Sometimes it’s about picking the lesser of two evils, and I wanted the opportunity to show her firsthand that I can also protect her, no matter the foe.
“I have no issue with you,” I lie. “At least not yet. I’m not fond of your tone, but I understand your frustration. You had plans, and I ruined them. Vanessa and I are a scent match. The pull is magnetic. I couldn’t bring myself to try to fight it any longer, and I certainly couldn’t allow you to marry her when there was a chance she could be carrying my heir.”
Grigoryan’s face turns reddish-purple around the edges. I’ve only seen that particular shade on someone being choked out.
It’s probably too much to hope that he has a heart attack. It would save all of us a lot of trouble if the universe decided to end him for me.
“You think I give a fuck about that bitch? She was ruined the moment you touched her,” he hisses. “You burned down my property withhundreds of thousandsof dollars in product. You owe me a quarter of a million dollars!”
My hand tightens on my wife’s stomach, and I once again lift her, using her back against my chest as leverage. Twisting, I deposit her behind me and step forward to ensure she won’t be caught by my elbow.
I try to keep violence to a minimum. Grigoryan was right. The mafia world runs nothing like it did fifty years ago, but I was raised old-school style by men who didn’t shy away from getting their hands dirty.
He’s just so fucking smug.
My dress shirt is tight, digging into my shoulders. I might pop a seam, but it’ll be worth it.
“Don’t interfere unless you’re willing to go down too,” I advise Grigoryan’s men right before I slam my fist into his jaw.
The crunch is brutal, and my knuckles burn.
He staggers, and his eyes get hazy.
One of his men moves behind him, keeping him upright.
That’s fine.
I doubt anyone wants to have to peel him off the carpet. Covering the distance between us, I shove his arm away as he tries to bring his hand to his jaw.
“You came into my establishment making wild accusations. I could have overlooked that,” I growl, grabbing his jaw and forcing him to look at me. “But if you talk about my wife like that again, I don’t give a fuck what accords I have to break. I will end you, and I won’t stop there. I’ll dismantle every level of your organization. You can’t fight a war with no resources. Boston won’t even remember your name when I’m through with you.” My fingers dig into his cheeks, and I shove him back once more. I meet Mario’s eyes, since he’s the one in command of his team. “Get them out of here by any means necessary. They don’t step foot back inside any of my establishments.”
Vanessa keeps up with my long strides as I drag her toward my office. Once we’re inside the safety of my private space, I lock the door and release her hand.
She might be trying to cut back on her alcohol intake, but I need a goddamn drink.
“Feel free to have a seat.” I take off for the bar in the corner, pouring myself a healthy serving of scotch. It goes down smooth,and I’m tempted to pour myself another two fingers. The only thing that holds me back is knowing it would prove exactly how much Grigoryan got under my skin.
He’s a disgusting prick.
It’s not news to me.
Hell, it’s not news to anyone.
If I’m right, he’s done much worse things than flinging around ugly words. And yet, all I can seem to focus on is the way he talked about Vanessa. He wanted to use her and discard her like he did his last three wives, and the thought infuriates me even more.
There’s an actual red tint to the edges of my vision.
Goddammit.
He needs to bleed.
I want to rip him apart with my bare hands. I’d keep him in a constant state of agony, visiting often to listen to his pleas for death. He wouldn’t get off easy like Stephen. That waste of space spent three days being tortured, but Grigoryan deserves a hundred times that.
It’s not just about Vanessa, although that cuts extra deep. If that’s the way he’s willing to talk about and treat a woman with an audience, he’s capable of much worse when he knows he’s not being observed.
What I need is a cigarette.
I won’t be able to go back out there and strangle the man to death if my hands are busy.
