Page 53 of Corrupt Vows

This is why I do what I do. These two women are the reason I get my hands dirty and commit heinous acts, and to see them so carefree makes the long, lonely, dark years worth it.

After a few minutes, Natalie says she needs the restroom and stands. The bodyguard sitting behind her rises and takes off to clear the stalls before she gets there.

Serenity cups her coffee in both hands and stares into it as though it holds all the secrets of the universe. I grind my teeth but take the hint; she doesn’t want to talk to me right now. I’ll let her rebel for a little while longer.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, so I reach for it, but Natalie returns with a pansy on her arm. Alfonso Bonnetti sees me and looks ready to piss his pants.

“Look who I found! It’s been ages since the three of us have caught up, so—”

“No.”

My cock hardens at the fierceness in Serenity’s tone as she interrupts Natalie.

“If he sits down, I’m leaving,” she says.

Natalie drops Alfonso’s arm and steps away from him.

“What did you do?”

Even though I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of my sister’s wrath, I enjoy watching Alfonso struggle under her scrutiny. The way she immediately takes Serenity’s side screams not only of my sister’s loyalty, but also of Serenity’s kind and caring nature. She’s someone who deserves all the love and devotion in the world.

I smile and adjust myself as I settle an arm over the back of the bench. She may not want it, butmia piccola principessahasallmy support.

“We’re not friends anymore,” Serenity says.

Natalie’s eyes go so wide I fear they’ll pop out of their sockets. She props her hands on her hips and scowls at Alfonso.

“You were a realtesta di cazzowhen she told you about her betrothal tomio fratello, weren’t you?”

When he doesn’t deny it, her expression turns murderous. I lift a brow and enjoy seeing this new side of my sister.

“Che cazzo?!Did you forget all the times she saved you from your brothers? Did you flush her friendship down the drain because you heard my brother’s name? Well, guess what, Alfonso Edamund Bonnetti,” she squares her shoulders with his and points a threatening finger at his chest, “you’re afraid of the wrong Russo.” He steps back, intimidated by the fury wafting off her tiny frame. “You hurt Serenity so much she wants to cut all ties with you, so you deserve the longest, ugliest death.Vaffanculo!” She ends with an angry sweep of her arm toward the door, demanding hefuck himselfelsewhere.

Alfonso stares at her in terrified silence. He swallows and turns regretful eyes at Serenity, but I lean forward and block his view of her. He steps back, makes a nonsensical excuse, and hightails it out of the restaurant.

Natalie grumbles under her breath and shakes out her hands before plopping down into her seat.

“God, I wish he’d opened his mouth again so I could bury my fist in his face,” she says through clenched teeth.

Serenity reaches across the table and covers her hands.

“I’m glad you didn’t. It’s better to just be done with him instead of dealing with a long, drawn-out legal case. Fucking pussyfoot lawyers,” Serenity says with more levity than reaches her eyes.

The asshole hurt her. She may never admit it, but his sudden change of heart cut deep. I’ll ruin him.

My phone vibrates in a distinct pattern. I grind my teeth and remove my arm from the back of the bench as I pull it from my pocket. Serenity glances up at my face and stiffens.

After a quick check on the coordinates Ermanno sent me, I answer his call.

“Six minutes,” I say.

“Gotcha, boss,” he answers before hanging up.

I send a text to notify Serenity’s bodyguards and tilt her chin up for a better look at her face.

“I’ve gotta work, but we’ll talk when I get done. Keep my sister in line this evening, yeah?” I say.

Her lips tilt in a smirk, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

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