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I turn back to Giuliano as he watches on. He glares at me as he pushes himself to his feet. His fists are clenched by his sides, and anger is radiating out of him.

“I’m not leaving her alone,” he states, as if daring me to come at him again.

I step forward, dangerously close to losing control.

“Rico, don’t,” Lorenzo whispers. “Leave it.”

“I love her, and you can’t keep her from me.”

Contempt drips from my every pore. I don’t think I’ve ever despised someone as much as I despise him.

“Watch me,” I whisper. He steps forward.

The kid’s got guts, I’ll give him that.

“Over my dead body will you ever see Francesca again.” I sneer.

He growls at me through gritted teeth, and I turn to get into the car. Once inside, I slam the door.

“Drive!” I yell to Antonio. I turn to Francesca, who is crying in the backseat.

“I hate you, Enrico,” she cries.

I turn back to the road and drag my hands through my hair.

I can’t even speak to her, I’m too angry. This situation is completely out of control.

What the actual fuck just happened?

He’s her brother.

________

“Enrico, can I see you for a moment?” Marley asks as he pokes his head around my office door.

“Yes, please come in.”

Lorenzo stands to leave, and Marley looks between us. “Can you stay, Lorenzo?”

Lorenzo’s eyes meet mine. “Sure.” He falls back into his seat.

Marley falls into the seat. He seems nervous. “I had a phone call today from a private number.”

“And?”

“Someone offered me ten million euros to kill you.”

“What?”

He swallows nervously. “Lucky Lombardi is trying to recruit someone from your own team to kill you.”

I stare at him, lost for words.

“What?” Lorenzo explodes as he jumps from his chair. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.” He twists his hands nervously in front of him. “I told him I would do it, because I didn’t want him to contact anyone else. It will buy us some time. If I said no, he would have offered it to someone else. This way, he thinks I am going to do it.”

“Good thinking, Marley. Well done,” Lorenzo tells him.