Page 176 of A Beautiful Crime

Carina chuckles. “Oh, he would. Blood doesn’t mean anything to him. Why would you think that you do?”

“Ye’re lying. I was promised-”

Her laugh is boisterous. She even feigns wiping tears from her eyes. Niall’s face reddens. “Dio mio,” she breathes. “You believe in promises? From a rival famiglia? And that famiglia being The Fiore’s? And you call yourself a Made Man. Honestly Niall, I hadn’t expected you to be this foolish.”

“Ye know nothing!” He screams at her. “What would ye know-”

She cuts him off. “What I know is Luca is a scoundrel and a cheat. He had a hand in killing his own mamma and brother.” His eyes widen with disbelief. If one thing I know of the Irish Mob is that they do not kill their own, even if proven a traitor. They will shun them from society, kill their spirit and theirlivelihood but never send them to the grave. At least not the Nolan clan.

“I may not have to agree with him to kill a common enemy,” he spits, staring boldly at me. I flash him a brilliant smile.

Carina’s eyes sharpen like knives. “You failed at killing my husband. And rest assured you will never have the chance at killing him again.”

Dio mio.

She’s absolutely breathtaking. This primal possession she has over me not only makes me the happiest bastard on this earth but it also makes me feel ten feet tall.

Even the title of being her husband is far more important and downright sexy than being a Don.

If I am anything in this life it is to be her devoted soldier.

“Ye think just because I didn’t succeed someone else won’t?”

She strides towards him and bends to where her face is inches from his. Irrationally, I have to tamper down my jealousy. He shouldn’t be able to breathe her air, let alone witness such perfection up close.

Then, in a move surprising to even me she opens his mouth by hooking her fingers in and forces his jaw to extend to the point of pain. “Others may try but what they fail to realize is I am far more dangerous than my husband. Want to know why?” He can’t speak, but even if he could I know he wouldn’t give her an answer. “Because unlike my husband no one knows of me. And I have to make a reputation for myself. You’ll be a beautiful example.”

Releasing his jaw she then grabs his tongue. With her free hand she has her palm opened wide and Rico places the handle of the knife there. Raising the knife Niall sees the sharp glint of the blade. His eyes go comically wide. He tries to thrash his head from side to side. But Rico keeps his head in place.

“This would’ve been easier if you just cooperated,” Carina tsks him. “I’ll make sure your family gets each piece of you.”

As the blade presses down on his tongue, Niall begins to plead. “Please, just wait. Wait!” He does a muffled cry with Carina’s grip still on his tongue.

She relents, if only a little, but keeps the blade close. The threat still lingers in the air. “Where are they?”

Niall nods his head frantically as the sweat and blood drips down his face. His eyes say surrender. And so Carina releases his tongue. He breathes heavily. Engulfing large breaths of relief. “They’re at a safe house.”

“A safe house?”

“Yes. A safe house. One outside of New York. A wooded area in a small cabin residing in New Jersey.” He sings like a fucking canary.

She presses the tip of the blade on the underside of his tongue. “Are you lying to me, Niall?”

“No,” he says as best as he can.

“I believe you,” she tells him and he slumps in the chair.

Removing the knife once more she signals Pietro. He comes running like an eager dog, so ready to please her. “I want all CCTV footage surrounding ATMs, traffic cameras and businesses from the point of the church until New Jersey. Have the Capos from each region make their pull with government officials and CIA operatives. This safe house needs to be found as soon as possible. I need to find them before they make another move.”

Pietro nods his head with an enthusiastic smile. “Si, Donna.”

“Thank you, Pietro.” She smiles warmly back at him and I have to remind myself that Pietro is not only my best soldier but also a dear friend.

Her attention returns to Niall. “Now you. you’ve earned yourself a merciful death.”

“Ye kill me and yer former family isn’t the only family ye will have to be worried about. Something tells me yer pretty little head will look good on a silver platter,” he threatens her. And even though I know he poses no threat given his bindings he made a threat against my wife. For that I won’t allow him to breathe a second longer.

Rico’s eyes cut to mine and I give him the order with a slight nod of my head. Without a second thought he shoots him.

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