Dutch removes her arms from the back of her head, two pistols in her hands, which she must have hidden in her hair. She points one at Carmine and one at Carlotta, then tilts her head, excitement shining in her eyes.
“Carlotta, so nice to see you joining in the family business. I’m surprised. I would have expected you to be at home, fucking your bodyguard or out spending all your daddy’s money.”
Carlotta sniffs behind me. “As if I would lower myself to sleep with the help.”
“Sorry, my mistake. Now, why don’t you be a good little girl and get your skanky hands off my man?”
The knife jerks against my throat, a bead of blood sliding down my neck. “Oh, is he yours?” Carlotta asks, a tinkling laugh following it. “Not anymore. Carmine said I can keep him for my newest toy.”
“I hate to disappoint you, but the only woman he’s allowed to touch is me.”
A sharp breeze whistles by my cheek a split second before a red mist splatters my face. The knife clatters to the ground, followed by a thud as Carlotta drops dead at my feet. Carmine roars her name, then spins on his heel to attack Dutch. I leap forward, tackling him to the deck.
He counters with a fist to my face, but the adrenaline pumping through me means I don’t even feel it. His eyes meet mine, and he pales at what he sees. Ignoring the shouts around me, the sound of gunshots firing, I pull myself closer to him. “No one touches what’s mine,” I growl, and then I latch my teeth onto his neck.
Carmine makes a squealing noise, his fists bouncing off me with little effect. I chuckle, the feel of his screams reverberating into me. I press down harder, and he goes still, terror running off him in waves. I wish I could see into his eyes. I love that moment when they realize their life is over.
As much as I’d love to play with my prey, I need to make sure Dutch is okay. So I bite down with all my strength, then tear my head back, ripping his throat out. Pushing up on my arms, I spit it out, blood dripping from my mouth. His eyes are wide, terror-stricken, in disbelief it’s over.
In just seconds, the light in them is gone, and I jump to my feet to find everyone staring at me with a range of expressions from horror to admiration. “Fuck, that was hot,” Dutch breathes, coming toward me. She jumps in my arms and crashes her lips to mine, tasting her cousin’s blood.
“Did we win?” I ask against her lips, and she cackles back at me. I set her down, keeping her close as I look around. Carlotta, Carmine, Benito, Alvise, and two other men lay dead on the deck while Ryan, Eric, Kian, Justin, and Theo talk amongst themselves. “Where are Rebecca, Tessa, and Trey?”
“Rebecca got shot so they’re in the van waiting for us. Trey is going to be in a dangerous mood, so we should probably get going.”
My ears prick up when I hear a faint whir. Pushing Dutch to the side, I rip out my machete from the concealed sheath on my back. Reaching my arm back, I throw it, watching as it spins, end over end, until it hits its target.
The drone crashes to the deck, the camera attached to it plain as day.Fuck.“Is this one of ours?” I shout to Ryan, who jogs over to inspect it.
“No, it’s not the model we use.”
I meet his eye. “They were watching us.” Bending over, I pull my machete free, then stamp down on the camera until it’s nothing but shattered pieces and dust.
And with Ryan, Eric, Kian, the twins, and myself not wearing our helmets, Vincenzo now knows six more of us.
Chapter 52
Vincenzo
Theglass,justmomentsago filled with expensive whiskey, flies across the room, shattering against the wall. Cesare comes to his feet, his face twisted in an angry scowl, and points toward the screen.
“They killed my children!” he screams, swiping the contents off my desk. I stare at him, one brow raised. I know for a fact he doesn’t give a flying fuck about his kids. Francesco, ten, barely knows who he is. Although that might change now that he’s Cesare’s heir.
“Now, brother, we knew sending them in would be dangerous. They died heroically and will forever be remembered as the Gianellis that stood up to the great betrayer. Their feats will be passed down the generations, forever remembered for their bravery. You should be proud, Cesare. Their names will live forever.”
Cesare glares at me, his shoulders hunched, chest heaving. “You don’t understand, Vincenzo. How could you? You only have one child and she’s a disgrace. Who will be your heir? You’ve already sent Andrea, Stefano, Carmine, Benito, and Alvise out to be slaughtered by those fuckers. Who’s left? Two little boys too young to know what their dicks are for? One of the girls who are too busy maxing out their credit cards?”
I jump to my feet and wrap my hand around his throat. “Don’t you fucking speak to me like that. I have a plan.”
“Oh really? What? What will happen if Daniella comes here right now and kills you? Will you let her dismantle everything you’ve built? Will you let your empire fall?”
“Shut up!” I roar at him, pushing him up against the wall. How dare he question me? I am his leader, his don. He should be kissing my feet, not demanding answers that are none of his business. “I will have more children, and they will be raised the right way. And when the time comes, they will take over.”
Cesare pushes me away, his eyes wide as his mocking laughter rings out. “You? You cannot have more children. Are you also getting senile as you age?”
My fists clench and I see red. Striding toward him, I rear back, striking him across the face. He falls to my feet, where he should have been all along. “I have a plan!” I repeat, spittle flying from my mouth. “Once I have Daniella, I will marry her. She’s young, she can give me plenty of children.”
Cesare shakes his head as he stares at me in horror. “You-you cannot marry your daughter, Vincenzo. This is crazy. And it still does not answer how you will have children when we both know you cannot!”
