. One of my men called today to inform me Elio had left my home without a security detail. He took an Uber and wouldn’t tell anyone where he was going. He’s naive enough to think it would end there. It didn’t.

It only took Dante five minutes to get the Uber driver’s name and another five to get the destination. Ridgecrest Road. That’s where Salvatore Marchetti’s estate is. I knew that bastard would be involved in this somehow. His visit the other night was calculated and designed to sow distrust between Elio and me. What I don’t know is why Elio willingly drove to his home without his security detail.

I take a deep, calming breath as I study Salvatore’s home. The estate is surrounded by cypress that block the sightlines from the road, no doubt strategically planted for that very purpose. There are two cars parked near a detached garage, but no people visible. While Salvatore may not have men at the gate, there’s no way he doesn’t have security on the grounds. They’re probably inside the home.

“Seems peaceful,” Carlo says.

“Yeah, well if Salvatore has hurt Elio it won’t stay peaceful,” I rumble. “I’ll murder the asshole.”

“Elio came here willingly.”

I scowl. “Seems that way. I could strangle him for being so reckless.”

Carlo sighs. “Maybe he’s just having a friendly visit.”

“Then why not let Dante drive him?”

“No idea. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a civilian? They seem to have no self-preservation skills.”

“That’s the fucking truth.” I shake my head. “It’s not a good sign that Elio hasn’t answered any of my texts. He always responds right away.”