As I glare at him and his now slit cheek, my rage rises. People have been taking advantage of me for far too long. I might not give a fuck if not for the fact it has affected my family.
I’m nothing but loyal and protective of my family. Especially my daughter, brothers, and nonno. Once I feel one of them is threatened, I become a savage you never want to meet. The reason this bastard tried to run.
I throw another punch. An uppercut this time. Kaling’s head rocks back with a snap.
“You steal from me, and you thought you’d live to enjoy that shit? Fuck, you thought I was some pussy who was going to turn the other cheek?”
His head rolls on his shoulders as he groans. “I only wanted to keep my daughter safe. She got in over her head. I did what I had to do.”
I snort. “But you were pulling those strings from the beginning. Did you lose control?”
“She found her way deeper into your world than I wanted her to. I have nothing else to give you.”
“You want me to do this the hard way, I see.”
His eyes widen with panic as he straightens his head and looks at me. “No, no, please. I can’t tell you. If I talk, Bella will be in danger. I’ll die first.”
I roll my shoulders to contain my rage. “I can make that happen for you. But you’re going to tell me one way or the other. Who the fuck is threatening my daughter? Talk before I flay your ass, starting with your eyelids.”
His eyes harden. This motherfucker looks like he’s about to grow a pair. My rage burns through my body like it’s going to consume me.
“Your ass is going to grow some balls now? Wrong fucking move. You should never fear anyone more than me. Let me show you why.”
The bloodlust that has been dormant for so long bangs at my veins to come out. I crack my knuckles and hold my hand out for my blade. Mitch places it in my palm and it’s like coming home.
I move to crouch before Kaling. “Did Bethany ever tell you that after my mother left us, I used to skin birds with this very blade? My father feared I lost my fucking mind. My grandfather was the one to help me channel this shit. I thought your daughter and mine had buried it for good.”
I stand and kick him in the chest, toppling him and the chair over. “Pick him up,” I bark.
The only other thing that welcomes me back more than the feel of the blade is the screams of my thieving father-in-law as I skin his ass alive. The bastard holds out, to my surprise. My fury gets the best of me and Mitch has to tell me when he’s gone as I continue to cut and flay—cloaked in the rage that has consumed me.
“Shit.” I lift to my full height and wipe my forearm across my face.
As my rage calms, I clean my blade against the side of my pants leg and pull a handkerchief from my back pocket to wipe my hands. I pull my phone from my pocket.
Giving a nod to my men to take care of this mess, I wait for the call to be answered. Mitch hands me my bag as I pass by him. I nod at him as my call is answered.
“It’s done. I got nothing but a threat to Bella’s life. I get the feeling someone wants to draw me out,” I say.
A grunt comes from the other end. “Not a wise someone. I’ll let Dario know. I would have done this for you, you know?”
“It was my problem. I intend to handle my messes. I see where this has gotten out of hand. It’s time I remind the world of who the fuck I am. You have your own shit to handle. This is my part. I have it.”
“If this is what you want,” Gio replies.
“It isn’t, but have I ever had a choice?”
“I’m trying to give you one.”
I sigh. “I have a date to plan. I’ll call you later.”
“A date? Oh really?”
“She’s five, I’m her father and I’m taking her to a tea party and dinner with a Disney Princess. Calm down.”
Gio laughs. “Whatever, brother. You can only ignore what’s right in your face for so long.”
I hang up. I need to calm and collect myself. I can’t think about what Gio is hinting at. I have enough on my plate.
Right as I have that thought, I step into the main dining room. The place should be closed, and no one should be here. So, the dim lighting catches me off guard. The last thing I need is for someone to find what I’ve done.
It was my intention to head down to the furnace room to strip out of these clothes. I have some sweats in the gym bag Mitch handed me. Not knowing who’s here or what they have seen, I pull my gun and follow the sound of their movements.