Page 41 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

“Get on your fucking knees,” he growls, narrowing his eyes at both of us as he rises to his feet.

Enzo stiffens, and I dread what’s coming next. “I kneel before nobody, boy…”

The peace in the air shatters as a bullet pierces through Enzo’s foot. Blood spurts everywhere, bringing him forcefully to one knee. I gasp, my heart tearing out of my chest as I whip wide eyes toward Adrian.

“On your knees. Now.” The expression in his eyes is pure anger. No remorse, just anger.

I scramble to my knees beside Enzo, arms hovering above his foot in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Enzo’s breath comes out in shallow pants as he cups my hand tightly. My heart clenches when he releases a strained sound of pain, and I turn to Adrian.

“W-What do you want? Why are you doing this?”

He clenches his jaw but doesn’t respond.

“P-Please I- Enzo will bleed out. We have to call the doc—”

“Silence!” He slams his fist against the table, the sound slicing through the air. “You will keep your mouth shut while you’re here.”

Enzo grunts beside me again, and a tear rolls down my cheek. I can’t let the only man who’s looked out for me die because some asshole went rogue.

“Why are you doing this, Adrian?”

“I said—”

“For power?” Anger ignites in my chest when he stands up and takes a step closer. “Money? Status? I can’t believe I was starting to think you’re a good person. I was starting to trust you… to think there’s a human somewhere beneath that cold façade. I was dead wrong. You’re nothing but a monster.”

My words hang in the air as he stalks toward us, tension rising in the room. When he stops before me, he angles the gun at my head, and I feel the cool barrel press against my skin. My heart catches in my throat, but I show no sign of fear.

He cocks it. “One more word and I’ll blow your fucking brains out.”

Before I can respond, Enzo does.

“No!” A weak arm barricades my midsection as he tries to push me behind him. “No, Adrian. Whatever it is, we can set—”

“It’s Adriano Bellandini to you!” Adrian barks, aiming the gun at Enzo.

I feel Enzo stiffen beside me. “Bellandini?”

“In the flesh,” Adrian sneers darkly.

My eyes move between both of them as I watch the interaction. Enzo’s hand around me drops limply to his side, and Adrian… or Adriano, clenches his fist. The room seems to hold its breath.

What the fuck is going on?

“That’s right, old bastard. You murdered my family in cold blood. Remember?”

I freeze and whip my head to Enzo for confirmation. He doesn’t look at me; instead, he takes a deep breath.

“I was only acting on Dean’s orders.”

That must have been years ago, when Father was still the Don and Enzo his second-in-command.

Adrian’s nostrils flare. “You slaughtered my family! Looked me in the eyes and shot five fucking bullets into my chest!” he roars. “You shot my sick mother between her eyes and killed a fucking ten-year-old!”

What?

“I’m sorry.” The words barely leave Enzo’s mouth when another shot rings through the air. Enzo collapses to the side with a loud grunt, blood pooling from his shoulder.

Shit!