Page 91 of Vicious Heir

“Fucking little bitch,” he growls, and I start to run, but I’m gasping for air and seeing spots in my vision as I try to recover from getting punched and choked. I stagger and slam sideways, reaching for the back door to the venue, until Demir’s on me again.

This time, he hits me in the back of the head. I grunt in shock, ears ringing like a bell. I fall straight on my face, teeth chattering together on the pavement, and then he’s on me, pinning me down with one knee, wrenching my hand behind my back.

“Let go of me,” I gasp, wriggling on the filthy, wet pavement.

“You should’ve just come along. Now I’m going to have to hurt you. Fucking bitch, you cut my goddamn face.”

“I’ll cut off your fucking dick if you touch me. I’ll rip off your balls. I’ll bite your tongue out of your skull?—”

He slams his knee down into my back. I groan as the air’s knocked from my lungs.

“Shut the fuck up.” He moves back and drags me to my feet, gripping my wrists. “Stupid goddamn bitch.” Then he starts to pull me to the end of the alley. “My car’s nearby. If you scream and make a scene, I’ll cut off two of your toes when we get home.”

“Please,” I say, panic slamming into me as I get further and further from the venue, away from Adriano and safety. God, Demir’s going to hurt me, he’s going to break me, mutilate me, make me get rid of this baby. If I can’t get away—if I don’t find some way to escape?—

I’ll lose him forever.

“Stop whining,” Demir barks as we get close to the end of the alley.

“Don’t do this.” Tears fall down my face. “Just don’t do this. Please, don’t take me away.Please?—”

The door slams open behind us. Demir curses and whips around, wrapping one arm around my throat as he draws a gun from his waistband. He’s got the barrel to my head as Adriano appears, a pistol drawn and leveled at Demir, his face twisted into rage. Vittorio’s behind him, cool and calm, his gun also raised, while Luca’s behind him. All three men radiate power and energy, and my heart swells.

Until Demir shoves the barrel of his gun tighter to my skull.

“Take a step and I blow this bitch’s hair to mist,” he says, staring at Adriano.

“Let go of my wife. This fight is between us.”

“Actually, she’s supposed to bemywife. I knew you couldn’t resist coming here tonight, Adriano. That’s why I had my people waiting around exactly in case this opportunity presented itself. And now you have to ruin my fun time.”

“Let her go,” Adriano says again. His eyes flick to mine. I see nothing in his cold expression except a bottomless well of hate and darkness.

This is the mafia Don. This is Adriano, the prince of crime and brutality. This is the man I should be afraid of, but instead, my heart swells at the sight of him, so perfect and beautiful and lethal.

“Why would I give you back my hostage? Come now, you can’t think I’m that stupid.” Demir’s slowly backing to the alley mouth. “Here’s what you haven’t figured out yet. You’re nothing without this girl. And even with her, you’re still barely more than a jumped-up gangster with too much money and a laundry list of criminal offenses. You’re a thug, Adriano. Her world will never respect you. They’ll never want you. You can use her for her name all you like, and it won’t make a difference.”

I stare at him. I want him to see me. I need him to know that I don’t care about any of that. To me, he’s Adriano. He’s strong, protective, obsessive, caring, and beautiful. He has a good soul. He lost so much recently, but he carries on for his family because he’s strong. I need him to know Demir can’t take that away from him.

“I’ll ask you one more time.” Adriano’s voice is cool and smooth, almost like he’s bored. “Let her go, or I’ll just kill you both. There are plenty of rich girls I can marry in this town.”

Demir laughs. He sounds genuinely amused. “That won’t work. I see through your bullshit. You care about this girl. God knows why, but you do. Lower your guns. All three of you. I’ll walk out of here with her and nobody dies.”

“Don’t do it!” I yell, and Demir tightens his grip around my throat. I gag slightly, desperately hoping Adriano doesn’t listen. The Famiglia needs him, but I’m expendable. He can end the war right here and now. He can prove he’s the leader the Marinos need. All he has to do is forget about me.

“Last chance.” Adriano raises the weapon. Vittorio’s smiling now like he can already taste the blood. Luca’s behind them, cautiously watching their backs.

“See you soon then, Don Marino.”

Something hard smacks me in the side of the head. My vision goes black, and I’m thinking, is this what it’s like to die? Then I hit the ground hard, ears buzzing, and there’s gunfire. Someone yells, and someone’s running as I’m dragged into something warm and strong.

“I’ve got you now.” Adriano’s voice. I’d know it anywhere. I smile a little bit.

“Are we in heaven?”

“No, baby. You’re still with me, and we both know I don’t belong anywhere near that place.” His grip tightens. My eyes flutter open, but they’re unfocused, and it takes a second to see clearly. My head’s pounding in agony, and I feel blood running down my cheek.

“Didn’t he shoot me?”

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