Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 124(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“I love you,” I promised just before the bullets started flying.
Chapter 12
Massimo
Muted gunfire popped through the basement, and a gory red hole was torn through George Crawford’s chest. His body started to fall, and my captors’ hands loosened on my shoulders as they turned to face the threat posed by Gian and Enzo.
I launched myself at Rocco, who still held a knife to Evelyn’s cheek. He might manage to cut her, but I would have to be faster. I’d always been stronger than my enemy, but I’d never been allowed to challenge him before. Not without risking a war.
Now, I didn’t give a fuck about the consequences. My entire being was consumed with the desperate need to wrench her away from him.
I grabbed his wrist, yanking the blade far away from her porcelain skin. With a sharp twist, his bones snapped, and the knife dropped from his limp fingers.
His scream resounded through the cramped basement, accompanied by the muted pops of more gunfire. His friends had silencers on their weapons, but none of the bullets were aimed at me; they were trying to fight off Gian and Enzo.
I shoved Rocco back and put my body between Evelyn and our attackers. As I whirled to face the stairs, I saw my friends storming into the basement, their guns drawn.
I trusted the brothers to make quick work of our enemies.
Crawford was already dead.
Rocco wouldn’t get such a swift end. He’d killed my parents. He’d terrorized Evelyn. She wouldn’t be safe until he was in the ground.
She mattered far more than any conflict with our rivals. I would go to war for her any day.
I launched myself at my oldest enemy, rage and years of hatred driving every vicious strike as I methodically broke his body with my bare hands. His bones crunched beneath my fists, and he screamed. I beat him until his face was such a pulverized, bloody mess that he couldn’t manage more than a gurgling moan of horror. I wrapped my hands around his throat and squeezed. He thrashed, his limbs too broken to fight me off. His ruined face darkened to a deep shade of purple, and red veins burst across the whites of his eyes.
“He’s dead.” Gian’s voice was low and reassuring, and he touched a tentative hand to my shoulder. As though I was a rabid beast that might turn on him if he spooked me. “Evelyn needs you, Massimo.”
Evelyn.
My heart twisted. I’d just gone feral and beaten a man to death right in front of my delicate little butterfly. The last time she’d witnessed such a vicious kill, she’d turned from me in revulsion. She’d been afraid of me.
Fear clutched at my chest again, a budding anxiety that I would see my mother’s final look of horror reflected in Evelyn’s pale green eyes.
“Massimo.” She flung her willowy body against my chest, seeking the comfort of my embrace. Her small hands roved over me, searching for injuries. “They hurt you.”
“I’m all right, dolcezza,” I promised, my knees going weak at the rush of relief that swept through my system.
Her arms around me gave me the strength I needed to remain standing. My head and my ribs ached, but I wasn’t seriously injured.
I pulled back slightly so that I could peer down into her lovely eyes. They were still wide with fear. My stomach turned.
“Don’t be afraid, farfallina.” I practically begged her not to fear me.
She caressed my tight jaw. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid for you. They beat you. We have to get you to a doctor.”
“It’s nothing serious, but I’ll call my physician. We can meet him at our home, and he’ll check me over. I’m sure it’s just some bruising.”
I touched my fingers beneath her chin, turning her face so that I could inspect her. Not even a scratch marred her perfect complexion. I’d managed to wrench Rocco’s knife away before he cut her. The tiny bead of crimson at her throat remained, but the cut was so shallow that the bleeding had already stopped.
My sweet girl had been tormented, but she was concerned for me. I knew her well enough to realize that she wouldn’t be soothed until the doctor confirmed that I was okay.
“Let’s go home.” I picked her up and cradled her to my chest. “Close your eyes. I’ve got you.”
I didn’t want her to have to look at the dead bodies that littered the basement.
“We’ll clean up here,” Enzo promised.
I nodded my thanks, and Evelyn obediently closed her eyes, tucking her face against my shoulder.
The brothers would ensure that no one knew four men had been killed in this basement.
“And I’ll handle the Nardone clan,” Enzo added. “There won’t be a war. I’ll make sure of it.”
I didn’t linger to ask about his plans. If he had a way to avoid a conflict, I trusted him to handle it. Evelyn was my only concern now.