Page 74 of Merciless King

Vincenzo's face flushes an alarming shade of red. How convenient it would be if he dropped dead of a stroke or heart attack. "The hell it is! Your father gave me his word, and I expect you to honor it!"

I feel my own temper rising to match his. "I'm not marrying Ava. I'm marrying someone else."

That seems to take Vincenzo by surprise, his eyes widening slightly before narrowing into angry slits. "What the hell are you talking about? Who could possibly be more important than cementing our alliance?"

I meet his gaze head-on, unflinching. "That’s none of your fucking business.”

“It is my business. We had a deal.”

I sigh, ready to be done with this. “Look, I want an alliance with you, but not through a marriage. I’m sure we can?—”

“No. A deal is a deal. Who is so important to you that you’d fuck this all up?”

“She’s a woman I love. We have a child.” I wince, wondering if I should reveal so much.

Vincenzo stares at me in stunned silence. Then he sits back and laughs. “Fucking hell, Elio. Is it that girl from high school?”

I blink, wondering how he knows.

“Your father, he was so fucking pissed that you knocked her up. Jesus, he paid a fortune to make her go away. And now she’s back?” He laughs like my heartache is the funniest thing in the world. “Look, keep the high school sweetheart and the kid. She’s shown she’ll fuck you without marriage. Have them on the side. No big deal. But marry Ava.”

Matteo shifts, causing me to look at him. He does a subtle nod, letting me know I need to keep my cool.

“Don’t abandon this deal for some whore you knocked up."

I'm on my feet before I even realize I've moved, my hand fisting in the front of Vincenzo's shirt as I yank him halfway across the table. "Watch your fucking mouth.”

Matteo pulls me off just as Vincenzo’s man pulls out his gun. I release Vincenzo, pushing him into his seat.

He smooths out his shirt as he looks up at me with murder in his eyes. "You can't just walk away from this, Elio. There will be consequences."

“Let me guess, more of your juvenile pranks?” I shake my head. “I'll deal with your consequences. But I'm not abandoning my family. Not for you, not for anyone." I rise from my chair. “You’re on the verge of underestimating me, Vincenzo. Perhaps you should consider that we can negotiate a new deal before this escalates into something you don’t want.”

“You threatening me?” He stands too, as if he can intimidate me.

“Not at all. Think of it as a warning.” With that, I turn and stalk out of the room. I know I've just made a powerful enemy, but I can't bring myself to care.

Piper and Elysse are my priority now, and I'll burn the whole fucking city down before I let anyone tear my family apart again.

27

PIPER

I'm still shaking as I climb into the back of Elio's town car, my mind reeling from the argument we just had. I know Elio is furious that I won't let him handle Gabriel his way, but the thought of being responsible for a man's death, even a man as vile as my husband, makes my stomach turn. Why must Gabriel be like this?

As the driver pulls away from the house, I find myself questioning whether I'm being too stubborn. Elio has a point—Gabriel is a threat, not just to me but to Elysse. Can I really put my own moral code above Elysse's safety? The very thought makes me feel like a terrible mother.

I lean my head back against the leather seat, closing my eyes as I try to sort through the tangled web of my thoughts. I’ve endured so much violence already. It doesn’t feel like it should be the answer. But what if, in this case, it's the only way to protect the people I love?

Elio's words echo in my mind, his insistence that we need to prioritize Elysse above all else. As much as I hate to admit it, I know he's right. There's nothing I wouldn't do for my little girl, no line I wouldn't cross to keep her safe. So why am I resisting now? Is it just not wanting to condone murder? To be complicit in it? Or maybe it’s because this isn’t a side of Elio I’ve seen before. In high school, I never knew of his involvement, if any, in his family’s activities. Until the day he saved me from Gabriel’s grip, I hadn’t ever seen Elio be anything but charming. Am I afraid to know the other parts of him?

I don't know what the right answer is. All I know is that I can't bear the thought of losing Elysse, of Gabriel getting his hands on her. And if it comes down to a choice between my moral high ground and my daughter's well-being… well, that's not really a choice at all. Elysse’s safety trumps everything.

“Should I just pull into the pickup line?” Danny says, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Yes.” I look out the window for Elysse. She’s usually with a group of friends playing patty-cake games.

Danny pulls up to the curb and I open the door.

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