Page 85 of SINS & Temptation

When he doesn’t move, Sin tries to reason with him. “We just need to get the gun.”

Enzo pushes back. “I didn’t call you here to stop her. I called you here to protect her.”

“What?” they all say in unison, echoing my own shock.

Here I am, gun aimed at my husband’s back. It would be so easy to shoot him. Why can’t I do it?

“Because he’s savin’ you, darlin’.” It’s as if Da is whispering in my ear, and the tears won’t stop.

“You will protect my wife.”

“I’m not sure the woman with the gun needs protecting,” Mateo says, motioning to me.

But Enzo doesn’t let up. “The arrangements have been made. My wife will inherit my wealth, and I brought all of you here because she will need witnesses.”

Smoke shakes his head. “Witnesses for what?”

“To verify it was self-defense, and”—Enzo sucks in a sharp breath—“to say goodbye.”

Smoke steps forward, the blood draining from his face. “You can’t be saying what I think you’re saying. You can’t—” He chokes on his words.

Did Enzo plan this? To sacrifice himself at my hand?

And then what?

Save me from jail? The wrath of his brothers?

Enzo turns to face me, his expression full of sorrow. “I wanted more time to figure out what was going on. But...” His sorrowful eyes shift to Dante. “My brother will have to find the answers I couldn’t.”

Dillon steps closer, defiant and looking damn near ready to tackle his brother. “I will not stand by and watch this.”

“None of us will,” Mateo adds, his words razor-sharp.

Enzo’s smile isn’t forced; it’s genuine. “This gets Andre off our back and protects my wife. And settles a sin I’ve spent a lifetime trying to erase.”

It’s as if he’s already made peace with the inevitability of this—of his death—of me killing him. And now, we’re all here to come to grips with it, too.

“Come on,” he says softly, almost tenderly. “We all knew if one of us was next, I was the sure bet. And besides, this isn’t like our father. This way, at least we get to say goodbye.”

“And what about Trinity?” Smoke’s voice, now almost pleading, is laced with deep, unspeakable pain.

Enzo shakes his head, a haunted look in his eyes. “Tell her I love her. I failed her, too.”

“Failed her?” I mumble, shock muddling my thoughts, making it hard to process his words.

Dante’s eyes well with tears. They all do.

Then Enzo drops to his knees. His voice is chillingly calm as he moves the gun to his heart. “Here, Bella. If you want it over quickly.”

Sobbing, I shake my head, unable to believe this is me, about to kill my husband. Or him, about to let me. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you what you want. If I could’ve traded places with your father, I would have. His death deserves vengeance. You’re his heart. You both are.”

My hand lands on my freckle. The heart-shaped one. Da said it to me every night. You’re my heart. You both are. But, how?

Enzo’s breath shudders. “Kennedy Mullvain D’Angelo, the day you agreed to marry me, I vowed to give you anything you want or die trying.” His hand holds the gun firmly against his chest. “If this is what you want, then I want this, too. I love you.”

The deafening crack shatters the room. My heart stops.

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