Page 10 of His Mafia Sunshine

The front window is shattered, jagged shards of glass littering the floor, the tables, the counter. Brick dust coats everything, the air thick with the stench of violence and hate.

And there, scrawled across the wall in vivid red spray paint, are three words that chill me to the bone.

STAY AWAY FAG

Liam stands in the middle of the carnage, his face a mask of fury and disgust, his fists clenched so tight I can see the blood welling between his fingers.

"Asher," he says, his voice low and deadly calm. "Go back in the kitchen. Now."

I shake my head, my feet carrying me forward, glass crunching beneath my shoes. "Liam, don't. Don't do anything stupid."

He rounds on me, his eyes wild, his face twisted with a rage that borders on madness. "Stupid? They just vandalized your diner, Asher. Threatened you, us. And you want me to what, let it go?"

I grab his arm, my fingers digging into the tense muscle. "I want you to be smart," I say, my voice shaking. "I want you to think before you act, before you do something that could get you killed."

He wrenches away from me, his jaw clenched so hard I'm afraid he'll break a tooth. "I know who did this," he snarls, his voice low and brutal. "And I'm going to make them pay. In blood."

Cold fear washes through me, my heart seizing in my chest. "Declan," I whisper, the pieces falling into sickening place. "He's warning me to stay away from you."

Liam's eyes blaze, his nostrils flaring. "I'll fucking kill him," he growls, already moving toward the door. "I'll tear him apart with my bare hands."

Before I can stop him, Liam wrenches out of my grasp, his face set in lines of grim determination. He strides toward the shattered door, glass crunching beneath his boots, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

I call after him, my voice raw with desperation, but he doesn't even hesitate, disappearing into the night like a wraith bent on vengeance.

Fear claws at my throat, my heart racing as I imagine the confrontation to come, the blood that will surely be spilled. But beneath the terror is a flicker of something else, something fierce and proud and achingly tender.

Because even in his rage, even in his darkest moments, Liam is fighting for me, for us, for the fragile dream we've dared to build together.

And God help me, I love him for it, even as I fear for his very soul.

CHAPTER 5

LIAM

The sickly green neon of The Emerald Serpent's sign casts an eerie glow over the rain-slicked street as I screech to a stop outside the shithole bar. My blood is a roar in my ears, my vision tunneled to a single, searing point of focus: finding Declan and making him pay for what he did to Asher.

I don't remember the drive over here, the frantic race through slick, dark streets. All I can see is the fear in Asher's eyes, the broken glass and hateful slurs desecrating the warm haven of his diner. All I can feel is the consuming rage, the cold terror at the thought of losing him to the poisonous tendrils of my world.

I slam through the bar's door like a hurricane, the chatter and clink of glasses dying in a hush of wary anticipation. Every eye in the room tracks me as I stalk to the back, where I know Declan will be holding court, the king of his wretched little empire.

He's lounging in a dark leather booth, a tumbler of whiskey dangling negligently from his fingers, his cruel mouth curved in a smirk. He doesn't even bother to look up as I approach, his gaze fixed on the voluptuous redhead perched on his lap.

"Little brother," he drawls, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I slam my palms on the table, rattling the empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays. The redhead yelps and scurries away, but Declan just raises a bored eyebrow, taking a slow sip of his drink.

"You know damn well why I'm here," I snarl, my voice low and deadly. "You trashed Asher's diner. Threatened him. I fucking warned you to leave him out of this, Declan."

He sets his glass down with a delicate clink, his eyes finally meeting mine. They're cold and flat, like a shark's, belying the genial smile stretching his lips.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about, Liam," he says mildly. "I've been right here all evening, enjoying the company of the lovely Candy. Isn't that right, darling?"

The redhead nods frantically, her eyes wide and terrified as they dart between us. I dismiss her with a contemptuous glance, my attention never wavering from Declan.

"Cut the bullshit," I growl. "We both know you're behind this. Sending your lackeys to do your dirty work, trying to scare Asher off. It won't fucking work, Declan. I won't let you hurt him."

Declan's smile sharpens, a flash of teeth in the dim light. "You seem awfully invested in this piece of ass, brother mine. Don't tell me you've actually developed feelings for the little fairy?"

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