Page 73 of Merciless King

“Perhaps we can table this discussion until later. I really can’t miss this meeting.”

She nods stiffly. “Of course. I need to pick up Elysse from school, anyway.”

I don’t want to leave with this tension between us. I want to cup her face and kiss her. But her guard is up, as is mine.

“I won’t be long. Danny will drive you,” I tell her, my tone brooking no argument. Unable to help myself, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her toward me, kissing her forehead. Then I reluctantly pull away and head for the door.

Matteo is just pulling up, and I climb into the SUV. My mind is still reeling from Gabriel's threats. My instincts scream to hunt the bastard down right now and make him pay for even thinking of coming after my family. I push the violent urges aside to focus on the task at hand. I need to smooth things over with Vincenzo, to ensure the Rinellas don't become yet another enemy I have to fend off while I'm trying to keep my family safe.

“Everything alright?” Matteo asks with a glance at me.

“Just a bunch of bullshit from Piper’s ex.”

Matteo shakes his head. “Why he’s still breathing, I don’t know.”

“Yeah, well… he won’t be for long.”

“Good.”

I arch a brow at him. “Why are you so keen to see him dead?”

Matteo’s fingers flex and then regrip the wheel. “It’s not a good look that he can go around fucking with you, that’s all.”

“You think it makes me look weak?”

He shrugs. “I know you, Elio. You can be one deadly motherfucker when you need to be. But to the outside… he nearly killed your woman. He should have been dead the minute you pulled him off Piper.”

My jaw clenches because I know he’s right.

“And all this with Rinella. Yeah, I know it’s a bunch of pussy-ass shit, but he’s getting away with it. It’s not going unnoticed by the other families. Probably not Caruso, either.”

“You sound like Lana.” Before he can respond, I run my hand over my face. “I’ll take care of it. You don’t have to worry that you’re working for a pussy.”

Matteo rolls his eyes. “I know you’re not a pussy. And I know you’ll make anyone pay who thinks otherwise.”

Matteo parks near the neutral meeting spot Vincenzo and I agreed upon, the back room of a bar located outside both our territories. I stride to the room, working to put on an air of indifference. I don’t want Vincenzo getting a whiff of my frustration about this situation.

The minute I lay eyes on Vincenzo, I can tell this isn't going to be a pleasant conversation. His face is pinched with anger, his dark eyes glittering with barely concealed hostility.

"Elio," he greets me tersely, not even bothering to stand up from his seat.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm and composed. "Taking time away from your juvenile games, Vinny?” I sit across from him.

His jaw clenches. “Word is you’ve gone soft.”

“And you’d like to test that, would you?”

“What I want is for you to honor our fucking deal, D’Amato. The one where you agreed to marry my daughter, Ava."

I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes. Here we go again, the same fucking broken record Vincenzo's been playing for weeks now.

“You mean the one you made with my father when your daughter was what? Ten years old?” I shudder. “Fucking pedo. Who arranges a marriage for their ten-year-old daughter?” I think of Elysse, only seven now. There’s no fucking way I’d make a deal to have her marry someone, let alone when she’s ten.

“You didn’t seem to have a problem with it. You saw her, Elio. She’s eighteen and has all the qualities of a perfect Mafia wife.” He leans forward. “Tell me the truth. You rubbed one off thinking about her, didn’t you?”

It’s all I can do to keep from gaping. I glance at Matteo, who looks like he’s ready to throttle Vincenzo.

“I’m going to pretend I just didn’t hear you talk about your eighteen-year-old daughter in a sexual way and tell you what I’ve been telling you for weeks. The deal is off.”

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