She sputters, and Caruso clears his throat, but it’s Gina who speaks. “I’d rather not. I had a long flight.”
“Yes, dear,” Caruso says, forcing himself not to tremble in my wake. “Why are you here already? I was sending a plane for you tomorrow.”
I watch Gina and can almost imagine her inner dialogue right now, and I suppress a smile.
“I was in a hurry to get home,” she says.
“Well, I hope the first-class flight was comfortable.” Caruso, the simpering twat, smiles. “Run upstairs and freshen up.”
“That’s really not necessary,” I insist, not wanting her away from me for even a few minutes.
‘Ah, Houston…we have a problem.’ I can hear Silvio’s voice in my head.
“I would like a moment to freshen up.” Gina tilts her head back to look up at me, as I’m much taller than she is.
I find I don’t have much will to resist her and what she wants or needs, so I nod and step back.
But I’m not done with the guilty parties in this scenario. I’ll deal with Caruso later, but for now… “Davide, a word,” I say in cold, hard warning. I head back toward the dining room, trying my damnedest to rein in my anger so I don’t kill the man. “Now, Davide.”
When he catches up with me in the hallway, I stop and turn. I don’t even need to put my hands on him for fear to roll off him. He fucked up, and he knows it.
“I’m sorry, Don. Caruso… He’s never been violent with Gina before. I-I was in shock.”
“Shock is what will get you killed. You’re not a new recruit, Davide. You’ve been with the Santoros for years.”
He nods quickly and swallows hard. “It will never happen again.”
“Has Caruso hurt Gina before?” My words are calm and controlled, but a swirling mass of fury and rage fills me at the thought of him or anyone hurting her.
“No. Never.”
“What about Guila?”
Guilt flashes over his face. “Not that I’ve witnessed, sir. But lately, I’ve had my suspicions.”
My jaw ticks. “Why haven’t you said anything? You know this is a cardinal rule within our family.”
“I…wasn’t sure. I wanted proof before I said anything. He seems to be in favor with your father.”
Fucking hell.
“You report to me,” I say through clenched teeth.
“I know. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Don. Please, sir.” There’s legitimate fear in his voice.
I step closer and speak into his ear as I can hear Caruso and Guila coming from the foyer. “You will report everything that happens in this house to me.Especiallyabout Gina.”
Davide nods vehemently. “I will. Everything, sir.”
“You’re dismissed.”
He hurries away in the opposite direction from where Gina’s parents are now coming up behind me. Before he turns the corner, I call to him, my voice pleasant.
When he turns to look at me, I draw a line across my neck with a finger. I know the look on my face is one I’m rumored to have when my unhinged side comes out to play. Menacing. Malicious. Lethal.
He understands my meaning. If he fucks up again, he’s dead.
I don’t kill easily, nor do I kill impulsively. But when I’ve decided your time is up, there’s no stopping me. And somehow, if that short encounter with Gina is any indication, I willdecimateanyone who harms a hair on her head.
