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That was if my men could track him down. I knew I shouldn’t have attended my niece’s birthday party, tracking the bastard down myself. Shit always happened when I allowed my guard to drop. When I allowed myself to indulge in what Max and my sister called a normal life.
There was no such fucking thing in the likes of the Cosa Nostra. At least there shouldn’t be. This was the kind of shit that happened when we weren’t paying close enough attention to our jobs.
First a bachelor party. Then a birthday party. What was next? A baby shower? Snorting, I rubbed my jaw. I needed a bottle of tequila and a shooting range.
“We’ll find him, boss,” Cayman insisted, his island accent somehow more pronounced than usual. That typically happened when he was nervous. As he should be. I was finished with my men not following my orders to the letter. It was time I made an example out of at least one of them.
Hissing, I squeezed my hand around the steering wheel. The truth was I was pissed at myself for being made a fool of. That wouldn’t happen again.
“Do it tonight, Cay. Because if I’m required to go on the hunt, I’ll end up with additional prey to kill and clean. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, boss. Crystal ball clear.” While there was a hint of amusement in his voice, he knew I was serious. He also knew he usually got a pass when I reached this level of rage. He’d been by my side through several difficult situations, those so bloody and savage that the incidents had been carefully swept under the rug. I also considered him a friend, someone my close-knit group of buddies could count on.
“Good.” Another bolt of lightning lit up the night sky like firecrackers going off on the fourth of July. A holiday I hated.
“How’s Julie?” he asked, and I could tell by his tone of voice he didn’t really want the answer.
“Not good. They can’t get her blood pressure down.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, fuck. If that baby dies, you won’t be able to keep me from killing Stefano’s entire family.” Given I’d murdered the eldest brother, the one designated to take Roberto Bianchi’s throne when he retired, there would be unrest for some time to come. The next in line, Dante, was a playboy with no ability to lead. While that would bode well for ridding the streets of one of our competitors, that wouldn’t ease the possibility that New York could have a disruptive period of violence.
Which meant the Feds would be breathing down our necks. Not possible. That’s why Max wanted to handle the situation, his finesse getting us out of hot water. Goddamn, I hated this shit, the politics no different than if I was working for Congress.
I tossed my phone, staring out the window as the rain came down in sheets, drops pelting against my windshield. I was forced to slow down to the actual twenty-five mile per hour speed limit, something I rarely did. My sister refused to allow my nephew to ride with me given what she called my lead foot.
So, I liked fast cars. I also enjoyed killing people, which is what I felt like doing. It was better to get my ass home before I did something stupid.
Grimacing, I reached for the satellite radio, taking my eyes off the road for a split second. When the headlights seemed to flicker, I lifted my gaze. Just in time to slam on my brakes, almost losing control of my Maserati.
“What the fuck?” I snarled as soon as I managed to jerk it to a hard stop in the middle of the road. The rush of adrenaline pounded in my chest as I tried to figure out what the hell I’d just seen. All I could think about was the Bianchis attempting to finish what they’d started.
I threw open the door, jumping outside just as another flash rolled in front of the headlights.
Before I had a chance to rip my weapon from my pocket, I was pitched against the door. A jolt of electricity shot through me, my instinct to lash out at the person who’d accosted me strong. I snapped my hand around the person’s throat, jerking forward then slamming their body against the side of my vehicle. I was ready and could easily snap the asshole’s neck in seconds.
Until I saw her face.
The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life.
Exhaling, I blinked several times to ensure what I was looking at was real. Then I eased back on the pressure, still keeping my hold firm. “What the fuck?”
“Please help me!” she begged. “Please. I’ll do anything. Anything!”
CHAPTER 4
Francesco
It was rare that anything shocked me in my life, but as the torrent of rain pelted down on our heated bodies, a single flash of lightning allowed me to see the look of terror in the beautiful girl’s eyes.
I also noticed her lip was split. Some asshole had hit her. She was running, trying to escape.
I was a violent, dangerous man, my penchant for bloodshed adding to my heinous reputation. What I couldn’t tolerate in my life or my regime was violence toward a woman. Under any circumstances. I had far too much respect for a beautiful feminine creature, perhaps given how close I’d grown to my sister.
That hadn’t always been the case, my dislike of my own flesh and blood almost derailing any chance at having a relationship.
However, the girl was either nuts or had a death wish jumping out in front of a moving vehicle in the middle of a raging thunderstorm.
