Page 116 of Shattered Hearts

He’s out to prove to the scattered De Luca factions that he’s the right leader to unite them all. That he can restore their clan to prosperity. Enzo likely wants everyone to forget all about that human-trafficking fuckup he calls a nephew.

If my theory is correct, he’ll bite.

“I’m going to break your jaw in three places.” His words quiver with a grim giddiness. “And after you’re dead, I’ll keep a piece on my desk and remember how you never spoke again.”

My mouth twitches. “Will that be before or after your nephew becomes your boss?”

A slow, hard breath shakes the silence.

Got him.

“How about…after I put your pretty sister-in-law’s head on a spike?”

His words hit me like a water balloon to the face thrown by a petulant child. Cold blank surprise, followed by unalloyed ire.

“Though I suppose she’s not your sister-in-lawyet.” There’s a smile in his ugly words. “Not technically.”

Riley. Harper.

Rage tightens the muscles in my neck. I open my mouth to demand he disclose Harper’s whereabouts. What he knows. I comethis close,but I keep my cool.

He’s baiting me. Has to be.

I remain silent.

“I must admit, you had us confused.” Enzo’s voice rounds, as though a cigar sits between his teeth. “Marrying one, whoring with the other.”

I squeeze my phone so hard, the screen cracks.

“But in these modern times, we adapt.” Enzo sighs deep, pleased with himself. “Right now, Riley Brennan and Cian Mahoney are driving an Audi R8, license plate JZP13, uptown on 42nd Street. Rory O’Conner is standing in front of a vending machine on the first floor of Saint Christopher’s Hospital. And you’re all alone two floors up in Room 2460.”

Fuck. He knows everything about us.

Assassins. Foot soldiers.

Tailing Riley and Cian.

Shadowing Rory downstairs.

Ready to kill them if I don’t submit to Enzo’s terms.

The heart monitor beeps increase tempo as venom spills through me. “Settle this withme, you goddamn coward.”

Enzo cackles. “What did you say? You want Riley and Cian to have a fender bender?” His rough voice drops low and becomes deadly serious, his threat cutting me like a blade. “Go to the address I send you within the hour, or your friends get themorgue.”

The call disconnects.

A second later, my phone pings. The meeting location.

But I can’t move. Eyes fixed on the pastel, trellis-patterned walls, I recede into myself. Into that dark place where only the truest, most important thoughts slip through. And there, I see Riley.

Her kisses, like fresh rain falling on the drought-ravaged desert wasteland of my heart. Her bright, open, curious, fathomless blue eyes, gazing at me as though she wants to see me,knowme, in a way that no one before her ever has. She’s not afraid of me.

For her, I could do anything. For her, Iwoulddo anything.

Even…play right into Enzo’s hands.

“Who are you talking to?” Rory mouths to me as he reenters my room, a bag of barbecue potato chips in his hand.

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