My hands gripped Deluca’s baggy tee, twisting the material. His fists shot out in defense, but I deflected, avoiding the blows.
“That’s my wife.” I shook the capo, lifting him off the floor.
Cold metal pressed against my head.
I glared into the capo’s eyes. If I was quick, I could snap his neck before I met him in the afterlife.
The don’s shout echoed through the room. But it was Amanda’s whispered‘don’t’that had me loosening the capo’s shirt.
“She’s just the dumb whore that he passed my daughters over for,” Deluca hissed at the don.
“Lower your weapon,” Morelli commanded.
I took a step back, not breaking eye contact. Mat knew he’d crossed a line. He kept the gun pointed at me.
“You will not draw blood in my house.” Don Morelli’s voice brooked no argument.
I held up my hands. My glare promised this wasn’t over.
“Boss, that woman’s father—”
“I know who he is and what he’s done,” the don barked. “She is a guest here. Even if she wasn’t married to the soldier you are currently threatening.”
“Tell me, Mat? Are you willing to suffer the consequences for killing me?” I taunted. “Is that worth it?”
“Enzo, stop it,” Amanda pleaded.
“I’ll tell you a secret, Mat.” My lips popped around the name. A shadow moved along the far wall, the ghost creeping into the room. I grinned. No one, not even me, had seen the assassin enter the residence. “I would break the rules and kill you for her. But we both know you’re too much of a coward to do the same.”
The capo brandished his weapon.
Guglielmo sprang from the wall, pressed the muzzle of his gun against the capo’s head, and hissed, “Make one wrong move, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Don Morelli bellowed. Surging forward, he plucked the pistol from his capo’s hand—and then cuffed him with the back of his hand.
Mat went sprawling.
“You disrespect me. Go. Now, before I think better of it and let this one take care of you,” he raged.
The capo scrambled to the sliding glass door, not bothering to take the extra time to go to the front of the house. Mat shot one look over his shoulder. I didn’t miss the way he glared hatefully at Amanda.
I marked him. Death was coming whether he hid or not.
“Now! Will you sit down, ragazzo? You’re leaking on my wife’s clean floor,” the don rumbled.
I obeyed.
Joey had to start the sutures over again, cursing at the even messier gash in my arm. I finally looked at Amanda. Her gaze blazed. She was fighting the fear, latching onto that beautiful wrath.
I couldn’t wait for a taste later when she unleashed it on me. I wouldn’t apologize. No one, not even a commanding officer, got to disrespect her. Ever. She was mine.
“Per sempre,” I murmured as Joey stabbed the needle into my arm.
“Mangia, Amanda,” Don Morelli insisted. “Mangia, mangia!”
Chapter 53 –Amanda
The feeling of waking alone sent a bolt of panic through me. I kicked the blankets off my naked legs. He was just here. We’d spent an hour wrapped up with one another—despite my hesitation about his stitches!
