Page 75 of Ruthless Guardian

From my current position, I’ve got a clear path to his throat. A direct strike with the edge of my hand, and he’d be choking on his own breath. Or I could go for the groin, simple and effective. Either way, even without a gun, I’m a pretty lethal weapon myself.

“Maybe we should all go back in there for another drink?” Serena offers, her fingers still tight around her clutch. My cousinmight play the part of a ditzy blonde well, but there’s not a stupid bone in her body. “Make up for lost time?” She glances between the three siblings.

“Absolutely not,” Raf growls.

Giuseppe steps closer, twinkling green eyes focused on his younger sibling. “Come on, Raffa. Don’t you think it’s time?”

“Hell would have to fucking freeze over twice before I sit at a table and share a drink with either of you.”

Giuseppe laughs it off, but of the two brothers he seems the most ill at ease. Antonio must be the eldest, but not by much, all three siblings look to be in their thirties.

“Now, get the fuck out of my way so we can get out of here and never make the mistake of frequenting your fine establishment again.” Curling me around his back, he steps into his brother, towering over his smaller frame.

“You’re sure this is how you want to play this?” Antonio rasps.

“Papàwas the one who started this game long ago, Toni. I don’t want to fucking play at all. I’ll be out of your damned city the first chance I get. Until then, you stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine. And tellPapànot to worry, I’m not here for him.”

Antonio chuckles, the deep sound unnervingly similar to Raf’s laugh, the fake one, not the real one that carries more depth and a swell of warmth. Once the fit dies down, he takes a step to the side and the curtain of dark suits parts, opening a pathway to the parking lot.

Raf tucks me under his arm, then drags me between the gauntlet of guards, and I jerk Serena along with us.

“A presto, fratellino,” Antonio calls out.

See you soon.

“What the hell, Raf?” I blurt the minute we hit the gravel parking lot. Salvatore starts the engine and one of Serena’sguards opens the door to the back seat. Where were they a few seconds ago when World War III was about to erupt?

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

I dig my heels into the gravel and slow his manic footfalls. “I’m not taking another step until you tell me what is going on.”

His stormy eyes mine, a tempest of emotions surging just beneath the dark surface. “Get your ass in the car, or I will throw you over my shoulder again. Is that what you want? I’m not fucking around,principessa.” The jagged edge to his tone has the fire in my veins leeching out.

“At home then.”

“Fine.” He presses his hand to the small of my back and pushes me the rest of the way to the car.

What the actual fuck has Raf been hiding all this time?

CHAPTER 37

THE FIRST TIME

Raffaele

A twist of red-hot anger and toxic fear pummel my insides as I slam the apartment door shut behind Isabella and Serena before sliding the deadlock closed. I’ve already informed all the guards stationed outside to be on high alert for my brothers, not to mention the fact that I had Sal drive around half of Rome before returning home to ensure we weren’t being followed. The pair of typically chatty cousins move silently into the kitchen, and fiery guilt jabs at my chest.

Of all the damned clubs in Rome, how the hell did we end up at one my family owns? This is exactly why my rules are so important. If I’d done the recon as I typically do, I would have known the place was owned by the Ferraras. Butmerda, Isabella has me in such a chokehold, I’m letting things slide. She bats those long lashes at me and puckers those pouty lips, and I become a useless, spinelesscoglione. And it could have cost me her life.

I have to end this.

I cannot allow my feelings for her to cloud my judgement any longer. And as much as I hate the thought of it, I need to find my replacement. The sooner the better. Staying with Isabella only paints a larger target on her back.

AndDioforbid if my enemies discover I’m back in town. My own family is bad enough but the Sartoris, Mercurios, and DeLucas... My thoughts flicker to the shooter at RiverBar and invisible claws tear at my lungs. Could that attack have been because of me? If Antonio’s sources had confirmed my arrival, maybe others had to.

Fuck.

I move around the apartment in a fog, securing windows, shuttering up panes, locking up every inch of the damned space.

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