Page 127 of Brutal Legacy

“Hmm, so you betrayed him back then, and now, you’ve gotten between him and the woman he needed to get a hold of to protect his capo. Looks like you’re really on his shit list.”

“I’ll take him out. If he’s here in the US, then he’ll die here.”

Giada nodded. “What if it’s more complicated than that?”

“Complicated how?”

“I heard rumors of a Ravelli engaging the service of a certain mercenary… L’Ombra.”

L’Ombra.The Shadow.

An assassin of the highest order. He had quite the reputation in Naples. Very few knew his real name, though he made no effort to keep it a secret. Massimo Lucciano. He held no alliance to any family. He worked for the highest bidder, or when he felt like it. The guy was like smoke. One of the best.

If Sergio Ravelli had sent L’Ombra after me, then Georgia would be caught in the crosshairs. It would be impossible to keep her separate.

“I’m sure Sergio would love L’Ombra to take both you and your new wife out… After all, Prosecutor Bellisario could still recant his testimony. No one has been charged in the Ravelli family yet,” Giada voiced my thoughts.

“Which means this isn’t over,” I stated flatly.

“If L’Ombra is involved now… then it might just be beginning.”

I thought of Georgia safe in the penthouse but longing to go outside. Her unfinished clothing line, and all the things her decisions had ended up costing her.

“It doesn’t matter. L’Ombra or not. I’m going to finish it. If Sergio wants me enough to hire L’Ombra, then I’m more than happy to make their job easier.”

Giada studied me. “You’re going to them.”

I nodded decisively. “I’m not waiting around for Sergio’s henchmen and hired killers to come after me. I’ll take the head off the snake and deliver that flash drive to the prosecution while I’m at it, once you scrub our name from it, of course.”

“And Georgia?”

“She’ll be safe at Casa Nera. The might of the De Sanctis family will protect her against those inept Ravellis.”

Giada sighed. “If you want me and Bran to stay over there while you’re gone… just ask.” She smirked at me, but her smirk dropped when I nodded.

“I’d appreciate that.”

“You’re serious!” She gaped at me. “You never ask for help from the O’Connors!”

“That’s because they are a bunch of wisecracking, bare-knuckle thugs with no finesse,” I told her. “That being said… Brandon isn’t without his strengths, and he puts family first. I’d appreciate extra eyes on my wife.”

Giada beamed at me.

“What?”

“You just said it,” she teased.

I blew out a breath and headed out of the room, my little sister right on my heels.

“You said it! I can’t wait to tell Georgia. Damn, I wish I’d recorded it!”

“Giada!”

My driver pulledto a stop in the underground parking garage beneath the building where my wife was sitting in her studio. I knew that for sure because I’d indulged my little hobby of watching her on the CCTV to placate my anxiety.

Anxiety was distracting. It allowed mistakes to slip through. Unfortunately, a threat to Georgia filled me with the kind of gut-twisting anxiety that was impossible to ignore.

Just one more reason why she needed to be locked away at Casa Nera.

---