Page 10 of The Bodyguard's Vow

“I know you took Opal. She belongs to someone, and he wants her back.”

He stopped and blinked a few times, his eyes darting nervously around the room. Seeing all the people seemed to give him courage, figuring that we wouldn’t step out of line with so many witnesses. He threw his shoulders back and leaned in,locking eyes with Rafa. “I know she isn’t dead. Somehow you faked her murder, and I can prove it.”

“Is that so?” Rafa leaned back in his chair and rested an ankle over one knee, the picture of relaxed. The predator hid just beneath the surface. “Enlighten me, Oswald.”

“I don’t have time for this shit, DeLuca,” Oswald spat. “I’m here to deliver a warning. You return my sister in forty-eight hours, or I’ll trade him yours instead.”

Rage like I’d never experienced engulfed my body, and I was hit with the desire to gut this guy like a pig while he squealed for mercy. Thankfully, I’d spent a lifetime learning how to control myself, so my only outward reaction was to clench my fists so hard that my short nails bit into my skin.

“Did you just threaten my sister?” Rafa asked in a deceptively calm voice. The merciless King of the South had made an appearance, and Oswald’s life was nearing its end.

“You heard me. My sister for yours.”

Before we could say anything else, the bell over the door jingled. My gaze never left the men at the table, but from Alec’s vantage point, he was able to see what the commotion was about. His face darkened into a murderous scowl. He dropped one of his hands down onto the shoulder of the druggie but didn’t move the other one from the back of his seat. He was simply holding the man in place, not threatening him. It was an action meant to protect others in case the meth head flipped his shit and managed to get his hands on a weapon.

Caterina lowered her hands to the shoulders of the “handsy” one, and he winced when her thumbs dug into just the right spot, hitting a nerve that made his arms go limp.

Dante, who was directly behind Oswald, shifted to the same position as Alec.

When I knew the three men were secure, I twisted my head around to look toward the front entrance.

“Merda.”

A group of high school girls spilled into the restaurant, all laughing and innocent, with no idea what they had just walked into.

“Can I help you?” Desiree, our day manager, asked hesitantly. This wasn’t usually the kind of establishment where you would find a younger crowd—especially ones who weren’t old enough to drink.

Desiree briefly glanced over at our booth, then shifted so that when the girls looked at her, they were facing away from us.Bene, Desiree.

“We heard that someone famous would be eating dinner here!” one of the girls practically squealed as she bounced on her feet.

“I heard it was the singer Griffith Thorne!” her friend shrieked.

“But my friend told me it was Austin Hayes.” Another girl pouted. “I loved his last movie.”

“Wouldn’t it be awesome if it was Prentice Wright?” suggested a girl wearing a New York Nighthawks jersey. “I heard he has connections to the Mafia!”

The teenagers started squabbling about rumors and reality, throwing out more suggestions while more high school students appeared at the door.

“Can we get those tables over there?”

“I want to be able to see when they get here.”

“Oh, maybe they’ll come in through the back. Can we sit near the kitchen?”

With an annoyed grunt, I turned my attention back to Rafa. He’d also been observing the crowd, and when our eyes met, I could see his matching frustration. There would be no sneaking Oswald and his guys out any exit. We didn’t want to take achance of anyone seeing our guns, or worse, one of the thugs using a kid as a shield or a bargaining chip to go free.

Rafa rubbed a hand over his face, then pushed to his feet and shoved the chair away with his foot. I stepped back to give him more room, but not so much that it exposed him.

He turned to face Oswald, then placed both palms on the table and leaned in until their heads were inches apart. Suddenly, Oswald was staring into the face of the devil. “It’s your lucking fucking day,pezzo di merda. If I never see you again, you’ll keep breathing. But if I catch a glimpse of you, no matter where or when it is, if it’s an accident or on purpose, I will not give you another chance.”

Rafa’s eyes darted up to Dante for just a second before locking with Oswald’s again. He waited until Dante’s knife was poised at Oswald’s throat, making sure it was fully blocked from any onlookers.

“If I so much as dream that you’re considering harming my sister or any of my family, your blood will paint the walls of whatever dark place I decide is the perfect spot to dispose of your body. Do I make myself clear?”

Oswald’s face had drained of all color, and he looked around wildly, unable to move because Dante’s blade was pressed against his neck, over his carotid artery.

“Yes,” he finally hissed.

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