Page 145 of Massimo

Killing the snake who is my enemy.

Slaying the monster who brutalized Nova for way too fucking long.

Then I’ll finish by razing his kingdom to the ground, until nothing is left but ash.

Nova turns from me to face her father. I study her carefully, ready to whisk her away if the brutal lessons she's learned from his years of psychological warfare start to return.

However, the meek and mild Mancini Princess doesn't reappear. Her fire and fight are burning bright for him to see.

Reaching forward, she removes his gag. I feel Vito, Gabe, and Gemma close in behind us, ready to intervene and protect Nova. My heart swells with gratitude for their protectiveness of her—how they've so readily and quickly accepted her as one of us.

"Father." Nova's voice is steady and strong.

His eyes shift to me, then back to her. A sneer curls his lips. "Whoring yourself out, I see, daughter."

Black burns the edges of my vision, but I remain motionless for now because my queen is standing steady and strong, facing her worst monster.

Since Nova didn't react, Mancini tries again. "Just like your whore of a moth—"

His words are cut off, and I'm stunned at the slash of blood that splatters Nova's face. She doesn't flinch as she clenches the handle of a small knife. Where the hell she had gotten it, I'm unclear; however, her actions are crystal fucking clear.

Silvestro Mancini is here, at her mercy. And she hasnoneto give.

Blood flows from a gaping gash across Mancini's face and soaks into his immaculate suit.

"Shut your mouth, Father," Nova hisses.

"Damn, sis." Vito chuckles.

Mancini's eyes widen in shock, and Nova smiles. "Yes, it's true, Father. Massimo and I are married." Her hand fisting the knife rests over her stomach. "And expecting. Aren't you happy for us?"

I smile at her ruthless taunting.

"You fucking bitch—" His scream of pain cuts off his words as she embeds her knife into his thigh and twists.

"Goddamn, Nova, you're my spirit animal." Gemma laughs.

Nova's lips twitch, but her attention remains on her father. "Would you like to know what's going to happen now?"

She doesn't wait for Mancini's reply as Mauro whimpers beside them. "Vito and the others will deal with Mauro. And you… Well, Father, you're going to get well acquainted with my husband."

My whole body reacts to her calling me that, and I grin.

"Massimo is going to peel your skin off, piece by piece. Once he's done, I will stab you through your black heart, leaving the blade embedded so you don't die too quickly. Then he'll will cut off your head."

To drive the point home, Vito lets the axe blade drop to the floor with a heavythud. "Freshly sharpened for the festive occasion."

All Mancini’s bravado crumbles as terror floods his face. "The 'Ndrangheta won’t allow this."

Nova's laugh is cold and merciless. "Why? Because of your blackmail and the ledger that Nathaniel Kessler has safely sealed away?" She laughs again, savoring his shock, watching the fresh wave of terror wash over him as he realizes the truth—he has no way out of this.

But he still tries to slither his way free. "You will cease this at once, Nova." Seeing she isn't afraid of him, he changes tactics. "Would you like to know what happened to your mother—"

I fist this throat before he can try to shatter Nova with the truth of what he and his inner circle did to her mother before they finally killed her.

"Enough snake talk, wouldn't you say, brother?" Vito steps forward with a pair of pliers.

Gabe goes behind Mancini to hold him still, and Gemma hands me a small sharp knife.

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