Page 123 of The Boss

My mind was reeling and I didn’t care if another boat was in close proximity. Willow was in danger. She was next on the list before Delphina’s former Italian fiancé finished his act of retaliation with my death.

I grabbed the harpoon, taking long strides back in the direction of the others. Without second guessing what I was about to do, I fired off a single spear, the harpoon hitting Eros directly in the chest.

As Eros clutched his chest, gasping for air, blood trickled from his mouth. He stumbled backward, hitting the railing. My father walked toward him. Eros reached out, grasping my father’s shirt.

“Please…” he wheezed.

“Apoláfste ton ýpno sas me ta psária,” my father hissed before issuing one brutal punch.

As the four of us watched Eros tumbling over the railing, dropping into the sea, I wasn’t certain any of us took comfort in the man’s death.

Nothing would bring back our brother.

“Now, turn the goddamn boat around. I need to save the woman I love.”

CHAPTER 31

Dimitrios

Death was a part of my life.

But not in the way most crime syndicates viewed the final result.

Other syndicates had no real care or understanding that life should be considered precious. But most did gather family that meant everything. That’s why spouses were considered true weaknesses.

From what I knew about Luca Marciano over the last few years, the man was considered a Neanderthal in the world of the Cosa Nostra out of Italy. They neither embraced nor had attempted to disown him.

Especially given he’d been close with Don Bernardi, a man that was highly respected and Delphina’s father. The most repulsive aspect of their twisted relationship was that Luca had married Delphina’s younger sister. The world of crime syndicates could be toxic.

“You’re certain he’ll show up?” Havros asked.

“Yeah, I’m certain.” And I was. There was no way the man was stupid enough to show up at the estate. Not with a house full of people capable of blowing his brains out. We’d cleared out as many civilians as possible in case things got a little out of hand. I wanted him and his men bloody, but refused to allow anyone who didn’t deserve injury or death to face my wrath.

Maybe I was turning into a nice guy after all.

“What about Willow? Don’t you think she’s going to get tired of being the bait?”

I grinned. “You don’t know my fiancée. She insisted.” She’d come close to demanding, which had prompted me to remind her I was the boss. My little dove still needed to be tamed. Yet having her as a partner was exhilarating. I winked as I watched her approach.

“I can speak for myself, you know,” Willow said as she rounded the corner, obviously overhearing our conversation.

Havros threw up his hands. “Yes, ma’am. I should have figured out by now you’re not fragile.”

“See? I’ve been telling your brother that for two weeks and he hasn’t listened.” She poked me in the side and I laughed.

Time remained short. And very precious. Two days from now we’d be leaving for the States. I’d promised I’d take us both back to Boston so she could bury her parents. I’d even committed to helping her decide what to do with her parents’ home. In the meantime, I refused to have everyone looking over their shoulder on a constant basis. So another lure had been established.

We’d been assisted by the very members of the press I originally loathed. If their stories paid off, I’d reconsider my view.

The quaint restaurant had been rented out for the night so I could have a romantic dinner with my fiancée. The press had gotten wind of the ‘secret’ rendezvous and had gone to town with a few stories. They’d also been outside the cozy location when we’re arrived alone, finally sent away by several of my men.

“We’re all set, boss,” Nico said.

“I do like your chef’s coat,” Willow teased.

“She’s a ballbuster if you don’t mind me saying so, boss.” Nico grinned and spun in a circle.

“He does look good in that. Maybe I’ll change his job description.” The situation was serious and needed to be handled carefully, but it felt good to joke around for the first time in a while. “Get out, Havros.”

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