Page 93 of Twisted Games of Revenge

Without warning, gunfire sounds, sending the two men holding me flying. I scramble away from their crumpled pile of limbs, searching the room for any signs of where the shots came from.

The heavy back double doors fly open with a bang, and there in the open space stands Alessandro, Ricky, and Maddox. My heart bursts with gratitude. They found me.

“Everybody get the fuck out of here if you want to live out the day.” The cold, detached boom of Alessandro’s voice reverberates through the space.

Chapter 39

The room descends intoa flurry of activity as rich men and beautiful women run for the exits. When it’s just those of us on the stage, the police commissioner, and Marco left, Alessandro closes the back doors, and Ricky and Maddox get the side ones, trapping us all in.

The commissioner’s gun digs sharply into my back as he yanks me upright, the cold steel a stark contrast to my clammy skin.

“Let go of me!” I scream hysterically.

“You’re mine now, beautiful.” His warm breath ghosts over my neck, the overwhelming scent of his expensive cologne making my stomach roll.

Alessandro approaches the stage, his body language exuding confidence even with his wife held at gunpoint by a creepy psychopath. “It’s over, Enzo. After the stunt you pulled tonight, there isn’t a soul in this town willing to save you.”

Enzo glances confidently toward the police commissioner, seeking reassurance. He receives a nod in return. Despite everything, their cockiness remains intact. They still thinkthey’re going to get away with this. “What do I need saving from, Son? It doesn’t matter the shit you put on me, no cop in this town will arrest me. I’m so fucking high above the law there is no one that can bring me down. Not even you and your whore.”

With a determined glint in his eyes, Alessandro darts onto the stage, heading straight for us. His anger flares, turning on the commissioner, his eyes burning with fury I have never seen before. “Get your filthy fucking hands off my wife.” His voice booms off the walls.

The commissioner adjusts the way the two of us are standing to show him the gun positioned at my spine.

Alessandro backs off, his eyes meeting mine with determination that tells me to stay calm.

Enzo approaches him, a hand on either side of his shoulders, their eyes locking. A vulnerability flashes over Alessandro. His papa still has some fucking hold over him. “Since we’re in the casino, why don’t we play a game? Raise the stakes a little. You always did love a game, didn’t you. This time I’ll let you play with your brother,” Enzo taunts, ever the puppet master trying to manipulate even when he has to know he’s truly fucked. At least I hope he is.

The vein in Alessandro’s neck looks like it’s going to pop, and without warning, he swings his arm toward his papa, slamming him right across the face. “What the fuck are you on about, old man?”

Enzo rears back, ready to take him on. Surprised his son had the audacity to hit him.

Marco moves in, his muscles tense as he shields Enzo, clearly picking his side once and for all. Pain radiates through my chest at the loss of my brother. Who he used to be to me and the awful man he grew into. Unlike Enzo’s other illegitimate spawn, he really is the spitting image of his papa.

Marco sizes Alessandro up, ready to fight him, a cruel smirk coming across his lips. “If you win my game, you can have her back.” His attention comes to me briefly with disgust, like I’m not worth it. “If you lose, you give it all up to me. The city, the casino, the whole lot, and Palmer will take her. What will it be, Brother, is this little slut really worth losing everything you’ve worked so hard for your entire life?”

His words stab at my soul like tiny little knives, because I know he’s right. I’m not worth it.

Alessandro’s haunted eyes meet mine with a silent message that tells me he will do whatever it takes to get me back. I see his love for me and it kills me even more. I don’t want him to get hurt for me. Any of them.

“Don’t do it, Alex,” I cry. “He’s just trying to trick you.”

“What game? Looks to me like you’re out numbered anyway, little brother.” He takes a step forward so he’s head-to-head with Marco. Alex stands a good two inches taller, his dark eyes boring right down on him. “You have to know I would never be so stupid to gamble with my beautiful wife’s life. She is the only thing that matters. This fucking city, this shithole casino, and every fucking business we were trained to take over mean nothing. My life was nothing until I had her. I feel sad for you that you think winning means owning this city. That shit will earn you nothing but pain. Just ask Enzo. Is that who you really want to be?” Alessandro shoves Marco back, taunting him.

Marco’s attention snaps to me, a dark scowl etching itself onto his face, making him look savage. “You’re going to let her manipulate you. We could fucking have it all if we work together.”

Enzo’s eyes light up, full of greed. “The boy’s right. You boys working together would be unstoppable.”

“Us boys working together.” A wave of laughter erupts as Alessandro’s chuckle is met by Maddox and Ricky’s echoingamusement. The three of them sound like they have lost their minds. And maybe they now have. The events of the past twenty-four hours too much for event them to take.

“You piece of fucking shit.” Alessandro swings his fist, colliding with Marco’s face. Then his hands are on his shirt, shoving him onto the stage and coming down on top of him.

“The only one being manipulated is you, Marco,” I force the words through my clenched teeth, knowing it’s already too late to get him back.

The commissioner yanks my hair back, his teeth grazing my cheek. “You will shut the fuck up if you know what’s good for you,” his words vibrate through my body, causing my heart to feel like it’s going to burst right out of my chest with the stress I’m under. Terrible pain throbs through me, with the harsh way he’s holding me only adding to my discomfort.

“Enough!” Enzo’s voice booms throughout the room.

Alessandro pulls back from Marco just slightly, his breathing ragged and crazed in a way that tells me he was ready to end Marco for challenging him.

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