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"Yes." She nodded enthusiastically, and I felt my face harden at the bit of fear I'd put in my woman because of this piece of shit's determination to fuck with me. When I drew away, Ivory's eyes glanced down at my arms, where I knew my shirt sleeves were rolled up, ready to bloody Adrian for what he'd done. I had abandoned my suit jacket in my haste to get to Ivory, left behind in my office. I was only grateful I'd had the foresight to leave my gun in the car.
She didn’t need to see that yet.
"Is that—" she started, and I knew she'd ask about the tattoo on my left forearm.
"I'll see you later. Stay with Scar," I ordered, nodding at the other man as I fled the house.
It was not the right moment to explain the tattoo I'd gotten the same day I broke her heart.
???
Adrian's home was a stone monstrosity right in the middle of the city. A complete and total attention-grabbing statement, like the man thought owning a home in it meant he owned the city.
He didn't, because it was mine.
I strolled up to the door, gun tucked in hand and not caring who saw me. This city was mine, and there wasn't a person in it who was stupid enough to fuck with me when I meant business.
Not a person except for Adrian Ricci. The stupid fuck.
Even his security didn't dare shoot me, not without direct word from their boss. Even in the unlikely event they killed me, my men would revolt, and the city would descend into complete and utter chaos. No one wanted that.
The door opened before I could knock, and I shoved it wide and shouldered the butler out of my way. "Where is he?"
"Mr. Bellandi, perhaps—"
I pointed my gun at his forehead, staring down at him with glacial eyes that showed just how little I would care if I shot him dead. "Where the fuck is Adrian?"
"Office at the end of the hall," the man whimpered. "Could you perhaps holster your weapon? There's no reason this needs to be a violent affair.”
"I disagree." I stormed through the wood-paneled halls, a deception on Adrian's part to try to convince his business associates of the illusion that he came from old money.
Like them. Like me.
But Adrian Ricci was nothing but a motivated thug who thought because he made money on the backs of others suffering, that somehow entitled him to the luxuries that the old bloods enjoyed.
But we all knew the truth.
He was nothing. He lived as nothing, and one day, he would die as nothing.
I shoved his office door open, wondering how pretty his classical cream painted walls would look covered in his blood. "Matteo," he said, standing with a smile, even while I leveled my gun at him. "Come now, whatever it is you think I've done—"
"Stay the fuck away from my woman. I thought I made myself very clear that she does not exist for you."
"Ah, I see Ivory told you about my little gift then. How very disappointing," he sighed. "Really though, Matteo. Can you blame me? All is fair in love and war, and the woman is positively enchanting. Such fire!" he exclaimed. "I wonder what she'll be like when she's broken. How pretty those eyes will look when they're vacant. Like a beautiful, little doll."
I crossed the distance between us in favor of shoving Adrian up against the wall with my arm to his throat. "You will never touch her."
He grinned up at me, a direct challenge in his gaze. Drawing back my hand that held my gun, I used it to break his nose. "Fuck," he groaned, smiling again through blood-soaked teeth.
"Mr. Ricci?" one guard who'd undoubtedly followed me in asked from the door.
"It's all right, Jesse," Adrian assured him. "Matteo and I are just having a difference of opinion. Women. That trap between their legs makes all of us go a little crazy, isn't that right?" With a snarl, I repeated the strike, leaving no part of Adrian's face unbloodied. When my gun pressed against the underside of his chin, I knew that killing him would be the best thing for Ivory. I may not walk away, but she'd be safe regardless, and the calm in his eyes even as they swelled up told me he wouldn't be leaving her alone without my forcing it. Lowering the gun, I fired it into his right hand, the same one that had touched Ivory without her permission.
"Touch her again, and I'll shoot your dick off next time. You won't have much need of my woman without it."
He roared out a laugh, swaying when I released my hold on his throat and sucking in a full, unhindered breath. "I always knew I liked you, Bellandi!" he called as I turned and strode out of his office and home without another word.
I dialed Scar as soon as I was in my car. "She doesn't leave your sight if she's out of that house. Understood?"
