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My stomach twists as the crowd rushes toward it. Benny is in the lead. I grab Natalia’s hand, and we follow them.
When we reach the emergency exit, Neomi’s younger sister, Isabella, is blocking the door. My gaze follows hers to Neomi’s older sister, Bria, and I gasp when it lands on Neomi. A man is restraining her, holding a gun to her head, and she struggles to free herself.
Benny stops Severino when he attempts to go to her.
Severino snarls at him, “That is my goddamn daughter.”
“Who is now my wife. I’ll handle this,” Benny argues while watching the man. “Lower your gun and release her before I blow your head off.”
The man jams the gun harder into Neomi’s head. “And I’ll do the same with hers. You pull the trigger, I pull mine.”
Neomi grimaces before shutting her eyes, as if preparing herself to die. A tear slides down her cheek.
“I have a clear shot,” my father says to Benny, only loud enough for us to hear.
“If someone hurts my wife, they die at my hands,” Benny replies. “No one else’s.”
This is why I’ll always feel safe with Benny. Unlike Antonio was with Vinny, I’m not scared for the day he takes over the family.
“You do know crazy men with guns surround you,” Isabella says to the gunman, sneering out each word. “You won’t leave here alive, so let my sister go.”
“If I don’t bring this bitch where she needs to go and finish the job, I’ll die,” the man fires back. “Either way, I’m a dead man.” He pulls back and curses when Neomi bites his hand.
The movement gives Benny an opening, and he shoots the gunman in the head. The man’s body slumps backward. His blood and brain matter shower Neomi.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” Benny says.
Neomi runs straight to him, wraps her arms around his neck, and burrows her face into his chest. Benny smooths his hand along her back, telling her she’s safe.
“Do you think the Lombardis are behind this?” Natalia whispers to me.
I blow out a long breath. “I’m praying they aren’t.”
“If they are, all of them will die.” She’s telling me something I already know. “Your father already wants to kill them, and now, Severino will want revenge and answers for what just happened to Neomi.”
“I know.” A tightness forms in my gut.
She wraps her arm around me as we leave. “Remember all the times you told me to stay away from Vinny, how you were only doing it for my own good, and how frustrating it was when I didn’t listen?”
I nod.
“I’m asking you to do the same thing with Antonio.” She squeezes me. “He’s a Lombardi. They can’t be trusted.”
21
I burst into my father’s office to find him and Sonny smoking cigars. “Did you call a hit on Benny Marchetti’s wedding?”
Last night, I made it clear to him that if he wants me to take over the family, he must include me in all decision-making.
Nothing happens without my approval, especially anything Marchetti-related.
I give no fucks if we kill a man who owes us money.
Hits on other families during weddings? Yeah, I’d better approve that shit.
My father tokes out a circle of smoke. “What are you talking about?”
“Someone shot up his wedding.” I shut the door. “They attempted to kidnap his wife, Severino’s fucking daughter, and Benny killed them.”
