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Then he glares at me from across the room, lips twisted into a snarl. “You slaughtered my cousin and his men, nearly killed me, and now you will pay. The Chinese Triad has declared war on the Kings.”
“That’s bullshit—” Luca leaps up, and a bullet whizzes just past his head.
I shove him down to the floor again, muttering curses. “I told you to stay down, youstronzo.”
A dark chuckle fills the tense air. “One more thing. The Triad has placed a price on Luca Valentino and Stella Esposito’s heads. Dead or alive. One million dollars each.”
“Fuck,” Luca hisses.
Feng sneers, and I can feel the tension radiating off my brother in waves. “You’ll have every low-life scum gunning for you and your precious fiancée.”
Luca jolts up again, digging his elbow into my side when I try to stop him. “If you lay a hand on her, Feng, I’ll tear you up from limb to limb, piss on your entrails and drag your remains across China Town.”
“Big words from a mob boss gone soft, Luca.”
“That’sSignorValentino,” he snarls. “Or did you forget your place in the sewers, you little rat?”
“A lot has changed in the last three months,capo. The Kings don’t rule the Lower East Side anymore. I do.”
“Yeah, we’ll fucking see about that,” Luca spits.
“You’ve been warned.” Feng dips his head, and his men move as one surrounding him in a red wave.
Heavy footfalls drag my attention to the opposite end of the warehouse. Tony, Mickey and half a dozen of our guys race in with guns drawn. Just as the Red Dragons slip out the back.
“That little shit, who the hell does he think he is?” Luca roars.
Tony moves in step beside my brother and gives him the once over before the tense set of his broad shoulders relax. “You okay,capo?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, Tony.” My little bro gives his righthand man a tight smile.Tony would be the most difficult to convince…
I bite back the snarl on my lips. For years, Tony has coddled and fussed over Luca like he was his older brother. It pisses me off to no end.
I’m the older brother, that’s my job. Sure, I might have fucked up a few things here and there along the way, but I’m on my game now. I can protect him. Which is why I know what I have to do next, no matter how much Luca will hate me for it.
* * *
The Frank Sinatra impersonator croons in the background as the guests filling my new penthouse ooh and ahh at his rendition ofMy Way. Ma’s smile is so big I’m worried her lips will crack. Luca and Stella dance in the middle of the living room, the look in their eyes as they sway to the music nauseatingly sweet.
Everything is going according to plan. A dozen of my men are stationed in the penthouse and lobby, ready for my word. With so many dignitaries in attendance, their presence isn’t questioned.
Besides, my brother is so obsessed with his beautiful fiancée, his head permanently buried between her thighs, he won’t see it coming until it’s too late.
Just like he didn’t see the Chinese Triad slowly encroaching on our territory.
That’s what love does to a man. The most ruthless man in New York City has gone soft, and now it’s time for me to step in.
CHAPTER2
NO SAINT
Dante
“Sorry I’m late!” A bubbly voice fills the apartment, cutting through the soft tunes, and I spin toward the sweet sound.
Rose barges in like a bull in a china shop, whizzing past the commissioner and his mistress, and the mayor and his escort. Both men are married, of course, but given their intimate dealings with King Industries, they’re free to let loose in a party like this.
Stella’s best friend barrels right past me with a quick wave. “Hey, D!” Then wraps my future sister-in-law in a hug. My brother tenses the moment his fiancée is out of his arms.Dio, he’s completelyimpazzito. Fucking crazy.
