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44
Massimo
I whip my head around to find a stranger peering through the window. He’s gesticulating and saying something. I roll down my window.
"—what the hell, dude? Why are you parked in the middle of the road? If you’re having an argument, why don’t you go home and—"
I shoot my hand out through the window, grab his collar and jerk his face forward. "You were saying?" I snap.
His eyes bug out, he opens and shuts his mouth, then shakes his head. I thrust him away from the car, then roll up my window and release the brake. This time, we drive in silence.
How could she compare what we have to what thatfiglio di puttanathreatened her with? How could she compare me to him? I hadn’t meant to pull my gun on him, but when he touched her, I lost control. It’s only the fact that killing him would have led to a full-out gang war that stopped me. I’m trying to keep her safe, and all she does is resist me. I thought we were safe in London. With Diego dead, and the last of our enemies killed by Luca when he saved Jeanne, I was lulled into complacency. No more. I’m going to ensure we have round-the-clock security, and eyes on her at all times. Hell, I’m going to make sure I don’t take my gaze off of her. Going to make sure I’m always in her vicinity, until I’ve dealt with thatbastardo,Alvaro.
We reach Hyde Park, turn onto another street, then a side road that leads to a set of gates which open as we approach. I drive onto a secluded driveway, and guide the car forward under the canopy of trees, then pull up in front of a large Queen Anne-style Victorian home. It’s three stories tall, and made of painted brick with church-like roof finials on the steely pitched roofs. On either end of the house is a rounded tower with a turret that draws the eye upward. In the gathering darkness, it seems medieval, with the mist rolling in from the park to wreath the top of the roof.
I round the car to find she’s already stepped out.
"This is JJ Kane’s home?" She glances up at the imposing house.
"One of them."
“Huh. Does he live here alone?”
“I think his son and daughter used to live with him, but they’ve moved out now.”
She purses her lips. "It’s not very welcoming, is it?"
"Doesn’t matter either way." I walk up the steps and toward the massive door. When it swings open, JJ Kane stands silhouetted in the doorway.
I close the distance between us, until we face each other. Our gazes meet, connect. For a few seconds, neither of us move. Then, he holds out his hand.
* * *
"Alvaro is here in London?" JJ straightens in his chair. He brought us straight to his study, a massive room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that cover one wall, stacked with books. Olivia left us to go browse amongst them, for which I’m grateful. If I’d asked her to leave us so we could talk, she’d have made sure to stay. Of course, she can see me from across the room, but hopefully she’s out of earshot. While I have nothing to hide from her, I prefer to have this conversation with JJ on my own, so she won't see just how worried I really am.
"Motherfucker walked up to me in the restaurant, in front of a roomful of people, and threatened me." I reach for the glass of whiskey he poured me. He ushered me, not to the comfortable arm chairs in front of the fire, but to the antique desk in front of the window in the far corner. He took the armchair behind it, leaving me to slide into the chair opposite. If he’s trying to intimidate me, he’s going to be disappointed. I’ll take hisLock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrelsand raise himGoodfellas.
"I’m going to kill him." I raise the glass to my lips and toss back the alcohol.
"What does he want?" JJ asks.
"A billion dollars."
He tilts his head. "Which you can arrange for, no doubt. So why did you come to me?"
"You need him out of this city as much as I do."
"Do I?" JJ’s lips draw up in the semblance of a smile, which makes him resemble a shark.
"Stop fucking around." I lean forward in my seat. "The last thing you need are the Mexicans moving in on this city."
"Haven’t you heard? Like theCosa Nostra, the Kane company is going legal with its businesses,” he murmurs.
"All the more reason you want to see him gone. You can’t have him set up operations here, and upset the balance of power."
He surveys my features, then glances toward Via. I follow his gaze to find her reaching up on her tiptoes to pull out a book.
"You love her?" he asks.
