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I look down at Len, and he sneers up at me. “Why’s the brainless muscle here? I thought this was a meeting of the minds.”
“Don’t you call him that!”
My eyes open wider than they ever have in my life, and the entire room grinds to a halt as everyone gawks at Bianca.
She glares at Len. “You need to apologize.”
“Apologize?” he asks, then breaks into a raucous laugh.
Before I even think, I ease around behind him, my hands ready to snap his neck.
“Butcher,” Gilly hisses.
I force my hands back down to my sides and step away while Len finishes his hyena laugh. If this had been over anything other than Bianca, he’d already be dead. But I have to be careful. Protection, not vengeance. At least, not yet.
I return to my place behind her as Len finally settles down.
“Have a seat.” Nick DaVinci points.
Len obeys, dropping into a chair and grinning at me.
“We’re here because the Frangiones made a deal with Constantine Larone for his eldest daughter Bianca to marry into their family.” Marco recites the facts like he’s in front of a jury. “That deal went awry when the eldest Frangione, Geno, was”–he clears his throat—“when hedied.” He doesn’t look at Antonio, though I’m certain Marco is aware that Antonio is the one who killed him.
“Len has made a case that he should be the one to marry Bianca Larone now that his brother is no longer available to fulfill the deal. However, the Palermos have taken Bianca and maintain possession of her for reasons unknown.” Marco and Nick both glance at me for only a split-second.
They know. I don’t knowhowthey know, but they know. Bianca is mine. I hope they realize that means I won’t let anyone walk out of here alive if that’s what it takes to keep her by my side.
“You stole my bride, Antonio.” Len slaps his hand on the table. “Hand her over, and this doesn’t have to go any further. Constantine has already blessed our marriage. I could have sour grapes over Geno.” He shrugs. “But I can let it go as long as you get out of the way. Give her to me, which is only fair.” He smirks. “Then we can be brothers-in-law.”
I edge closer to Bianca. She’s breathing faster, her heart probably racing.
“This is what is fair,” Constantine adds. “I had a deal, and I still intend to uphold my end. I kept Bianca in pristine condition, and she’s never been so much as touched by a man. She’s the perfect bride, and she belongs to Len.”
“It’s a fair offer.” Marco looks at Antonio. “Any counter?”
“I have a counter,” Bianca says, a sassy edge to her voice that sets my blood on fire. She reaches behind her and fumbles around.
That’s when I see she has a gun tucked into the back of her pants.
What the fuck? For a moment, I wonder how this might play out. Is she going to kill everyone at the table? Goddamn, she is beyond adorable.
I can’t let her do that, of course, not when everyone here is armed to the teeth. Reaching down, I stay her hand.
She clasps her fingers with mine. “My counter is that all of you can go fuck yourselves, especially you, Father. I’mnotpristine. In fact, I am absolutely filthy, and I love being that way. I’m in love with the Butcher, and I have his cum inside me right now. So all of you can stop patting yourselves on the back and fuck right off. I’m not something to be bought and sold, especially not by my horrible father and this ugly, greasy man sitting here trying to buy me. I’m glad your brother is dead, but you may be even worse.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline.
You could hear a pin drop.
“How dare you?” Constantine Larone is on his feet, his face beet red. “You stupid little cunt!” He pulls a gun.
I yank Bianca backwards as he fires, and the entire room erupts in yells.
Pain blooms along my temple as I fall to the floor, then roll to keep Bianca beneath me.
“What the fuck, Larone?” Antonio shouts.
“Are you all right?” I ask Bianca.
