Page 104 of Promise Maker

I laugh through the pain. “Looks like I struck anerve. Little Luca has Mommy issues.”

“Shut your fucking mouth!” He clutches my throat,squeezing hard. “You will give me what I want. Then I’ll return honor to theFattorename.”

“You’re pathetic,” I rasp. “You have…to kill a girlto…get power….”

His grip loosens.

I fight for air. “Who’s going to respect you? Youcouldn’t even face Emanuele Martelli. You ran away like a pussy before hearrived. Was it even you that killed Domenico? Or was it your men?”

“You bitch,” he rages. “I’m not afraid ofMartelli. I stopped Domenico. That blast sent him into the cove.”

Somehow, hope fills my chest.

“Soyou didn’t see hisbody?” I laugh mockingly. “You fucking coward. No wonder all I’ve heard is thatyou’re always hiding.”

“You…” He barks out a sinister laugh. “Your fathersaid the same thing right before I killed him.”

His words render me still, and fresh tears pool inmy eyes.

“Mathew saved him for me. When Bishop admittedhe’d already signed everything over to you, he sealed his fate.”

“He wasn’t dead when you left him,” I grate. “Hewas still alive. I spoke to him.”

Luca snorts. “And what were his last words?”

“That Martelli would protect me.”

My reply makes him laugh and splay his hands.“They’re not here! Nico is dead. Emanuele will never find us.”

“Martelli will find a way. They don’t just makepromises. They keep them.”

He crumples his features in thought, eyes glidingover me. Then his brows fly up, and he pivots to his men. “Where the fuck areher jewelry?”

Gunshots ensue.

The men go on alert.

“Fuck!” Luca shouts. He hastens over, unties myankles, and drags me from the chair, pointing his gun at my head.

“Hold them off!” he orders his men and jerks meforward. “We’re getting out of here.”

35

If it weren’t for my brilliant wife, I wouldn’thave been sureFattorestopped at that dock, muchless which direction he went.

His half-dead man back at my burning house gave ustwo locations and swore he didn’t know which one Luca would go to avoid us. Igranted his wish and set him free, right over the edge into the rocks below.

Thanks toSolari’swedding ring and necklace, Father and I successfully track them down.

We swerve onto the secluded road and stop the carsbefore reaching the gates.

I signal for Rodrigo and two others to come withme while the rest veer off with Father.

My group is the frontline attack.

We bring down the men at the gates and in thecourtyard. With no silencers, the gunfire draws attention.

Father’s group takes over for the rest of us tofind a way into the house.

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