Page 43 of The Shadow King's Brother

“Wait,” she says suddenly.

“What is it?” I ask, my attention snapping back to her.

“He said something else… It was weird,” she shivers as if the memory causes her physical pain. “He said,Galli in, Galli out… I don’t know what he meant…”

I tilt my head, my jaw tight as I imagine a hundred ways to kill the man.

I wrap my arms around her. She leans into me, and I involuntarily harden.

“I’ll fucking find him and make him pay,” I groan against her hair, my grip tightening, my hands digging into her back.

Protect her, protect her, protect her—the mantra drums in my skull.

“We’ll find him,” she whispers, her body pressing against mine, claiming me just as much as I’m claiming her.

Then her lips meet mine—fierce, almost desperate.

There’s a sound—a soft knock at the door—but I barely register it.

I’m lost in her. The heat of her. The taste of her anger.

Just Nica—raw and electric—pulling me under, making me want to forget everything else.

To throw her against the nearest wall and take her.

The knock comes again.

Then the door creaks open. Light floods the room.

And a voice slices through the tension like a blade.

“Can I watch?” Vinny says, his silhouette framed in the doorway, flanked by Gio, who’s holding a gun like it’s just part of his outfit.

I whip around, jaw tight. Vinny’s grinning like he owns the damn place.

“Seriously, brother?” I say, shaking my head.

He shrugs, a lazy smirk tugging at his lips. “She’s hot. What do you want from me?”

His eyes stay on Nica like he doesn’t give a damn that I’m right here.

“You didn’t change at all, did you?” I say, locking eyes with him—warning clear.

Gio leans on the frame beside him, arms crossed, the quiet enforcer, letting Vinny run his mouth while keeping everything just this side of chaos.

“Not down here,” Vinny says, gaze flicking over Nica again. He runs a hand down his groin, grinning. “Up here, maybe.” He taps his temple.

“Liar,” I bite out, every muscle coiled. My eyes stay on Vinny, not blinking. My whole body screaming one thing:

Back. Off.

“Stay the fuck away from her,” I growl.

Vinny raises his hands in mock surrender. “Just kidding, dear brother.”

But his eyes never leave Nica.

I can’t trust him. But I need him.

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