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Aidan fought to keep his voice even despite the rage that burned like a fire inside him. “He hit you?”
She nodded. “When Leo saw the bruise, he broke his nose. I’m sorry. I didn’t think…I didn’t know he was invited tonight.”
“Was that the first time? That he hit you?”
Her answer was in the way she wouldn’t meet his eyes. He reached up to place a single fingertip under her chin, tilting her head up slowly.
“He will never touch you again. Understand?" He waited for her to nod. “If he does, I will kill him.”
“There you are,” Leo said, appearing around the corner. “Collin’s gone. I regret I did not get to break the fucker’s nose again. You okay?”
Viv nodded, plastering on a small smile. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
Leo flicked a glance at Aidan, who nodded confirmation before he said, “Good. There are a few more guests we’re trying to shepherd out the door, but then we should be okay to take you home. Come on. Mama wants to make sure you’re all right.”
Viv glanced at Aidan before skirting the corner with her brother. Aidan shoved his hands deep into his pockets, clenching them into fists to keep from punching a hole in the wall. Or three.
The fear in Viv’s eyes, the way she’d clung to him while she panicked, the knowledge that anyone had ever laid a hand on her had unlocked something inside of him. He knew Collin wouldn’t have to lay another finger on her for him to make good on this threat. He was already planning on killing him.
It didn’t take long for the last of the guests to finally leave, and they were left with just the Callahans and the Falcones in the ballroom while the staff began breaking things down around them. Someone had already briefed his brothers on what happened.
“He wasn’t on the guest list. I don’t remember the name Milano being on it anywhere,” Evie said.
“He wasn’t,” Julia agreed. “The bastard.”
“I’m sorry he—”
“Stop apologizing,” Aidan snapped, glad to see some fire come back into her eyes at his command. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Is he going to be a problem, this guy?” Declan wanted to know.
“I didn’t think he would be. He’s an asshole who likes to hit women when he doesn’t get his way.” Falcone’s gaze landed on his daughter.
“Maybe she should move into Glenmore House,” Evie suggested. “Until the wedding.”
“I think that’s a little extreme,” Viv countered. “He crashed a party and said some mean things.”
“He terrified you,” Leo pointed out.
“I’ve been afraid before. That doesn’t mean I need to be under lock and key.”
“What about a protective detail, then?”
Viv rolled her eyes at Gavin. “I have a million and one things to do before the wedding. I hardly need someone to follow me around the whole time. Collin is an asshole, but we don’t need to overreact about it.”
They let the conversation drop as they shrugged into coats and made their way to the parking lot. Aidan was so busy keeping a careful eye on Viv that he nearly ran into the back of Brogan when he stopped short.
“Son of a bitch,” someone muttered.
Aidan turned in the direction of their collective gaze and sucked in his own breath. Both Falcone vehicles had their windows smashed, one windshield caved so violently into the front seat it was a wonder it was still attached. When Aidan shifted, he could make out words carved into the paint. Whore, slut, bitch.
“A protective detail,” he bit off. “No arguments.”
“But—”
“Please,passerotta,” Falcone said.
Viv visibly softened, then sighed. “Okay. But who?”
