“Because he doesn’t deserve to be a part of the Dark Sovereign legacy.” I can’t stop the malice that pours from my lips. My hate for him seeps from my soul, and I know that I will never be rid of it…not until I plow his corpse into the fucking ground.
“I get that. Believe me, no one is more aware of my dad’s faults than I am. But did you honestly think he’d just sit back and let you kick him out? That he would pack his bags and leave with his tail between his legs? No. Of course, he’s going to retaliate, fight for what he’s always felt is his.”
“But it is not his!” I shout, maddened by Roberto’s nerve to think he can challenge me. “The Dark Sovereign is not his, and it will never be. Not as long as I breathe.”
“Believe me, he’s well aware of that.”
“If he plans on killing me,” I spread my arms, pushing out my chest, “then let him come. Let him give it his best fucking shot. I have all the motivation in the world to drive a stake through his heart before he can even touch me. But let’s say by some miracle he accomplishes this impossible endeavor by taking my life. I am not afraid to die. And I have three brothers who will continue this war without me.”
“He knows that, too,” Rome says, deadpan. “Which is why he plans on killing you…without taking your life.”
“Killing you without taking your life?” Nicoli grimaces. “A riddle. Seriously? So, you’re not just a pussy. You’re a nerd, too.”
Rome glares at Nicoli, then looks at me, pulling a hand through his hair. “There’s only one thing worse than death for a man with a family, and that’s losing his loved ones and being forced to live without them.”
Ice fills my gut. A red haze explodes in my vision, and my anger is a roar that rips the air from my lungs, blood rushing to my head. Outside, there’s a storm approaching, and the rumbling thunder is an echo of the madness that slams against my chest. I grab Rome by the collar, jerking him close so he can feel the fire on my breath. “If you, anyone, harms a single hair on her head, I will wipe out every last Savelli, no matter how far down the bloodline they are.”
“Hey,” Rome grabs my wrists, “I’m not the enemy here, remember?”
“How long have you known about this?”
He jerks free, nostrils flaring and dark eyes glaring. “We were discussing his new plans when he got the call about you having a daughter.”
“What plans?” I growl.
Rome wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, his cautioned gaze cutting to mine. “His plan to use her father to get close to her.”
“How the fuck would he do that? Except that there’s not a chance in hell I’d let that sick fuck near her, she wouldn’t want anything to do with him.”
“She won’t have a choice,” he snaps. “The plan is to have Federico blackmail her, get her alone with him, away from you so they—”
“Can kidnap her. Hold her for ransom until all his demands have been met.” Nicoli finishes the sentence as he stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “Your dad sure as fuck lacks some originality. That’s the oldest trick in the book.”
“Not kidnap her, no.” Rome’s eyes turn dark. “Kill her.”
If I were a bomb, this would be the moment I’d explode, tear people’s limbs from their bodies and have their intestines cover the walls. “Hell would freeze over before I let anything happen to her.”
“I have a suggestion,” Rome says, and I can hardly contain my anger long enough to listen, my fists clenching and unclenching, my blood a vicious swoosh of venom.
“What is it?” Maximo asks.
“Her father.”
“What about him?” I snap.
“Stop trying to put a stop to his parole.”
“Not a chance.”
“You’re only delaying the inevitable,” he says in earnest. “Federico will be free sooner or later. My dad will make sure of it.”
I lose my tie and pull it from around my neck while I pace. “If you think I’m just going to sit here and do nothing so that sick fucker can walk the streets and sink his claws back into my wife, you’re as dumb as you are ugly.”
“What I’m saying is,” Rome starts, “if we focus our attention on the details of his parole instead of trying to stop it, we can get the upper hand.”
“How so?” Nicoli lights another cigarette, the coal turning into burning embers as he drags it in deep.
Rome looks my way, and I’m pretty sure he can feel the ripples of my displease and rage. “The way I see it, Federico Dinali can’t do much harm if we get to him before my dad does.”