Chapter 8

The shooting stopped. Emergency lights flickered on, illuminating the ruins.

Vincenzo stood in the center of the hall.

Across from him stood a man in a Russian military-style coat—Katerina’s uncle, Dimitri Petrov.

“I require an explanation,” Dimitri’s voice was ice. “My niece was nearly killed. On your territory.”

“The Torrino family will pay,” Vincenzo said.

“Not enough.” Dimitri’s gaze went past him, finding me behind my pillar. “That one,” Dimitri’s gaze flicked past him, landing on me. “Your loose end.”

His tone shifted. He moved closer to Vincenzo.

“A woman who forces a man to ‘choose’ is a liability. My niece will not start her new life with liabilities.”

Vincenzo was silent.

“Our alliance requires the elimination of all internal liabilities,” Dimitri delivered his ultimatum. “This woman knows too many of your secrets. Deal with her before the wedding. Or the deal is off.”

Dimitri turned and left.

Vincenzo stood alone for a long moment.

Then he turned slowly, his eyes locking onto mine across the wreckage. The struggle was gone. All that was left was the cold logic of the Don.

He raised his radio.

“Marco.” His voice was quiet, but it hit me like a hammer. “Activate the ‘cleanup protocol.’ Target: Chiara Rossi.”

I laughed.

I wasn’t beaten by a woman. I was beaten by his ambition.

I dragged my broken body out through a side door.

Katerina was waiting for me in the rose garden.

“You heard him,” she said, a victor’s smile on her face. “Don’t blame Vincenzo. For his future, you have to disappear.”

A guard behind her handed her a syringe.

“He asked me to send you off. A last kindness. A clean death.”

She gave a nod. Two big men started toward me.

I pulled the small knife from my thigh. I slit the first man’s throat.

Blood sprayed across the white roses.

The second man went for his gun. I rolled, dodged, and buried the knife in his heart.

He collapsed, a look of surprise on his face.

Katerina screamed and stumbled backward.

“You’re insane! You killed them!”

I got to my feet, the knife dripping blood.

“They were trying to kill me.”

“Help! Help me!” Katerina shrieked. “Chiara’s trying to kill me!”

Footsteps pounded from all directions.

The estate guards rushed in, their guns all aimed at me.

Then Vincenzo appeared.

He saw the two bodies on the ground. He saw the terrified Katerina. He saw me, holding the bloody knife.

His face became a mask of fury.

Katerina ran to him, tears streaming down her face.

“She’s crazy! She tried to kill me!” she sobbed. “If my men hadn’t protected me, I’d be dead!”

Vincenzo wrapped his arms around her, patting her back.

Then he drew his own gun. And aimed it at me.

The cold metal pressed against my forehead.

His eyes were savage. There was no warmth left.

“Chiara!” His roar was inhuman. “You dare put your hands on her!”

His gun was still leveled at my head, his voice dropping to a lethal growl.

“Get the fuck out of my city. And if I ever see your face in Chicago again, I will put a bullet in your head myself.”