Page 38 of Dangerous Intent

“My brother is right. Now isn’t the time.” I nodded at my men. “Escort him out of here. Throw him in front of a moving car for all I care.”

“I came here to collect a debt,” Collins said.

“If you’re talking about my wife, I will kill you in front of all these people.” I fought the urge to pull the trigger and worry about the consequences later.

“You can have her.” He smirked. “Didn’t she give you my message?”

“What message?” A rush of disgust flooded my system.

“What, your lovely wife didn’t tell you I called her the other night to offer my condolences for her father?”

“That’s not true,” Lissia mumbled.

“He didn’t call you?” I asked.

“She didn’t tell you.” A devious grin crossed his face as his gaze locked with Lissia’s. “How interesting.”

“Get him out of here,” I snapped at my men. “Before I kill him.”

“I want the money I lost on what I would have made from the auction,” Collins said. “Gian promised me a lot of money and territory. I was willing to take the loss on the botched marriage arrangement, but I won’t come out empty-handed.”

“None of that is my problem,” I said. “But you’ll be able to take that up with Gian when I send you to hell.”

“You heard my brother,” Milo said, his voice raised. “Escort him out of here and make sure he leaves.”

“I intend to collect, Accetti,” Collins said as my guys forced him toward the exit. “One way or another.”

“Don’t react,” Milo said. “He’s threatening you in front of all these people so when we retaliate?—”

“I know what he’s fucking doing.” I pointed out at the club, furious that I took the bait. “Get these people out of here. Shut this place down.”

Milo and my remaining men did what I asked and began clearing the room.

“Oh God.” Lissia let out an exaggerated breath. She took my hand in hers. “When Danny pulled out his gun, I thought… I thought he was going to shoot you.”

I glanced down at the worn hardwood floor. Why did we buy this dump? We needed to have more security if this was going to work.

“Marchello.” Lissia ran her hand along my arm. “Are you okay?”

“Am I okay?” I stared at her. “You tell me.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“You didn’t listen when I told you to remove yourself from the situation. Instead, you put yourself in more danger when loaded guns were involved.” I pounded my fist against the wall. “I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve done that.”

“Three.” She said the number like it was some badge of honor.

“Do you think this is funny?” I shouted. “How should I feel about my wife lying to me?”

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“Don’t you dare.” I shook my finger in her face. “He called you, and you didn’t tell me. That’s a lie by omission.”

“I wanted to tell you.”

“But you didn’t. Do you know how much danger you’re in?”

Not to mention how much fucking trouble she was in. I could throttle her. No one had the power to infuriate me like this woman did.

---