Page 28 of The Shadow King's Brother

“It’s just that Celeste deserves to live in a world free from bastards like him. I swear, I will end him, Elio, I will,” I pant, leaning into his touch.

Kissing my forehead, he says, “I know you will.”

Before anyone can say another word, the intercom buzzes—a sharp, jarring sound.

Steven’s voice, usually so measured, is tight, almost frantic, crackling through the speaker.

“Vinny’s at the fucking gate!” He shouts. “He’s here. Right now. Shall I pull the trigger?”

My breath stutters. The walls seem to shrink.

No, no, no.

Gio’s eyes light up with something wild, a feral grin spreading across his face. His hand moves instinctively to the gun in his waistband.

“Vinny’s at the fucking gate?” he growls. “Shall I put a bullet through his head? End this, right now?”

I can’t breathe. I feel like I’m suffocating, drowning.

Elio steps closer to Gio. “Think before you act.” His hand hovers near Gio’s gun, not quite grabbing it, but close enough to make a point. “We don’t do this stupidly.”

But Gio is already moving. The room shifts. And me? I don’t know whether to run toward the gate or away from it.

“Bring him to the main door, disarmed. I need a word with my brother,” Elio says and draws his gun.

Chapter5

Elio De Luca

It feelsas though the room itself is holding its breath. Every single one of us has our guns out, safety off, pointed at the main door, ready for anything. My grip is steady, my pulse is controlled beneath my skin. Gio stands to my right, Jackson to my left, both as sharp and tense as I am. The familiar feeling of my fingers around the butt of my gun grounds me, reminds me this is not a game.

Then Steven’s voice crackles through my earpiece. “Vinny is unarmed and alone. We checked him. He’s at the door, we’re right behind you.”

I exchange a glance with Gio before lowering my gun slightly. Jackson does the same. Steven wouldn’t call it if he wasn’t sure.

The main door creaks open.

Vinny steps in, flanked by Steven and two of our men. He wears a suit, though it’s wrinkled, his tie loosened like he’s been through hell. His dark hair is disheveled, strands falling across his forehead. There’s something about the way he carries himself—calm like he’s walking into a goddamn family dinner instead of a firing squad.

He smirks. “Brother,mio fratello.”

The room doesn’t answer him.

“Don’t you fuckingbrotherme,” I growl, storming towards him.

Vinny barely has time to brace before I grab him by the collar and slam him against the wall. The room goes silent except for the ragged sound of his breath, his feet barely scraping the ground.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now?” I hiss, my voice sharp as a blade. My grip tightens with the force of barely restrained rage.

Vinny coughs, struggling to breathe. “B-because I’ve got information,” he rasps. “Threatening N-nica—threatening you—our n-new little sister—”

I hesitate and put him down.

“What information? Spill it, now.”

“He’s lying,” Nica says, I can fell he tense body next to me.

Turning to her, I notice the fire in her eyes, and before I can reactNica’s fist connects with Vinny’s face before he can say another word. His head snaps to the side, and blood wells from his split lip. He groans, spitting red onto the cold marble floor.

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