“Belladonna, believe me when I tell you this…” I stepped closer to her, “Even if both my brothers were married to you and every last Irishman knelt at your feet, you still wouldn’t have the power to make me regret a goddamn thing. You have your lane, and it’s not in front of me. So move, or I will move you!”
Before I could step any closer to her, Wyatt grabbed my arm, squeezing tightly as he muttered; “Sister dearest, whatever this is…breathe.”
“Wyatt, take Ivy to the car. Now,” Ethan said seriously as more than three other Ranges pulled on to the air strip.
Wyatt, to my surprise, didn’t even argue; he let go of me and placed his hand on Ivy’s shoulders. She still had the audacity to glare at me with those icy blue eyes of hers as he forced her away. She was lucky… If she was anyone else I’d make her eyes my earrings.
“Don’t get her involved.” Ethan’s stern voice reached my ears.
I laughed bitterly, looking to him; “Why? What are you going to do, oh wise and great one? Lecture me to death? Threaten me? Kick me out of the family?”
He inhaled slowly through his nose, placing his hand on stomach. “I can see you are upset, Donatella—”
“If you can see then you’d already know that while you and your wife were playing house, terrorizing Boston, and almost dying…nice one,” I smiled brightly, lifting my hands and stretching my arms, “I saved your damn city…you’re bloody welcome.”
“I wouldn’t have left you in charge if I didn’t believe—”
“Keep talking to me like I’m a fucking idiot and I really am going to fucking kill you Ethan.” He said nothing. Of course, he said nothing. So, I continued. “You didn’t believe in me at all. You wanted me to get rid of Toby…and test my loyalties…you set us both up!”
“If Tobias fell into a trap it’s his own bloody fault for not watching WHERE THE FUCK HE WAS GOING!” He roared into my face.
“AND ME!” I screamed back. “You set a trap for me! Your sister! If I fell chasing the fake carrot you put in my face is it my fault too?!”
“Good thing you didn’t fall little sister so we don’t have to answer questions like that,” he replied, walking around me toward the cars.
Balling my fist, I turned back to him as I said, “Wyatt and I may be twins, but we do not react the same way to manipulation. I will not come crawling to you. I AM NOT YOUR PUPPET, ETHAN! There are no strings on my back! Next, you’ll want to test your—”
“Your lover; your problem, Donatella! I gave you time and space to deal with him before I had to do it myself…because you are my fucking sister, so you are bloody welcome,” he snapped back at me before I heard the door slam behind him and the wheels of his car pull away.
“Keep pushing me Ethan,” I murmured, still trembling with rage. Closing my eyes and relaxing my shoulders, I tried to calm down.
“Is it safe to approach?” Wyatt asked, coming to stand in front me.
“No.”
“Oh well, then,” he said grinning as he hugged me tightly. I didn’t hug him back but I didn’t move away either.
“I’m fine,” I muttered.
“I’m not. Remember, I had gun in my face…it was scary.” He spoke in a child-like voice, and I just rolled my eyes, pushing him away and standing up straight again.
“Give me my gun.” I reached out for it.
“Sorry.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I left it in Ethan’s car.”
“Wyatt.”
“Let’s use words.”
“I am using words! Would you like me to use my fists?”
He sighed, reaching inside behind his waist and giving me the Glock, but not before asking, “What happened, Dona?”
“What do you think happened, Wyatt?” I replied, taking my gun from him. “Il maestro di burattino mi ha fatto sentire che le sue stringhe mi tirano attorno al mio collo!” (The puppet master wanted me to feel his strings pull around my neck!)
“And whatever the master wants, he gets,” Wyatt stated. For the first time since he’d gotten off the jet, his face was completely expressionless and all the humor in his voice evaporated.
“I have no master, Wyatt.”