“You could try,” I growl.
“If she told me to, I would.” He stares back at me, dead serious.
“If she wants a dead husband, sure.”
He shakes his head. “This is going nowhere. Explain what the fuck you were thinking so I can give her some sort of plausible explanation.” He glances at the door. “Because if Bianca says you’ve hurt her in any way, it’s going to go badly for both of us.”
I lean against the wood siding and rub my temples. “I don’t know what I was thinking.” I reach back into my memory of when I first saw her. “I was at the house. Angelica was doing Skype or whatever with her. Then I just … It’s like I snapped. Not like I do when someone pisses me off by trying to pass off bullshit information when they’re under my knife. It was different. Sort of like something in here”–I tap my temple—“or here”–I tap my chest over my heart—“clicked. After that, I just went into motion, and I didn’t stop until I’d kidnapped her and brought her here.”
“You’ve never done anything like this before.” His brows are drawn together. “I’ve known you since we were kids, and you’ve never even thought of taking a woman like this.”
“I know.”
He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “Okay.” He gives me a hard nod, as if he’s come to some sort of decision.
“Okay what?”
A smirk turns the corner of his mouth. “This is good, because I really didn’t want to have to fight you.”
My confusion only grows as I stare at him, a smile spreading across his stupid face.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
He shrugs and walks over, clapping me on the arm. “I know exactly what’s happened. I don’t know what to do about it, but at least I understand it. Now, the Frangiones want to marry her to Len, one of the younger brothers. They’re searching for her everywhere, even had the nerve to send some of their goons to one of our warehouses to ask questions.”
I crack my knuckles, and the old bloodlust begins to pump through my veins. “I hope you kept them for me.”
“Not necessary. We’ve already crippled them, and they won’t be stepping foot any closer than that small inquiry. They’re still licking their wounds, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous to whoever has taken their prized bride.” He gives me a pointed look.
My bloodlust intensifies a hundredfold. “I’ll never let them take her.”
“I know.” He runs a hand through his hair again. “I get it. For now, I think the safest place for her is here with you. I can have Gilly work on some backchannel intel to send the Frangiones searching far afield for her, throw them off the scent as best I can.” He leans against the post again. “But it won’t last forever. They’ll come, and when they do, we all need to be ready.”
“So you’re with me on this? You won’t let them have her?” I ask.
“First off, Angelica would try to cut off my balls if I let the Frangiones have her sister. Second, I’d never separate you from the woman you love.”
It hits me like a shot to my gut. Love. I should deny it, downplay it, do anything to distance myself from the idea. But I don’t. I can’t. I’m a violent, vicious man, but I’ve always told the truth, especially to Antonio and Gilly. Just because Antonio saw the truth before I ever realized it doesn’t make it any less true.
I love Bianca Larone.
“Fuck.” I sigh.
“I can relate.” He claps me on the arm again even though I give him a death stare at the contact. “It’s a fucking surprise, isn’t it? But it’s the best one I’ve ever had.”
I can only nod as the full weight of what we’ve discussed lands on my shoulders.
Bianca is mine.
Now I just have to convince her that for her, I’m Fernando, and for anyone who crosses her–I’m their Butcher.
10
BIANCA
“Did he hurt you?” Angelica’s hands start to roam all over me. I stand there, still in shock. I’ve heard my father speak of the Butcher before. And there had been a few whispers from the men when they hadn’t noticed I was in the room. I could tell by the sounds of their voices that they were terrified of him.
“He can’t be the Butcher.” I finally say. “He likes kittens,” I mutter.
“Did you hit your head?” She starts to feel my skull.
I smack her hands away. “He didn’t hurt me. All he’s been to me is sweet.” I think I’m in a little bit of shock. I knew Fernando had a dark side, but I’d never imagined he could be the Butcher.
“Sweet?” Angelica points her thumb over her shoulder toward the front door. “We’re talking about that man. With the black eyes.”