“No, you won’t.” In the dim lighting of the garage, I could see the stage makeup running down her cheeks. “You were hired to take her to the Ivanovs for a wedding. Right? An alliance between the Scavullo and the Ivanov family planned all those years ago. You’d exact a vendetta against your Italian family for ostracizing you while falling under the good graces of the new boss of all bosses, Francesco’s son. Who had his own father killed. Yes?”
He chuckled as if I was such a fool. “Business.”
“Yes, you’re right. It is.” I wasn’t in the mood for this to continue. So I did what was necessary to keep the woman I was falling in love with safe.
Pop!
As soon as the shot hit Sergio between the eyes, Anastasia pushed herself away, falling to the concrete. Her gasps ripped my heart out.
I rushed forward, kicking his weapon away before dropping to my knees, cradling her against my chest. “I’ve got you. You’re alright. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Jaxon,” she wailed.
“It’s okay, little angel.”
“No. No! My papa is dead. My brother killed him.”
“Shush, baby. I know and it’s going to be alright. I promise you.” As she clawed at me, I held her close, keeping her face pressed against my chest.
And I made her a silent promise that I would provide her with the method for revenge should she want it.
Fuck mafia politics.
Alexander was right.
Family was all that mattered.
CHAPTER 26
Anastasia
Anger.
The rage tearing through me was as all-consuming as the grief. I was wrung out, furious with the world, and hating everyone and everything.
I couldn’t stand being touched, spoken to, or even looked at. I didn’t want pity. I didn’t need support.
And I sure as shit didn’t need any advice.
From a single human being.
All those ideas as well as hatred had rushed through my mind.
Until Jaxon had pulled me into his arms.
I’d clung to him as a child would do after awakening from a horrible nightmare. I’d cried in his arms, reeling from having a gun pointed at my head.
For the second time when I’d fallen into despair, a panic attack forcing me into the corner of a room, he’d gathered me into his arms and refused to let me go.
For the second time, one man had come to my rescue, killing the person responsible for terrorizing me.
How many people had that story to tell their children in the future?Your daddy is a true hero, saving Mommy from monstrous assassins. Why? Well, you see… Both Mommy and Daddy come from very dangerous mafia families. But don’t worry. When you turn ten years old, you’ll be taught how to shoot a weapon, escape a prison cell and how best to kill our enemies with a sharp knife.
“What’s so funny?”
Hearing Jaxon’s voice dared drag me out of the very twisted fantasy fueling the evilest parts of my mind. When he grasped my fingers in his, pulling them to his lips, I shifted in my seat, more uncomfortable than I’d been in a long time. But not because we’d arrived in Italy only a couple of hours before to attend my father’s funeral. And not because of where we were headed and the strength I’d need to fake.
But because of the excitement and longing that came as a package deal with Jaxon. The Prince of Darkness. I was getting used to the family’s nickname. Very appropriate. I’d seen that in action more than once.
