Page 91 of Brutal Legacy

My jaw clicked when I opened my mouth to speak, I’d been clenching it so hard.

“Like I said. Be good. Don’t make trouble. I’ll see you later.”

I pushed away from her, easily springing up from the bed and heading for the door. I needed to punch something. Anger lashed through me, heady and potent.

I got to the door just as she spoke.

“Can the hostage ask for something?”

I paused for a second.

“What?” I asked without turning.

“A needle and thread. I can stay sane a long, long time, if I have a needle and thread.”

Without acknowledging her request, I strode out and nodded to Ettore, standing guard just beyond the door.

It shut behind me firmly, and I twisted the lock.

“Guard that door with your life.”

I lefthim to watch the locked door. She wouldn’t find the windows as easy to open in my room as the others. Thanks to my safety paranoia, they were harder to open than any other in the building, except Renato’s. I’d tried experimenting to see if sealing the room up better, making it impossible to enter while I was sleeping, would help with my insomnia.

It hadn’t.

I needed to get Georgia out of here. It wasn’t right to be living here in Casa Nera with a wife. We’d move into my penthouse in Atlantic City, where my personal guard could keep watch over her and there were far fewer men wandering around. My penthouse was where I employed my safety measures that Renato deemed too extreme for Casa Nera.

I headed down the stairs just in time to hear a low whistle.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the trigger-happy groom. Congratulations, brother.” There were few annoyances in my life quite as great as Bran O’Connor, my sister’s new husband.

“Don’t call me that,” I muttered at him, stiffening.

He leaned in and gave me an entirely unwanted one-armed hug.

“Aww, come on man, cheer up. This is your big day. Cracking a smile wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s ever happened.” Bran smirked at me, all confidence and Irish charm.

I’d hate the fucker if my sister wasn’t so utterly enamored, and he didn’t treat her like the queen she was.

“So, what happened? Who’s the lucky lassie to have captured the ice man’s heart and inspired such a takedown at the wedding, no less? I wish I’d been there, I bet it was a hoot.”

“I shot someone in the head, over the altar,” I said.

He just nodded. “And I bet that fucker was asking for it… touching your woman, right?” He elbowed me. “Giada thinks it’s all because Jimmy or whatever his name was needed to be made an example of, but I think I know better.”

I glanced at Bran. His knowing smile made my gun hand twitch.

“A man like you doesn’t lose his cool. He doesn’t make an example without thinking through when and where… This woman is important to you.”

Bran studied me, and I met his probing look as blankly as I could. Clearly, the holes in my facade were only getting bigger, because the burly Irishman nodded confidently.

“I knew it. So, my brother has fallen for some poor soul. I need to meet her and give her my condolences in person.”

“You don’t need to meet her or talk to her, or anything,” I snapped at him, feeling the situation careering out of my control.I wasn’t ready to explain Georgia and my obsession to anyone. I couldn’t even explain it to myself.

“Now, now, don’t be grouchy. We came all the way here to see her for ourselves. Your sister isn’t leaving without meeting the happy bride, you should know that by now.”

Fuck.

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