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Gian threw some bills on the bar and leaned in close, his tone low. “Show me the way.”
Outside the bar, a step from the door, he made a sudden move to press me to the brick wall in an attempt to kiss me, and I refused him. He was a smoke screen, and I’d got the attention I sought out, but looking at Gian’s eager face, it was an easy decision. I’d been selfish with people’s lives long enough.
“Actually, Gian, I’m not feeling well. I’ll see myself to the hotel. Goodnight.”
“Oh, woman, you cannot do this to me now.” He was all smiles, eager and ready for the chase as I opened the driver door and sat in my seat. He blocked my attempt to close it as he leaned in to save what would never happen. Daniello had made me a monogamous woman.
Bastard.
Determined to get the poor man out of harm’s way, I opened my mouth to speak and felt a whoosh of air.
Before I knew what was happening, Daniello had him pinned to the hood, his hands wrapped around his neck, his face twisted in rage. “Leave now, and I will spare your life.”
Gian screeched in terror as I pulled my Glock from my purse and pointed my Glock at Daniello’s temple.
“Let him go.”
“Do not test me, Taylor.” I watched Daniello, his eyes trained on Gian—the same eyes that I saw that day in Florida.
Guns meant shit to these men.
Gian’s eyes flitted between us as he choked under a death grip. I lowered my gun.
“Okay, just let him go, please.” Daniello gripped the hand Gian had on his shirt and I heard the crack of bones before he screamed.
“Stop!”
He released him abruptly, and Gian gave no fight as he bounced off the car and made a beeline for the safety of the bar. Daniello turned to me, a picture of darkness.
“Get in the fucking car.”
Sirens sounded in the distance as I weighed my options. Daniello came toward me, a flash of lightning. Thirty seconds later, we were speeding away from the bar.
Daniello was excruciatingly silent as we rode out of town toward his villa. I made peace with fate as I tried to appeal to the man who once cared for me.
“Please don’t let them hurt Amber. Please, Daniello. Call them off! She doesn’t know anything. They don’t even know your name!”
Daniello sped up and into his driveway then slid to a stop, forcing us both forward.
“I’m begging you. If I mean anything to you at all, don’t let them hurt her. You know I know nothing!”
He slammed his hand o
n the dash and killed the running car as he turned toward me with dark eyes.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done by coming here?!” I moved to get out of the hatchback, but he gripped my wrist. I slapped him hard as he took all the air out of the space between us with his roar. “Do you know what you’ve done, Taylor?!”
“What I’ve done?! How could you let him hurt her! How could you let him come after me!”
I escaped the car before he could reach for me. He got out on the opposite side, peering at me in shock. It separated us enough that I was able to let my anger fly.
“You horrible bastard! How could you let him hurt me this way! After everything . . .” I let my tears fall as my anger consumed me. “You were too much of a coward to do it yourself, and your fucking dog shot my sister!”
Daniello studied me with confusion as I crumbled in front of him. “So finish this, but do it yourself, you bastard, because I can’t live with this.” I gripped my hands to my chest. “But you tell them to leave my Amber out of it!”
Daniello stood deathly still as he spoke. “Taylor—”
“God, I should have known I wouldn’t matter. Why am I so damn stupid when it comes to you? I’ll make it easy for you.” I leaned in the car, pulled the purse from the seat, and aimed my gun at my temple. “Tell me you will spare her life, and I will pull the trigger right now.”
