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The world seemed to slow and come to a halt as the closest man to me met my gaze, and my heart stopped in my chest as Marius—Leonardo Bianco’s best friend—took a step toward me with malevolent hate in his eyes.

“You!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tomas

Don Bianco had arrived early.

I tensed the moment I realized those weren’t my familia in the foyer – though they were there as well. The actual center of the room was filled with Don Bianco, what appeared to be the son and daughter Hailey had mentioned, and about six of his men. Not enough to save him if things turned violent, but enough to give a good show of force and prove that he wasn’t without support.

My jaw set as I scanned around the room at the guards who were watching the Biancos —Anthony, Joe, Gio, several of the other cousins—just as the Biancos turned to look at us.

I glanced at the man in the center of the grouping, the obvious power in the huddle, but was immediately distracted by the threat. Young and angry, several inches shorter than me and without quite my muscle mass, he was still a threat, and he was staring at my wife.

“You!”

He started forward, reaching for her as he lunged.

I stepped in front of Ivy, grabbing his wrist and jerking it up, using my other arm to slam down on his forearm. There was a cracking noise, followed by his scream, as it broke.

“Tomas!” Ivy’s small hands pulled at the back of my jacket, and I held my arm out to stop her from coming around me.

“What is the meaning of this?” Don Bianco’s voice cut through the sudden shouting of his men, his hands flying out in either direction as he moved through them, holding them back through a mere gesture.

If anyone had any doubts about whether or not he’d solidified his position within the family, they wouldn’t anymore. His men moved out of his way without blinking, letting his children come up on either side of him. The only one who didn’t seem to notice was the mewling specimen cradling his arm on the ground, who scooted away from us, glaring at me.

Around us, the other DiNardos were tense and ready. Anthony had gone very still, which meant that he could explode into motion at any moment. Joe had his hand in the front of his suit jacket, and I knew he had his finger already on the trigger, just in case.

I focused in on the immediate threat – not the don, but his son. He might not have the same aura of authority of his father, but I recognized the dead look in his eyes… I saw it in the mirror every morning. There was a willingness to kill, without hesitation, without blinking, in his stance. His sister was also watching, with a slight smile on her face, as though she found everything very amusing.

Unlike most men, I didn’t discount her even though I clocked her brother as the more dangerous one. He’d be my first target, then her, then the don, and then the others. The creep on the floor would be last. Not because he deserved to live longer, but because he was the lowest threat.

The don put his hand on the creep’s shoulder.

“What is the problem, Marius?” His voice was low, calm. Even though I’d just broken one of his men’s arms during what should have been a peaceful visit.

It was very possible I’d just started another war with the Biancos. I tried to make myself care, but I met the don’s gaze with a flat one of my own. Something in his son’s expression flickered.

Recognition perhaps. The same way I’d recognized what was in him.

Or, really, what was lacking in him.

“That…” The man sitting on the floor clenched his jaw and glared at me. He cradled his arm like a baby, rather than manning up and getting to his feet. “Behind this fool. The dame. She’s the poisoner.”

The what?

Only my instincts to keep my eye on the threat kept me from turning to stare at my wife.

Ivy

It occurred to me that turning and running away was a viable option. Likely a stupid option, but a viable one. That or play innocent. That was probably the better choice.

Especially when I heard noise coming from behind me and I turned to see Don DiNardo, Aunt Serena, Jack, Hailey, and Clara coming up the hallway. All of them were frowning.

Good thing I hadn’t tried to run. I wouldn’t have gotten very far.

“What does he mean?” Gio asked from the top of the stairs. He was looking down on all of us with hard eyes, able to see every angle from his vantage point. Whereas I could really only see Tomas’ back at the moment. But I didn’t think that stepping to his side, just to get a better view of Marius and the others, was very wise. “Who did Ivy poison?”