Vigo spins to me, spitting fury. But I look at the women first. “Leave, ladies. Your day is done.”
They scurry toward the employee door in the back, not needing to be told twice.
I look at Vigo then, my arms crossing over my chest. “This is your chance.”
“My chance to kick your fucking ass and take my woman back,” he roars stepping right up into my face. I don’t flinch.
“Gigi—”
“Her name is fucking Giulia.” He pokes me hard in the ribs. “And she is my wife.”
“Didn’t your wife divorce you?” I know I’m poking his wound. He takes the bait, swinging at my face and hitting my already-broken nose. Blood spurts from my nostrils as pain explodes in my skull. I’m going to need surgery after this.
I stumble back, but catch myself, Gris’s hand coming to my shoulder blades to steady me. “One last time, Vigo. This is your chance to walk away, or you will leave me no choice.”
“There is no choice,” he yells as he runs at me again, hitting me in the gut with his clenched fist.
All I need to think about is him using this kind of force on Gigi or Emma and I hold the line, barely reacting as he hits me again and again.
I am not a man who lets the moment seize me. He aims for my face, and this time I duck it, but I don’t hit back. When this video makes it around to every mob boss in the city, they will know that Vigo signed his own death warrant.
“Hit me,” he roars. “Fight me like a man.”
“Is that what you like? People who fight back?” I sneer through the blood. “Could have fooled me.”
He snarls, coming at me again, but he’s tired, slow, and I easily sidestep him.
His goons rush toward me, like they plan on helping.
“Don’t,” I spit at them, even as Vigo hits the wall, unable to stop his momentum. “Stand down now.”
They both stop.
Vigo is crumpled against the wall. Apparently kicking the shit out of me has worn him out. I grab him by the collar, pulling him up and move him toward the doors. I will not hit him now, my right to kill him will not be sullied with a cheap blow.
He tries to fight my grip, but I wrap my other hand around his throat, partially cutting off his air. Then I lean down, spitting in his ear. “You’ve done it now, Vigo,” I say nice and quiet.
He gurgles as I march him to the door.
Killian is right. He’s a snake. And setting him free now will give him time to recoil, prepare his strike.
But this is a public space, I can’t go killing a man on camera. I’ve got both worlds to consider. The light and the dark.
So, I lift my head, barking at one of the guards, “Open the door.”
The guard’s got a black eye, and his arm dangles at his side like it’s broken, but he does as I command.
As soon as the door is open, I toss Vigo out. He lands in a heap on the sidewalk, then I look at the two men who came with him. “Out. And tell the Sinclair Brothers they’ll be hearing from me.”
The two men scurry to obey.
It’s telling that none of the Sinclairs came with their uncle today. It means I’m liable to have their support.
Then again, I’m going to do my damnedest to kill their uncle.
Gris is waiting for me next to the elevator. “You all right?”
“Fine,” I say, as I pull out my phone to enable the elevator to bring us back upstairs. “Send out a company message that the building is shut down for the rest of the day.”
