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“Gino is mybrother, Julian, and he loves that fool of a woman.”
“Yes. I think that’s the point. Your father wants Gino to understand—“
“Don’t fucking explain my father’s motivation to me! I get it better than anyone else in this town. I know what he’s trying to do, and I know it’ll crush Gino completely.”
“On the other hand, it could be the making of him.”
My fist slams hard enough on the table for him to have to grab his drink before it spills, sending me an injured look.
“I’m just trying to look on the bright side!” he says.
“There’s no bright side here. Stop being so—so—“ I stare at him in disbelief, then shuffle over, preparing to get out of the booth before the muttering bouncers get themselves into a fight they can’t win. “We’re done here.”
But as I slide out of the booth, Julian grabs my wrist.
“Leo,” he says, sounding so serious that I can’t help but pause and look down at him. His eyes dart around as though he’s arguing with himself.
“What?”
“If you…don’t want to be there when it happens, I’ll understand,” he says slowly, choosing his words with care. “We don’t have to tell your father. And I’ll make it quick. Painless, even. Don Bernardi doesn’t need to know. We can tell him—“
“Julian,” I tell him, “it’s not happening. You hear me? The deal is off. Keep away from them.”
His hand withdraws from my wrist. “But Leo,” he says softly, “you can’t call off a deal that your father made. I’m sorry, but Iwillcarry out the order. There’s too much at stake for me.”
I lean over him, one hand on the back of the booth, the other grabbing his face. “You listen to me. If you go anywhere near my brother or his fiancée, I will kill you myself. I will rip you limb from fucking limb and I’ll send all your parts back to your brother by registered mail with a handwritten letter explaining why, so he knows exactly what a treacherous little bitch you are.”
His eyes flash fire, and he pulls out of my grip. “Call me that again,” he hisses, “and you’ll lose that donkey dick you’re so fucking proud of.”
“I’m not fooling around,” I tell him. “Gino and Roxy—you can consider them under my protection. You mess with them, you getme. And I don’t give a fuck if you trot back to my father and tell him that, either.”
I turn to leave, the bouncers looking relieved as I make my way to the door, but Julian’s response floats after me. “I’m sorry, Leo. I really am.”
Iknowhe won’t back down. That only leaves me one choice.
I’ll have to protect Gino and Roxy myself.
CHAPTER27
JULIAN
Leo Bernardi is possiblythe most unreasonable man I’ve ever met. Certainly the most unreasonable that I’ve slept with, and as for his performance here tonight—
“Hey.”
I’m lost in replaying how appallingly Leo treated me tonight, so I don’t notice for a moment the blue-haired bartender waving a hand in front of my face.
“Hey.”
“What?” I snap, finally looking at her.
“We’re closing up.”
“Closing up?”
“You and Leo chased everyone off, and Raven’s not gonna stay open for one sad drinker, not when she has to pay meandtwo security guys to hang around if you do. So thanks for cutting my night’s wage in half, I guess.”
I glance around and see that I’m the only person left in the place. I didn’t notice anyone leaving while Leo and I were discussing our issues like completely rational people—or at least,Iwas.
