“Why would I need you to tell me something I already know?”
His arrogance slowly gives way, fury bleeding through the cracks of his composure.
“What did you just say?”
“You’re a little slow on the uptake, Riccardo, so let me spell it out for you. I know exactly how good she feels, and I’m the only one who ever will.”
He stares at me like he’s still waiting for the punchline, but it never comes.
“You think this is funny?” he growls.
“Not particularly.” I level him with my gaze. “Letting you think for one second you had any sort of claim on her didn’t amuse me. Fucking with your business, turning you into a canvas, and making you shit your pants, on the other hand?—”
“You motherfucking cocksucker.” He sizes me up, wondering if he can take me.
“I welcome you to try.” I arch a brow at him.
Naturally, the little prick is too much of a coward, so he glances at Gabi, ready to direct his rage at her instead.
“I wouldn’t do that,” I warn him.
“You don’t get to tell me how to talk to my woman.”
He takes a single step in her direction.
I reach out, grab him by the throat, and throw him against the wall.
His head bounces on impact, and he slides to the floor, legs splayed as he glares up at me.
“Just so we’re clear, she’s never been yours.”
“Fuck you?—"
Before he can finish that sentence, I raise my Beretta and fire a single shot between his eyes.
His body goes slack, and I stare at his bloody face, annoyed that it ended too quickly. But patience has never been one of my virtues, and he tested mine for far too long.
“Madonna Mia,” Nonna exclaims as she enters the room and takes in the scene. “On a Sunday, Romeo?”
“Yeah, Romeo.” Rafe smirks. “What were you thinking? You know we don’t commit murder on Sundays.”
“Sorry,” I answer dryly. “It couldn’t wait until Monday.”
A moment later, Angelo appears with a scowl on his face. “For fuck’s sake, Romeo. What did I tell you about family decisions?”
“It was a family decision.” I shrug. “We all thought about it at one point or another.”
“Did you have to do it in the living room?”
“I waited until Antonella wasn’t here.” I point out.
He scrubs a hand over his face and sighs. “If you’d just held off for one goddamned hour, you would have known she was calling off the engagement.”
My gaze drifts to Gabi, and the moment our eyes meet, everything falls into place for her.
She brings a trembling hand to her mouth, lets out a whimper, then bolts from the room.
I stalk after her, ignoring Angelo and Mariella as they call out for me.
