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“Call off your guard dog,” I order.
Lorenzo holds up a trembling arm. “Stand down, Santino.”
Santino’s eyes are locked on me, rage burning deep in his gaze. He visibly relaxes, and when I push Lorenzo toward him, he catches him.
With my knife in my right hand, I watch as Santino pulls Lorenzo behind his body to shield him.
“Make the payment of one hundred million euros so I can leave,” I instruct.
Every muscle in my body is wound tight.
As Lorenzo digs his phone out of his pocket, the other guard’s finger slowly inches toward the trigger. Before he can take another breath, I lunge at him. He blocks my first blow, but I catch him with a punch to his gut from my left fist.
“Stop!” Lorenzo cries.
Before his cry is cold, the blade of the steak knife is plunged beneath the guard’s ribs, digging deep into his chest.
His blood warms my hand as I watch the life drain from his eyes. Within another heartbeat, I spin around and block the attack from Santino.
Our feet move fast and the blows are even faster as we face off.
Fuck, he’s good.
I manage to slice his side, and it has Lorenzo shrieking, “Dio! Dio! Stop!”
Santino grabs hold of my wrist, and a power struggle for the knife ensues. For a breathless moment, he manages to turn the blade toward me. Using all my strength against the man, I turn the tables on him, and as the blade touches the spot beneath his ear, Lorenzo screams, “Stop! Don’t kill him. I’ve transferred the money. I swear loyalty. Don’t kill him!”
I shove Santino away from me, but he quickly regains his balance. As we glare at each other, Lorenzo darts between us and presses his back to Santino’s chest. “I’ve made the payment. There will be no more killing. Please.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket. Breathless from the altercation, I don’t take my eyes off Santino as I pull the device out of my pocket. I give the man a look of warning before checking the text.
€100000000-00 DEPOSIT RECEIVED
JOB COMPLETED
Instantly my phone starts to ring, and seeing Luca’s name flashing on the screen, I answer. “It’s done, sir.”
“I noticed. How did you make Prodi pay so quickly?”
“Ignazio is dead. Lorenzo is now in charge, and he’s sworn loyalty to you.”
There’s a moment’s silence then Luca murmurs, “It’s a pity there couldn’t be another outcome. Ignazio will be missed.”
I seriously doubt that.
“Give my condolences to Lorenzo and tell him I’ll be in touch.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m proud of you, Armani. You’ve done the impossible.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Santino gives me an impatient look and jerks his chin toward the front door, signaling for me to get a move on and leave.
“Take two weeks off for your wedding,” Luca continues, not knowing how volatile the situation is that I find myself in. “I won’t be able to attend the happy celebration, but you’ll receive my wedding gift soon. When you return to work, you’ll report to Franco Vitale.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The call ends, and as I tuck the device back into my pocket, I say, “Luca will be in touch.” I gesture to the living room. “If I don’t make it off the property alive, the Prodi bloodline will be wiped from the face of the planet.”
“Make sure Signor De Santis is not harmed as he leaves,” Lorenzo orders.
If it weren’t for the relationship between Santino and Lorenzo, things would’ve gone down a bloody path. Fuck, that was a lucky break.
“My condolences for your loss,” I mutter as I check where every guard is before walking back into the house. The handle of the knife is sticky from the blood that’s starting to dry.
As I exit the front door, I pause by a fountain, dropping the knife into the water and rinsing my hands.
Every guard watches me like a hawk as I walk down the driveway. The gates open, and only when I leave the property do I take a deep breath.
The cut on my arm I got from La Russa, who was number six on my list, starts to burn. My bloody clothes make my skin itch.
Exhaustion sinks into my bones from the insane three days I’ve had.
I climb into the car and let out a sigh.
It is done. Tiana is mine.
Chapter 24
Tiana
I’ve been alternating between the kitchen and sitting in the courtyard all day long. It’s almost midnight, and there’s no sign of Armani.
There were many times I almost messaged him, just to check if he’s okay, but decided against it because I don’t want it to look like I’m nagging him.
God, Armani. Where are you? It’s been three days.
Technically it will only be three days tomorrow morning, but I’m anxious to see him.
I got up early this morning and chose a pretty pink dress to wear. I braided my hair and put on makeup. I wanted to look pretty for Armani.
