“None of your business.” It’s the only answer I can give, because the last thing I want to do is drag Gage into our shit. “What do you want, Satriano?”
The fucker smiles broadly, motioning toward the mugs on the table casually. “I came in for one of those wonderful cappuccinos Angelina makes.” He glances over at her behind the counter where she stands stock-still, watching everything unfold with sheer terror racing through her gaze. “Ang, principessa, can I get my regular?”
Her hand trembles as she sets down the drink she was working on and gives him a sharp nod. She watches us out of the corner of her eye, occasionally glancing toward the front windows that we all know Jude can see straight through from their condo or the book shop.
If he saw Satriano, he will have alerted the family by now.
Which means the cavalry is on the way.
Unless Jude has his head buried in a book or in his computer, working on his own, or is busy with a customer and missed the arrival of our greatest enemy.
When Satriano turns back to me, he crosses his hands behind his back in a casual move, but all it does is expose the grip of the gun at his hip underneath that perfectly tailored jacket. “I’ve missed this place.” Another sly smile spreads across his face. “Now that I’m back in town, this was my first stop.”
Because he wanted to make the threat to the most vulnerable members of the family.
He wanted to prove that he could get to us.
And he did.
Far too easily.
He just waltzed straight in.
The security personnel who escorted all the girls here today remained in their vehicles on the street since I’m in here to guard them, and as I glance at the glass windows lining the front, I can see them watching everything unfold, debating if they should come in or if I have everything handled.
You should have handled it before he even got in here.
But I know why they didn’t.
The same reason I give them an almost imperceptible shake of my head now.
I don’t want to escalate anything, and they didn’t want to draw on him with customers around and risk a shootout.
But my hand doesn’t leave my gun.
I stare up at him, doing my best to keep my voice level. “Well, as soon as you have your drink, you can leave.”
His silver brows rise. “Speaking of drinks, did you receive my gift?”
Kennedy scowls at him. “Kind of cheaped out, didn’t you?”
Jesus…
Stop antagonizing him!
I want to scream it at her, but I grit my teeth instead to keep from doing just that.
He chuckles low. “I didn’t realize you had such expensive taste. Next time I’ll try to do better.”
“There won’t be a next time.” My warning comes out as cold as ice, and his hard, dark eyes shift to meet mine. “You’re going to walk out of here, and you’re going to leave us alone.”
Gage’s hand brushes my shoulder again in warning, but I’ve already said it. It’s already hanging out there, and I didn’t bother to veil my threat, either.
At this point, the game has gotten old and stopped being fun a long time ago, at least from our side. Satriano appears to still enjoy it, though.
He merely smiles again. “Bishop, I’ve always appreciated how unwavering you are in your desire to protect your family. It’s admirable, really.”
His gaze flicks to Astrid again and lingers there, and I know what he’s thinking. That I failed that night, when she and Atlas were shot, when Allie and her son and Kennedy were all put at risk. How ultimately, it was his intervention that got Astrid and Atlas the help that they needed before they bled out on that warehouse floor because he distracted Dan enough to allow Gabe, Dad, and I to do what we do best and take out the fuckers holding them one by one.
