Page 29 of Her Wicked Men

We’d lost men over the years, as had they.

“Well, if they want to renegotiate, they’ll have a lot of work ahead of them,” Zane muttered as he slid his gaze to the entry of the building.

Why could I picture him jumping the table his father sat at and plunging a blade into Stefano’s chest?

“Patrick wants to find a diplomatic solution to all of this. The least amount of bloodshed. Considering Vee isn’t even family, he’s doing a lot,” I said, causing Zane’s gaze to snap back to me.

“He knows how important she is,” he stated.

“He knows what we’ll do if we don’t get her back, too,” Kieran added, his smile still carved into his face. The twisted look in his eye showed the truth. Just how far he’d go if things didn’t go our way. If Vee got hurt, or worse, I’d fear for the city itself.

“They better sort it out, or heads are going to roll,” Kieran said as he planted his hand on the hood of the car, staring up at the night sky.

“If she’s hurt, has a single bruise or mark…” Zane’s gaze was back on the entryway, and I shifted uneasily. So much for me being the one connected to their emotions the least. I felt like one wrong move would have him going in there and executing everyone.

Not that I’d blame him. The thought of Vee being hurt…

“Fuck,” I hissed as I folded my arms, digging my fingers into my forearms as the rage slithered and stirred within me like a tangled mess of thorns in my chest.

“I want to know what’s going on in there.” Kieran’s gaze dropped to the doors as he cocked his head.

“As do I,” Zane said as he pushed off the hood.

Great. Since when was I ever the voice of reason?

It certainly wasn’t now, especially not with the thought of Vee being hurt now etched into my mind like a horrible movie scene, her pained eyes begging me to help her. I’d seen her bruised and hurt already, I didn’t want to see it again.

I’d tear apart anyone who hurt her.

Zane led the way, and the Moretti guards shifted uneasily, eyeing one another. I waited with bated breath for one of them to try to stop my brothers and I, but the men chose life and safety after giving us a knowing look.

Trying to stop us would result in very unfortunate repercussions. Possibly death.

We strode inside, and I signaled where the meeting was going on with a silent wave of my hand.

We crossed the pristine foyer of the hotel owned by the Moretti family, the white marble interior decorated with gold detailings. The man at the desk opened his mouth, but one wild grin from Kieran had him closing it just as quickly, not willing to provoke us.

Zane strode right up to the group of mixed guards at the door, pausing and slicing a sharp look between the main two men obstructing the way.

“Best let us in,” Kieran said, his charming tone masking the severity of this moment.

The guards could at least see it with Zane and I, and they stepped aside to my surprise, letting Zane shove through the doors like a man on a mission.

The table inside fell silent, Patrick looking to us as Stefano’s men all stiffened and reached for holstered or hidden weapons.

“I’d not do that,” Kieran sang out as we all strode up to the table. “I’m not feeling my usual self, it could be a risky move,” he added as he planted his hands on the lavish redwood table.

Patrick looked dismayed as he leaned back in his seat, letting out a heavy sigh at the sight of his sons breaking the standard order of things.

“So, have you worked out something?” Kieran asked with a wild, feral grin that had even Patrick himself frowning with unease.

“This is not how we do business—” Stefano started, but Kieran just straightened and cleared his throat loudly.

“Mr. Moretti, something very valuable was taken from us. You’re lucky I haven’t started painting the city red. My father wants to work out a solution that benefits all of us, but I’m not a patient man, and I’m becoming… agitated,” Kieran said smartly as he straightened his tailored black shirt, rolling the cuffs up as he clicked his tongue.

“I understand that,” Stefano said slowly, the urgency and direness of the situation now settling over his features as he glanced at Patrick.

“We were just discussing how a faction of the Moretti family has been acting of their own accord, there is unrest in the family,” Patrick explained.

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