Page 32 of Savage Heart

I nod my understanding. “Yeah. He’s a real fuck, especially to women. I’m sorry your daughter got wrapped up with him.”

“Yes, and this time he picked on the wrong woman. He beat the hell out of her. She may never be the same again. Her mother and I have her back home now. She’s safe, but every day that goes by, I can’t stand to see how broken she is. So tonight, Angeloni gets a dose of his own medicine.”

“Angeloni has a new woman,” I say as bile rises up in my throat at that description. Sienna isn’t his. I’ll die before I let that happen.

“God help her,” Alexei says in a serious voice. “He’s the devil, Alaric.”

“The woman he's supposed to marry is the woman I love,” I say as I glance around us to make sure we’re alone. “Her brother brought her here. Basically sold her off to Angeloni.”

“So that’s why you’re here?”

“I'm not going to let him have her. She will be leaving this place with me tonight.”

Alexei nods. “I don’t want to step on any professional toes, but you don't need to do anything here, Alaric. This is my job. This is my play. Angeloni is mine for what he did to my daughter.”

I think about how hard it must be for Alexei to admit that his child has been brutalized by this man. Instantly, I know I don't want to take this from him.

It would be the same thing as if someone had wanted to take my killing Sienna’s father away from me.

“I won't get in your way, Alexei. I just need to get Sienna out. Whatever the hell you want to do to Lucius Angeloni, fucking do it. He's a bastard. Feel free to take out all the Rossettis too for doing this to Sienna.”

Alexei smiles and lets out a chuckle. “I'll leave her family to you. Angeloni is mine, though. For every time he hit my daughter, for every bruise he left on her body. For every night that she can't sleep because she can't forget what he did to her, that's why that son of a bitch is mine.”

“What's your plan? He's got a house full of people in there and guards all over the place. What are you going to do to get to him?” I ask, genuinely unsure any hitman can break through this asshole’s security.

Alexei tilts his head left and right, cracking his neck. “I'm going to do what I always do. You know how it is with people like us. Your job getting someone out of this place is going to be much harder. Security is everywhere, but getting in was no problem.”

“I scored an invitation as easily as I'm sure you did,” he explains. “This fuck has no problem letting people into his home because he needs everyone to see how wealthy and prosperous and wonderful his life is. So getting in wasn't an issue, and I won't have a problem finding him alone either,” Alexei says confidently.

Listening to him, I get the sense it wouldn’t matter what obstacles were put in his way on this job. Angeloni fucked with Alexei’s family. He’ll do anything to get his revenge for that. I understand all too well what he’s feeling.

“I do wish you well getting her out, though. Get her as far away as you can from this place, Alaric.”

I look around the garden to check that we're alone and take a step closer to Alexei. “I will fucking gun down every single one of these people if it means that's what I have to do to get Sienna out. She’s my only concern.”

A slow smile spreads across Alexei’s face. “Spoken like a man in love. Last time we ran into one another, you didn't look like a man willing to settle down then. Something's changed.”

I look up toward the villa behind us, knowing the woman I love is in there. “What changed is I met Sienna. You know how it is. You’re married.”

Alexei shrugs and gives me a nod. “I do. I knew the minute I met Natalie that there would only be her for the rest of my life. If you found that, you’re a lucky man, Alaric. Men like us don't often get that chance at happiness. Just don't make the mistake I made. Don't think that because you found happiness with her that your life is made. I thought that and then my daughter met this son of a bitch. Never let your guard down. Even if you turn your back on our world, the people we’ve dealt with all during our careers are still out there.”

He turns to walk away, leaving me standing alone in the garden next to a statue of what looks to be Neptune or Poseidon. “I hope your daughter is going to be better sometime soon.”

Alexei glances back and nods. “Thank you. I know I'll be better when this fucker's heart stops beating.”

“Good luck, Alexei.”

With a laugh, he moves away and says, “I don't need luck. You know how this works, but good luck with Sienna. Be careful getting out. But once you get her out, don't look back. Don't ever look back.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sienna

I feel someone come up behind me and turn around hoping to see Alaric there. But he’s nowhere to be found, and instead it’s Matteo glaring down at me.

“What are you doing over here? You’re supposed to be the focal point of this party since your intended husband is going to announce your engagement tonight, and you’re standing out here staring out at the fucking water like some lost child.”

God, I don’t think I could hate someone more than I do this person right now. Does he not get his payment from Lucius Angeloni if I take a few minutes to look out at the boats on the goddamned water?

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