I take a few steps toward them. Placing my hand on Massimo’s shoulder, I let him know he can take a break. Panting, he takes a seat on another chair we brought in.

  I lean down, my hands on my knees, looking Turner in the eye.

  “I know you're scared of the Donnelleys. They’re some scary pieces of shit. But honestly, how much better do you think you’ll fair off here? You don’t think I’ll kill you both?” I grip Turner by the jaw, anger taking over me.

  “You shot at my wife, motherfucker. You should be thanking me for keeping you alive this long.” I push his head back, release him, and stand up to my full height.

  I can feel their fear. They’re stuck between a rolling stone and a cliff and are not sure what to do. No doubt they’ve seen their boss’ cruelty, so I know they’ve heard what he can do.

  “Oh, please. You’re upset because we shot at her? Isn’t she in your mitts because of her dad, anyway? How good is her pussy that you’re willing to forgive his debt to you?”

  I spin around and clock that sucker right in the jaw. A loud cracking sound echoes against the cement walls.

  I will not have anyone disrespecting Serenity like that. I have my hand around his throat when I look up and see Rico giving me that look. He’s telling me to calm the fuck down.

  I lean down, and before I let go, I say in a menacing voice, “I haven't forgiven anything.”

  Turning around, I close my eyes and try to find some calm. I haven’t forgiven my debt with Brockman. He’s still on my list of people to deal with. There was to be a transaction between me and Serenity, but it’s not about any debt, and it sure as hell isn’t anyone’s business but ours.

  In fact, we've gotten closer to tracking that little shit down.

  I hear some whispering behind me and see that Turner and Banes are talking.

  “What?” I shot my questions, and both guys freeze.

  I rip the bag off Banes's head. He’s a hell of a lot more scared than Turner.

  “What?” I ask again, practically growling.

  “The b-bosses. I heard they wanted to talk to you.”

  “Shut up,” Turner hisses.

  I kick at Turner's legs. “Why wouldn’t I want to know that?”

  Turner swallows hard and doesn’t answer my questions. This is getting exhausting. I nod to Massimo. He gets up and grips the back of Turner’s chair. He drags it out of the room as he shouts and asks what we’re doing.

  I turn back to Banes, who is shaking like a leaf.

  “Why did your partner not want you to tell us that? And I will not be repeating any of my questions.”

  Banes licks his lip and sits up in his chair. “The bosses were hoping that after we… you know… that you’d come after them. When I said they wanted to talk to you, they hoped you’d set up a meeting.”

  “Why do they want me to come after them or have this meeting?”

  “They think you have Brockman. They want him. They think the girl is distracting you, so if she is out of the picture, and you’re like…. rattled or whatever, it would make it easier.”

  This is good information. The only problem is why they would think Serenity is distracting me. I have been continuing business. Looking into Brockman and trying to find these assholes all while she’s been with me.

  I hear the door open, and Massimo comes back. Gun in hand.

  “Fuck,” Banes mutters in fear.

  I grip Bane's jaw. “I want you to go back to your bosses. And I want you to tell those assholes that I’ll meet them. Tomorrow night.” I write down the address of an abandoned building we own on the east side of Vegas.

  Banes' head rolls and his eyes are dizzy with fear, so I slap him in the face to keep him aware.

  “Hey, you listening?. Tomorrow night. Just those two. You come alone, and so will I. And tell them not to try anything. I’ll be watching.”

  They probably will, but at least I warned them.

  “W-why would they meet you?” Banes says, probably what his boss's reaction will be.

  “Because I have him. And if they want him, they will do as I say,” I lie and send him off.

  I turn off the computer and head back into the bedroom, where Serenity is snacking on a piece of chocolate. I slip into bed beside her, and she cuddles against me, wiggling her butt into my crotch.

  I’m dreading having to tell her about the meeting. Chances are something is going to go wrong. I can feel it in my gut. Something isn’t right, but I need to finish this thing. The Donnelleys have been a pain to everyone since they got here, and it’s high time someone took them out.

  I am also praying that we will have Brockman by tomorrow night. Rico and I had words after I said that.

  “The Donnelleys will be expecting him, so if you want to keep your hand, you’ll find him.”

  Those were my final words before I went shopping and got all these gifts for Serenity. It was good to have that time to calm down before coming back.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks softly, knowing me so well at this point.

  I lean over, kiss her head, and inhale her scent.

  “I have a meeting tomorrow. With the Donnelleys.”

  She grips my hand tight.

  “It’s okay, Bambola. I’ll be fine. I’ve got my men with me. You’re returning to the house where others will be protecting you.”

  She turns in my arms.

  “Promise me you’re coming home.” Her voice shakes with fear as she runs her hand down my face.

  “I promise, Serenity. Nothing can keep me from you.”

  Our kiss is nothing but passion and need. A lot of need. To get closer and feel each other. My body remembers her taste, and I’ll bring it with me when I go to the meeting. Remind me about who I’m fighting for. Not only for my business but most of all for Serenity.

  My wife.

  I pull back and press my forehead against hers. We’re both panting, and I say, “Of course I’ll come back. I still need to knock you up. Or have you forgotten about your debt to me, Mrs. Salvatore?”

  She chuckles and smiles. I open my eyes, see her lip pull up, and I take a mental picture.

  I can’t predict how tomorrow night will go. All I can do is what I’ve done for 35 years. Calculate. Execute. And now I’ll show them how the devil runs shit around here.

  Chapter 17

  Serenity

  I pace across the living room, wringing my hands. It’s been two hours since Dante left for the meeting with the Donnelleys, and I’m a flurry of nerves. Something about last night's kiss felt so final, even though he promised he’d be back.

  And the kiss he gave me just before he left didn’t help.

  Dante left with five of his men, including Massimo and Rico. He left me with Mateo and a few other guys, including Vance. Vance makes me uncomfortable, but Mateo said he was harmless, that he was just a cocky hothead but would do as he’s told or suffer the wrath of Dante.

  I shake out my hands, the need for something to do driving me crazy. I head to the kitchen to make dinner. That’ll be good. If I’m making dinner, a soup for Dante and me, maybe that will reassure me that he will come back in some way.

  I open the fridge, piling up carrots and celery in my arms. I shut the door, gasp and drop all the vegetables onto the ground when I see Vance on the other side of the door.

  Fuck. Not this guy.

  “Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all. He just stares at me with a cocky grin as he leans down to help me pick up the food.

  I mutter a “thanks” and then circle the counter so I’m as far away as possible from him.

  I turn on the sink and go back to cooking. Starting with washing the vegetables. Vance walks over to the right of the counter and turns on the radio on a shelf on the wall. Rock music plays out, and he turns it up to his liking.

  Then, placing his hands behind him, he shuffles to where he was standing.

  We both keep our eyes on each other. I watch his movements and try to gauge him. Something about him has always been off. Unlike Mateo, who feels like he knows his place in the hierarchy of this family, Vance is like the new kid who wants to mess with the rules.

  I take the knife out of its holder, the stainless steel blade making me feel a little safer. I chop the carrots, celery, and potatoes, putting them all in a pot. All the while, Vance watches me, his deep blue eyes following me around like he’s studying me.

  After putting the water into the pot, I turn to put it on the stove. Looking behind me, I see Vance on his phone, a tattoo showing on his wrist.

  “You like it?” He winks at me, and I nearly gag.

  I look at it again and realize it’s not a tattoo but a brand. It looks like it was burned into his skin.

  “Dante is a stupid man,” Vance says, catching me off guard.

  “What?” I turn, a chill running down my spine as he produces a gun.

  “Leaving me with his precious wife.” He checks the chamber before cocking it.

  I reach for the knife.

  “Nope. Don’t move.” He points the gun at me, and fear grips me by the throat with the need to scream for help.

  “Say one word, sweetheart, and see what will happen.” He motions me to back up toward the other door in the kitchen, which leads outside.

  “Keep walking,” he says.

  My eyes dart everywhere looking for a way to escape. I’m not sure if any of Dante’s men are in the house or if they’re within hearing distance. My back is against the door, and Vance is staring me down, his gun pointing at my chest. My heart is beating so fast I can hear it in my ears.

  I look to my left and see a vase with some flowers in it. Quickly, I pick up the vase and chuck it at him. It breaks over his face, the water splashing everywhere. He shouts in surprise and anger as I run past him. But just as I’m about to exit the kitchen and run out the front door, Vance grabs me from behind by my hair and tosses me across the room.

  My head smacks against the wood floor as I fall, but I pay the pain no mind as I push myself up, only to be smacked again.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? You stupid girl,” he says through clenched teeth.

  He grips my hair hard, the pain ripping through my skull. He pulls my head back and hisses next to my ear with the gun pressed against my chin, “I hope to fucking God the Donnelleys let me kill you for that.”

  He pushes me forward and opens the door just as Mateo and another man pop up. Vance spins around, and shots ring out. He shoots at them, and they shoot back at him. I can’t run. His hand still grips my hair. Shutting the door, we run into the woods that line the mansion, where a car is waiting.

  Another man pops up, red head and bright blue eyes, and opens the back door.

  “Get the tape and tie this bitch up!” Vance spits and pushes me into the back seat, where another giant mountain of a man is waiting.

  My fists and legs fly, adrenaline high as I try to escape. A few grunts ring out, which pisses them off more. Duct tape is placed over my mouth as my hands are tied behind my back, and then the world goes dark as a bag is placed over my head.

  My body shakes as fear takes over, not only for myself but for Dante. Vance is clearly not one of them. This meeting was doomed to fail. He’s in danger, and I can’t get to him to warn him.

  I can’t fathom a world without Dante, and the thought that he might not make it has me screaming behind the tape.

  Then, something hits me at the back of my head, and the world goes dark.

  Chapter 18

  Dante

  They say there is no honor among thieves. Well, between mob bosses, no one is stupid enough to come alone. Three cars sit outside the abandoned empty mill house. You can’t see into them through the tinted glass, but I know they’re in there.

  One of the cars blinks its lights, and we blink back.

  Showtime.

  Everyone gets out of their cars. I count the number of people they have.

  Nine, including Finn and Cian Donnelley.

  The two giant Irishmen are wearing blue suits with guns tucked into their belts. Their faces are pictures of menace. Finn’s beard covers a large scar across his cheek, courtesy of one of the bosses in town several years ago when they first stepped into town. It was a stupid attempt to get them to leave, but instead, he took over McMillian’s territory, and it has been a pain ever since.

  Most of us get along for the most part. We’re not into drama, but these brothers live for it. They don’t give a shit what ends up in the paper. If they make a mistake, they think they can paper over it with a few more. Some of us weren’t bothered or even noticed. But those who do hate them.

  I smooth down my black suit and rub my ring finger, the gold band of my wedding ring settling me.

  I have no idea how this day will end, but I will fight to the bitter end.

  For Serenity.

  This is her safety, her freedom at stake. She was brought into a fight she didn’t deserve, one I’ve been deep into since it started, so now we finish it.

  Everyone stays beside their cars as the Donnelleys and I head inside. This mill house hasn’t been used in decades. The wood floors creak under us as we walk into the center, where there is a hole in the roof, revealing a spotlight on the floor from the bright moon.

  “You called?” Finn says, his deep voice ringing through the building.

  “Technically, you’re the ones that called.” I keep my voice calm and unfeeling, even putting my hands in my pockets.

  “Oh, come on. The shagger missed. What’s the big deal? Surely you saw this coming, Salvatore. This was destiny.” Cian raises his hands like he’s showing me the world I missed.

  “The big deal is you went after something that’s mine. You walked into my casino, my territory, and shot at my wife.” My fists ball in my pockets. “And why? Because her dad fucked your wife? How is that her problem?”

  The mention of Brockman screwing Cian’s wife sets him off, and his face contorts into anger. His older brother holds him back, telling him to calm down.

  “It’s about honor, and you know it,” Finn says. “It’s about an eye for an eye. Or a wife for a wife.”

  Finn looks behind me as Vance walks in with Serenity, duct tape over her face, eyes wide with fear.

  “What the fuck is this?” I growl, ready to pull my gun, but then I notice Vance has a gun pointed at Serenity’s head.

  “Don’t be stupid, Salvatore,” Vance says mockingly, and I want to rip his vocal cords out.

  “You’re going to kill a girl over your cheating wife?” I turn to face the Donnelleys.

  “Don’t judge me, Salvatore. You and I both know you’re just as bad. Or are you going to tell me that you haven’t killed for less?” Vance’s grip on her jaw has her head tipped far back, but I can still see her face. She’s terrified, and I hate that.

  “I’ve never killed a woman,” I hiss, and he shrugs like he doesn’t care about how low you can go.

  Vance and Serenity circle me until they’re next to the brothers. She shakes, and tears stream down her eyes.

  “It’s okay, baby,” I murmur.

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Salvatore. After all, you don’t want to come off as a liar, do you?” Vance says.

  “Shut up!” Finn shouts.

  Something tells me Vance is as much of a pain to them as he was to me. I knew there was something off about him, but I was so focused on Brockman that I didn’t look into it as well as I should have.

  “Game’s over, Salvatore. You said you had Brockman. Give him to me, and I’ll give you back your precious wife.” He runs his finger over her cheek, and rage runs through me like a bullet train.

  Get your fucking hands off of her—is what I want to say, but getting emotional is what gets you killed, so I stay silent.

  I take my phone and hold it up to my ear. The ringing goes on until Rico picks it up.

  “Bring Brockman in.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He hangs up, and I tell the brothers he’s coming in.

  That’s when Rico comes in, tugging along a man with a bag over his head. His skinny body is covered in a dirty white shirt and jeans.

  We stand on one side of the room while Vance, the Donnelleys, and Serenity stand on the other.

  “Take off the bag,” Finn says.

  “Before that happens, I want you to release Serenity. This has nothing to do with her. She should get to leave.”

  “Aw, you worried about her mental state if I kill her father right in front of her?” Finn mocks. “Fucking take off the bag, Salvatore.”

  I reach up and take off the bag. A pale man with shaggy brown hair shakes his head. Serenity gasps, and Vance holds her tighter.

  Tensions are high as Finn stares down the man tied up between Rico and me. The man looks like he’s about to shit himself.

  “Well done,” he finally says. “How did you find him?”

  “Finding people is what I do, Donnelley. Now untie my wife,” I say, my teeth grinding together.

  Finn reaches over and rips the tape off Serenity’s face.

  Gripping her face, he says, “Back to your captor.” Then he pushes her toward me.

  Rico lets go of the man, who then walks past her toward the Donnelleys.

  When she gets to me, I pull her close as Rico unties her wrists. She wraps her arms around me. She’s breathing heavily and nuzzles her face against my chest. She’s so fucking cold, and there are bruises all over her.

  We start walking away when Vance says, “Hey! This isn’t Brockman!” Guns are suddenly pulled out.

  Rico and I take out our guns, and I shove Serenity behind a post as we start shooting at each other. I pull the trigger several times at Finn, as the man we told him was Brockman lies on the ground, a stray bullet in his chest.

  The men outside hear the commotion, rush in, and join the fight.

  Since the front door has the most shooters, Serenity ducks and stays behind me as we move closer to the back door. Rico gives us cover, and I take her hand, rushing out the back door into the cornfield.