Page 322 of The Devil's Fire

“What about Lorenzo?”

“No. She made it clear she will only talk to you.”

“We can always force her to talk.” Raffaele suggested, and I gave him a sharp look.

“No. No one is to go near her. I’ll make sure she talks when we get back.”

“Or I can just charm her with my handsomeness.” He wiggled his brows with a mischievous grin.

“What handsomeness? You will send her straight back into a coma.” I smirked as he scowled at me.

“You’re spending too much time with Althaia. Her personality is rubbing off on you.” He scoffed.

“That’s definitely something she would say. Shouldn’t you be charming Ava instead?” Antonio asked, amused.

Raffaele let out a groan and slumped in his seat.

“I’m trying! One moment I think I have her, and then the next, she plays hard to get. It’s confusing!”

“Maybe don’t say you want her mouth wrapped around your cock.” Antonio raised his brow, having me chuckle.

“I’m never forgiving Althaia for spilling that out to you.” He muttered grimly, and I shook my head in amusement.

“Don’t talk to her like you talk to the women at the brothels you visit.” I pointed out to him. He still had a lot to learn when it came to speaking respectfully to women he wasn’t paying to fuck.

“Really, Damiano? Are you keeping an eye on me?” Raffaele shot me another blank look.

“Just making sure you’re not fucking anyone important to me.” I said and grabbed my phone when it rang. “Luca.”

“We need backup!”

I immediately stood up, a frown appearing on my face as I signaled to the others to get going.

“We’re on our way. What happened?” My hold tightened around my phone as we quickly made our way out to the cars, Antonio ordering more men to get going.

“Something happened between Althaia and Miciela. Maximo’s men want her head in return.” He quickly explained. My face darkened and my jaw clenched.

“I will hang their heads on the streets if they so much as misplace one hair on her head!” I growled out in fury as we got into the car and drove off. “What’s the situation?”

“We’re stuck and they’re still shooting after us.”

I heard the faint shots from Luca’s end. As long as they were inside the car, they would be fine as it was bulletproof.

My frown deepened when I heard Althaia let out a strangled scream in the background.

“Shit, they’re going to blow the fucking car!” Giovanni yelled.

“Two minutes. Stall them until we get there.” I tossed the phone to the side, grabbed the rifle Raffaele handed me, and got ready.

“Surround them and don’t let anyone get past you. Get a car to Luca and Giovanni and let them escort Althaia to safety immediately.” I ordered them as I racked the slide.

I moved my neck from side to side and let out a slow breath to calm down the rage inside of me.

We arrived at the scene, chaos unfolding before us. Maximo’s men were unleashing a hail of bullets at the car, the air thick with the acrid scent of gunfire. Without a moment’s hesitation, I kicked the door open, instantly capturing their attention. In the deafening symphony of gunfire, I swiftly returned the favor, my shots ringing out with deadly precision.

One shot.

Two shots.

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