“Well, Alessandro,” Jamie continued, “I understand Raúl Mendoza is on his way. We won’t keep you. I’m sure you have much to discuss.” He took Kathleen’s arm and turned toward the door.
Vitale sneered and signaled.
Two guns came up at Jamie’s back. Another man stepped directly into their path.
Jamie sighed loudly. Then turned. “Your hospitality leaves much to be desired. My sister and I are leaving.”
“I think not,” Vitale said, pushing off the wall. “I’m afraid I need you to transfer money into one of my accounts. This is the most convenient solution to my problem.” His gaze flicked to Enzo. “If you’re angry, Jameson, blame him. He dragged her into this mess.”
“Bullshit!” Enzo snarled. “You set her up from the beginning. You know it and so do I.”
Jamie turned on him. “Is that true, Vitale? Or did this buffoon cause all the trouble?”
Buffoon? What the fuck?Then the word hit, and something clicked.
“Oh, definitely the buffoon,” Vitale chuckled.
Enzo stepped toward Jamie. “Fuck you. This is on you. Your money. Your mess.”
Jamie leaned in, voice rising. “You said you could keep her safe. You fucked up! You put her in danger, and now you have to pay!”
They were shouting now. Full volume. Faces flushed. Spittle flying.
Vitale’s men moved in, one on each side of them.
Then, perfectly synchronized, Enzo and Jamie twisted and struck. Fists landed hard. Bones cracked. Two guards went down in a tangle of limbs.
All hell broke loose.
Men surged forward. Guns came up. Enzo smashed his elbow into one man’s throat, felt cartilage give. Another rushed him, Enzo drove his fist into the man’s face, felt the jaw shatter under his knuckles.
A gun came up aimed at his chest, but a moment later, the man’s head vanished in a burst of red mist as someone fired a rifle from a distance.Callahans. Had to be.
Bianca screamed.
Matteo surged toward Rocco, trying to extract him, but another guard grabbed Matteo and started raining blows down on him.
“Take Kathleen and go!” Enzo roared.
Jamie grabbed his sister and hauled her toward the doors as shots rang out behind them.
Enzo took a brutal hit from behind. He spun crazily, and his back slammed into stone as he was driven into the wall. Pain exploded through him. He staggered, but came back swinging.
The man was massive. Solid muscle. He absorbed punches like they were nothing, driving Enzo backward toward the edge with relentless force. Enzo stumbled deliberately. Let his footing slip. The man smiled, cold and certain, and wound up for a crushing right cross. Enzo ducked. The man overbalanced. Enzo surged forward, drove his shoulder into the man’s gut, lifted, and sent him soaring over the balustrade into the seething surf below.
Enzo leaned on the wall, recovering as Matteo collapsed beside him, bloodied, disarmed. Another guard raised a gun.
Enzo slammed into him without hesitation and sent him over the edge as well.
Matteo looked up. Nodded once.
Enzo looked around and realized there was no one left on the terrace alive except him and Matteo. Where the hell was Kathleen? He hoped Jamie had gotten her out of there, but there was no guarantee.
He heard running feet and saw Bianca disappear through a sliding glass door.
He pushed himself off the wall, grabbed a discarded Glock off the ground, and ran after her. She was following her brother and Vitale. There was no way Enzo was going to let him get away, not after what he put Kathleen through. No way in hell.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
