Page 22 of Damiano De Luca (The Five Syndicates)
Ariana spun the weapon she’d stolen toward Bastian. Damian strode into the light with his gun drawn on Bastian, and Ariana shifted her gun to him. I could walk away. I could turn around right now and pretend I hadn’t seen this.
But I didn’t, and though I couldn’t bring myself to admit why, it was about as obvious as a stuffed bra. I approached with light steps, stepped over a pile of cans, and raised my gun to the back of Ariana’s head, far enough away that she couldn’t disarm me with any of her surprise FBI moves.
When she shifted, I tutted. “Don’t bother.” I figured Ariana was the only one the other two cared about, which was why she had my gun pointed at her head. “I’ll shoot you, then your boyfriend.”
Damian lowered his weapon, and the trust that took didn’t escape my attention. “Ren…”
Monica took the opportunity to run, and Bastian started after her.
Ariana shook her head. “Don’t. She has an ankle bracelet. What she knows, I can… I can figure out a way to explain to my boss.”
I cocked my gun, though I didn’t plan on using it. “Your boss. And who would that be?”
Damian took a step forward. “Renata—”
“Didn’t you hear her? She’s in the FBI.” I may have distanced myself from this world, but it didn’t change my blood. I was a Vitali. The utmost governing authority in the mafia world. I rarely exercised my power, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do so now if it threatened Damian. “This can be a Vitali matter if I make it one. Choose your words wisely.”
Bastian dropped his gun to his side. I stared at him until he secured it in his holster.
“What do you want?” He cocked his head, then shook it. “What's the Vitali position here?”
If Papà were in my position, he would place a bullet in Ariana’s temple and be done with it.
I wasn’t my dad.
I lowered my gun. “We’ll be watching from afar, so long as you can deal with this internally.”
The Romano family could shoot Ariana, lock her up in one of the private prisons they owned, or recruit her. Whatever it took to preserve their secrecy. But I suspected Bastian would deal with this himself—without involving his family.
“What’s the catch?”
Honestly? I didn’t really care, but I knew my family would. I also knew that Damian could get caught in the crossfire if it wasn’t handled right, but I needed to trust my gut and let Bastian handle this. “There will be consequences should you mishandle this.”
Bastian nodded and left with Ariana, leaving me alone with Damian.
I almost wish they hadn’t left.
Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another.
Homer
I took a step toward Ren, my eyes narrowed and throat bobbing. “You were here for me. To have my back.”
I would never get used to having someone who I could count on to always look out for me. We could be best friends or worst enemies, and I knew Ren would have my back. It should have been nice instead of bittersweet, but we’d never had a cookie cutter life.
Ren holstered her handgun and shook her head, and I wasn’t sure if her denial pissed me off or excited me. “How do you figure?”
“You held the gun to Ariana, threatened to shoot her, then threatened to shoot Bastian. But not me.”
My anger at her for leaving me ten years ago eased, and fuck, I wanted her all over again. Call it daddy issues, but I had a soft spot for people with pure hearts like hers. This was the girl I fell in love with. The one who came in guns blazing, eyes calculated, always defending me, even when I didn’t need it. How could I not want her? Find me a man who could resist her, and I’d find you a beachfront property in Oklahoma.
She shrugged, such a pretty little liar. “And?”
She wanted to avert her eyes. I could see the urge in the strained edges of her glare. But I had always had the ability to bulldoze past her barriers, and she had another thing coming for her if she thought I wasn’t prepared to do so now.
Ren lifted her chin. “You weren’t a threat.”
“But I am, Princess.” One more step and I’d have her backed up against the wall. “I’m the biggest threat you’ve ever met.”
