“Then talk,” I grit out, my heart thumping angrily.
“Marco’s death didn’t solve my problem. It created a new one. Because while he was the strategic mind, you were the weapon.And without him to temper you, to guide you, you became something far more dangerous than I ever anticipated.”
He takes another step closer, his men moving with him.
“You should have destroyed yourself with grief,” Romano says and anger is evident on his face, in the way his voice pitches upward and his eyes grow cold. “You should have drunk yourself to death or gotten yourself killed in some reckless play for revenge.” His expression hardens. “Instead, you became more focused. More ruthless. Built an empire that rivals my own. And now, here we are.”
“So kill me,” I say flatly, even though inside I’m screaming with rage. “That’s what you want, isn’t it? To finish what you started?”
“Oh, I’m going to.” Romano’s smile widens. “But I’ve learned something valuable over the years, Luca. The best revenge isn’t always the quickest. Sometimes, it’s about finding the right leverage. The right…weakness.”
Something cold slithers down my spine. The way he’s looking at me now, the satisfaction in his expression?—
“You see, three years ago, I wanted you dead because you were dangerous. A threat to my business, my empire.” His gaze slides deliberately to Gigi. “But now? Now I realize that killing you quickly would be a mercy. Because somehow, you’ve finally found something—someone—worth protecting again. Someone who makes you vulnerable in ways you haven’t been since your cousin died.”
No.
This was never about killing me. It was never even primarily about silencing Antonio or Gigi.
This is about making me suffer the way Romano thinks I’ve made him suffer—by threatening his empire, his secrets, his control.
“Romano,” I start, but he cuts me off.
“I’m not going to kill you, Luca,” Romano says softly, though his eyes glint with hate. “That would be too merciful. Too quick.” His smile is pure malice now. “Instead, I’m going to take away what you love most. Make you watch. Make you live with that loss the way you’ve lived with Marco’s death.”
Horror floods through me as I understand—trulyunderstand—what he’s planning.
The trap springs before I can react.
Romano’s men don’t fire at me.
They fire atGigi.
The crack of gunfire explodes through the warehouse, deafening in the enclosed space. I move on instinct, throwing myself in front of her, my body becoming a shield between her and the bullets.
But she’s somehow faster.
She slams into me from the side, her smaller body hitting mine with enough force to knock us both off balance. I feel the impact of the bullet—not in my own flesh, but inhers. The way her body jerks against mine, the sharp cry that escapes her, the sudden deadweight as her legs give out.
“No!” I scream as we both go down, concrete rushing up to meet us. I twist at the last second, taking the impact on my shoulder, cradling her against my chest.
Blood. There’s so much blood, spreading across her chest, soaking through her shirt and onto my hands. Dark red, almost black in the harsh fluorescent light.
“Gigi!” Her name comes out strangled. “No, no,no!”
More gunfire erupts around us, but it’s different now as it seems to be coming from a different direction. My heart sputters before I hear familiar voices yelling.
It’s my men.
Fucking Danny, I could kiss him right now. His backup pours through doors I didn’t even see, returning fire.
Romano’s men scatter, seeking cover behind industrial equipment and support columns. In the chaos, I see Romano himself disappearing through a back exit, two of his men flanking him. Antonio’s chair tips over as someone cuts his bonds, and he falls heavily to the concrete.
I don’t give a fuck about Romano escaping, and I certainly don’t care about Antonio. I don’t care aboutanythingexcept the woman bleeding in my arms.
“Gigi, look at me.” I press my hand against the wound in her chest, trying to stem the bleeding, but there’s so much of it. Too much. “Baby, please, look at me!”
Her eyes flutter open, and they’re unfocused, glassy with shock. “L-Luca.”
