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I grunt and roll my eyes at mention of my half-brother. The crazed, more than slightly unhinged, Dante Valentino is nothing compared to me. You don’t know pain until you’ve walked through fire and lived through the excruciating torture.
Both Dante and Luca are weak. Marco and I were wrought in fire, molded and branded in hell while they lived a life of luxury.
“Why did you let Jasper get away?” Her question draws me from the dark musings.
“He served his purpose, and I had no further use for him.” I shrug again.
“He’s a rapist and a stalk—well, I guess now I understand why you felt an affinity toward my ex.”
A wave of anger rushes my chest, and I wrap my hand around Maisy’s throat. It’s funny how in a city of millions, everyone’s so consumed in their own life no one gives two shits about anyone else. My thumb strokes the indentation in her neck. “Let’s get something clear, little fox, I am nothing like that pezzo di merda, Jasper. Nothing,” I snarl.
“Then prove it and let go of me,” she spits.
I loosen my grip on her throat only to lift her in my arms once again.
“What are you doing?” she cries.
“I already told you, I’m taking you home to rest that ankle.” Despite her slaps, I march down Central Park West and find Max and the BMW waiting for me. I crawl in the back, cradling Maisy against my chest. “We’re going to Miss Jordan’s house, Max.”
“Got it, boss.”
“He knows where I live?” she blurts.
“Of course he does, he’s my driver.”
Her face pales, and I’m certain she’s gone back to the day I took Rose and her hostage. I decide to let it go for now. There’s no point in dwelling in the past. I’ve already apologized multiple times.
As I settle into the backseat, a few blank canvases catch my eye. Shit, I left my work in progress at the park. Reaching for my phone, I shoot off a quick text message to Jimmy to go fetch it. He’s meeting with Qian Guo of the Four Seas on the other side of the park as we speak. If the Red Dragons have chosen to back the Kings, I’ll make sure the other notorious gang of the Triad supports the Geminis. If the Valentino brothers want a war, they’ll get one.
Maisy wriggles in my lap, reminding me of her presence. She’s been surprisingly silent for all of five minutes. “Please take me straight home.”
“Well, I certainly wasn’t going to take you to the shipping yard if that was your worry.”
A chill skitters up her spine, and I can feel her convulsing in my lap. The fact that she still fears me brings an odd tangle of emotions. Normally, I would like it, but with Maisy it’s different. Her ex was an abusive asshole, and I hate that she thinks we’re anything alike.
“What do I have to do to convince you I’m not going to hurt you?”
Her fiery eyes lance into me. “Not kidnapping me for one would be a good start.”
“This is not a kidnapping. I’m merely offering you a ride home.”
“No, you forced me into your car. I obviously said no.”
“You’re not thinking clearly. The pain must have gone to your head.”
“I’m going to punch you in your head in a second,” she mutters under her breath, and a fit of laughter loosens my hold around her waist.
“You really are something else, Maisy.”
She scrambles off my lap and settles into the seat beside me, bringing the seatbelt across her shoulder.
I glance down at her ankle, and it’s already beginning to swell. “You see? I told you not to walk on it.” I point at the bruised joint.
“This is all your fault, you know. I was trying to get away from you when I tripped.”
“It sounds like it’s your fault then. You should know better than to try to run from fate.”
Her jaw drops, eyes wide as she regards me. A long minute later, she swallows hard and shoots me a steely glare. “You are out of your mind, Nico Rossi, if you think fate had anything to do with bringing us together.”
