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‘Yeah, man,’ Bishop chimed in. ‘But don’t go out there swinging. Have him speak his peace before you toss him through the front window, which I can tell you’re itching to.’

My jaw ticked as their words sank in, then, with a growl, I set my mug on a table.

I marched out of the studio, down the corridor, and burst through the reception doors.

Massimo stood near the glass trophy case, in a wrinkled linen suit.

I closed the distance in three strides, planting my hands around his throat and driving his spine hard into the drywall.

He yelped and tried to push at me, but I was half a foot taller, way bulkier, and hella pissed.

He’d no chance against my wrath.

‘What the hell are you doing here? She sent you to clean up her mess?’

Massimo gasped for oxygen, his fingers clawing at my forearm as his feet scraped the floorboards.

I was so riled up, I didn’t notice the movement to my right as Levi surged out of the hallway.

He wrapped his muscled arms around my shoulders and wrenched me backward.

‘Whoa, killer. Drop the throttle. Let the man speak before you catch a felony charge.’

I released my grip, stepping back while my chest heaved with a violent necessity to stomp his face.

Massimo stumbled forward, coughing as he massaged his throat, then straightened his collar to regain his shredded dignity.

He scrambled in his trousers and held up a silver flash drive, his hand trembling under my glare.

‘Listen, Deacon, I’ve got something to share with you on this USB. It has to do with what really went down that night at The Gwen in Chicago.’

‘Is that right?’ I scoffed.

Massimo wiped his mouth and nodded hard.

‘Give me a private room, man. Let me show you; you’ll have the truth you seek.’

‘I don’t want anything to do with you or Ana,’ I snarled, turning my back on his pathetic display. ‘Get your garbage ass out of this building.’

‘Ana insisted I speak with you,’ Massimo muttered, clearly annoyed at her. ‘She won’t take no for an answer.’

‘Well, no shit, I lived with her for years. Still, I won’t have it.’

Levi caught my shoulder, stopping my retreat with a grounding grip.

‘Deke, think for a second. What if this changes everything? Don’t let your stubborn pride blind you if there’s data on that drive that might prove Ana’s innocent all along.’

I gritted my teeth, exhaling.

I faced my mate. ‘You’d better be right, my friend.’

Levi shrugged. ‘If I’m not, then slug me instead.’

With a curse, I glared at Massimo, then jerked my chin toward the double doors.

Prowling ahead of him and led the bastard into our main boardroom.

I sank into one of the seats, crossed my arms, and swung my feet on the table, bracing myself to keep my wrath in check.