Page 54 of The Don

“That was two days ago. You know where I live and how to reach me.”

Pedro has the nerve to shrug and smile as if I’m not aiming a gun directly at his head. But his men have more than one aimed at me, so he probably assumes that he’s safe.

As if he can read my thoughts, Pedro leans to the side, smiling at Shae. “Ciao, bella. Benvenuti a Sicilia.”

Shae’s hands are pressed against my shoulder blades, and I feel her move behind me, shrinking away from Pedro’s gaze. But it doesn’t matter; Pedro has made his point. I will give him that.

“Don’t talk to her. Look at me,” I grind out, my grip tightening on the gun.

It would take very little effort to kill him. One shot right between the eyes. He’s close enough that I could do it with my eyes closed. If I were alone, I would have, for the disrespect alone.

Lorenzo groans weakly. I don’t look away from Pedro, but I can hear by the whimpering cry behind me and a gasp that Shae does.

“You could have called me in,” I spit out. “Thatiswhy I’m here.”

Pedro crosses his arms in front of him and shrugs again. “Under other circumstances, that might have been an option, but these are not normal times.”

I grind my teeth together.

“The Board has heard some distressing rumors.”

“Has The Board turned into a gaggle of gossiping old women recently?”

Pedro laughs, airy and fake. “There are also…accusations that you need to account for.”

“Watch your mouth.” Pedro might have a lot of men, he might even have the upper hand in this moment, but he is nothing more than an errand boy. He might have forgotten that, but I have not.

“Mi scuso, padrino. The Board requests your attendance to answer some pressing questions.”

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll be happy to come.”

Shae’s fingers dig into my shirt. “No,” she says, so low I only hear because she’s practically molded her body against my back.

“Let me just calm her down.”

“No,” Pedro says quickly. “I’ve been told to bring your woman with you.”

“She’s not a part of this.”

“Of course, she’s not, but only a fool would try and bring you in without…a contingency plan.” He punctuates the dramatic pause with a sharp, menacing smile. Pedro has always delighted in his role as henchman, more than even Alfonso. However, I know that threat isn’t for me; it’s for Shae.

She’s shaking against me, and if I do nothing else, I’ll make sure that Pedro pays for this.

“You shot my man,” I say, stalling for time.

“I apologize for that. We’ll happily get him and your other injured men some assistance as soon as we leave.”

“Padrino, no,” Lorenzo groans from the ground.

“The loyalty you inspire really is legendary,” Pedro says smugly. “You don’t want that to be in vain, do you?”

This was not the plan, thin as it was. The only thing that mattered was keeping Shae as far away from this as possible, and the rage I feel that I couldn’t do even that makes my index finger twitch. Pedro is still in my sights.

It would be so easy. It would be worth the consequences to myself.

But if Shae was harmed, that wouldn’t be worth whatever momentary release I would get.

I lower my hand and set the lock on my gun. One of Pedro’s men rushes forward to grab the gun from me. I turn and grab Shae’s hands. She’s shaking like a delicate leaf. Her eyes are rimmed red, and her cheeks are wet.

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