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“You dared to double cross me, you rat bastard?” he rumbled, increasing the pressure on Vinny’s face. Unbelievable. These two had been working together behind our backs.
“They don’t want you in on it,” Vinny spluttered, finding it difficult to form words with Angelone about to snap his jaw and Stone sitting on his stomach.
“Finally some truth out of your lying ass.” Angelone snorted in disgust. “I knew better than to get involved with the likes of you. Just a wannabe king.” He raised Vinny’s head by his hair and slammed his skull on the floor.
Vivian gasped. She and Muriella clutched one another, but they weren’t hiding in the corner. For once, I wished neither of them was so damn brave.
I motioned toward the kitchen. Stubborn Vivian shook her head. She wouldn’t leave me. Not until she was certain this was over and I was safe. The woman had the most uncanny ability to piss me off and make me love her even more all at once.
“He has to be dealt with,” Angelone said to Donato as he kicked at Vinny’s shoulder with the toe of his polished oxfords.
“And he will be,” Donato assured him. “Let’s settle this other business first.”
A V formed between Angelone’s brows. I didn’t blame the man for being wary. He was in a room full of his enemies, and he’d just been played by one of them.
Donato stepped further into the room, surveying his surroundings. It had been a long time since he’d been here. Long before Vivian had put her mark on everything. He seemed to be absorbing my home, like it was a piece of me he didn’t have but was hungry for.
His gaze lingered on Muriella and Vivian. I saw what I’d refused to see for all these years. My determination to keep this part of my life from him had hurt. A lot of good it had done any damn way.
Donato pressed his lips together, looked up at the ceiling as if in deep thought, before his eyes eventually landed on Angelone. “We’ve stayed out of one another’s way fairly well over the years, wouldn’t you say?”
“Except for that stint I did in the penitentiary because of you two, yeah. I’d say so.” He spit directly in Vinny’s eye. “But it just got real personal.”
Donato remained calm, despite that his adversary had disrespected his brother. “And I assure you, he will be handled.”
Angelone shook his head. “Uh-uh. This little son of a bitch is mine. I don’t give a fuck whose brother he is.”
“Will we have a clean slate if I let you in on the diamond?”
Angelone’s nostrils flared. “You can’t offer that to me when you don’t have a fucking clue where it is.”
“I will find out.” Donato’s smile was menacing when he glanced toward Vinny.
“Half. I want half. Then we’ll be even,” Angelone finally said.
“Leave my brother to me, and we have a deal.” Donato extended his right hand.
Angelone stared at it, his hesitation palpable. Decision made, he thrust his hand out.
Donato squeezed. “You will come near no one in my family again.”
“And you’ll stay away from mine,” he countered.
The understanding was cemented with a firm handshake.
“Shall we find out the location of the diamond?” Donato gestured toward Vinny.
Stone met Donato’s gaze head on. When he was certain of Donato’s intentions, his eyes blazed as he squeezed Vinny’s throat. “If there is one mark on her, I will find you. You got me?”
Vinny snarled an unintelligible response.
“I didn’t hear you,” Stone said through gritted teeth. I’d never seen him come unglued, but he was close.
“Yes,” Vinny hissed.
Stone shoved off of him and got to his feet. “I don’t want to see this piece of shit ever again.” He stalked over to Muriella and stopped just short of touching her. “You okay?”
She nodded, though she appeared a little dazed. I couldn’t imagine the memories this had caused to resurface. I cursed myself yet again for putting her in this position.
