“Yes,” she snapped. “I lost twenty men in the process.” Her face contorted in an ugly sneer, displaying the fortitude of makeup at its finest. “And a lot more are going to die if you decide to be pig-headed about this, including Evelina. I’ll give you some time to think about it.”
I didn’t feel her take the phone from my hand, nor did I hear her leave, until the click of the door closed behind her. My gaze riveted on the space my mother had just occupied, I struggled to breathe. Every conversation I’ve ever had with that woman had been awkward and unemotional but this one stole every single emotion I felt before walking into the room. Without thinking, I pivoted sharply, my arm swinging wide as my fist connected with the wall. I did it again, feeling nothing but debilitating anger flowing through my blood.
Once more the D’Angelo’s had fucked me over, my mother even more so. I could resist, go in guns blazing, kill the lot of them and be done with this sham but I couldn’t put my sister in harm’s way. They’d slit her neck within a moment’s notice, and I had nothing on them. For now.
I stared out the window, watching a bird fly against the wind and suddenly realized that I felt just like that bird right now. Then I remembered what my grandfather always said,“God has a plan for every one of his creatures, man included. If a bird, that looks so pathetic, so weak at times, can fly against the wind and survive, imagine what strength their wings possess, let alone their tiny bodies.”
I turned at the sound of the door opening. Remo sauntered in, his usual smirk in place. “So, how did it go. Both of you are still standing, I see.” I didn’t miss that shark grin as I turned back to the window.
“She wants me to marry a D’Angelo to stop the pending war.”
“What the fuck,” his yell resonated through the room, vibrating against the windows. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Shoving a hand through my hair, I dropped into a chair. “They got Evelina.”
He frowned. “Who?”
“D’Angelo.”
“Wait. I’m confused.” He scratched his brow then as if a light went off in his head, his lips thinned and his eyes narrowed. “Are you saying they kidnapped our fucking sister?” I nodded. “Those sick fucking bastards. How the fuck did that happen? Wait. Are you sure?” He neared me and took the seat next to me.
“Mother showed me photos they sent her. Evelina was taken three days ago.”
“And why the fuck are we only finding out about this now? Why didn’t the old woman call us?”
I shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. And we both know we have a better chance of becoming president of the USA than getting an answer from her.”
“Fuck, Renz. What now?”
I stared at my brother. Relief only ever flowed through me when I was beating the shit out of another man, or when I fucked a woman into submission. Somehow, even with his unbridled manner, Remo had a way of settling me. I inhaled deeply, letting calm drift over me, allowing the rage to dissipate. For the moment.
Tapping a finger against the glass tabletop, I leaned back into the seat. “We’re going to Italy, I guess.”
“Are you seriously going to marry one of their daughters?” Incredulity spilled from his mouth in droves.
“You have a better idea?” I stood and walked over to the bar, poured three fingers of whiskey and downed it in a quick gulp. The slick burn of the liquid sliding down my throat did nothing to pacify my annoyance. Perhaps another glass or the whole fucking bottle would work better. The bottle went flying across the room and hit a wall with a sickening crash. “Fuck!” I shook my head. “I lost Arabella and I couldn’t do anything to save her, then. I’m not about to let anything happen to Evelina.” My mother had only ever heard of the way I ran things. It was time I showed her who I really was. She’d wanted my attention for years. Now, she was about to get it. “I’ll accept their suggestion. With conditions obviously.”
“There’s the brother I know.” Remo chuckled. I handed him the drink I poured.
