Page 56 of Sins of Bliss
My esophagus feels as though it’s closing on its own, my chest rising and falling as I struggle to breathe.
“Vinnie,” August growls through teeth gritted in a charming smile.
He’s squeezing my hands so tightly, the tips of my fingers are as white as paper.
“I…” I begin, but the words I don’t want to say die on my tongue.
A suddenbangerupts through the church as one of the doors slams against the wall. My head whips toward the sound, and the sight of the man at the other end of the aisle is enough to have me falling to my knees.
What is he doing here?
Chapter 20
Sly
Getting through the Paladino’s security was more of a challenge than we thought, despite having the help of Luciano, and I’m nearly too late by the time I’m able to get inside of the church.
The only thing I can think of is getting to Vincenza before she speaks her commitment.
Pushing open the door as quickly as I can, it slams against the wall with force, causing every head in the room to turn in my direction.
It takes mere seconds for my eyes to collide with Vinnie’s, and I see the moment her knees buckle. August holds one of her hands and reaches out to catch her with the other.
As he holds her steady, he looks up at me, and even from across the room, I can see his eyes darken. “Lucchetti.”
In the same moment, Vincenza’s father is out of his seat, bellowing my name. “Lucchetti!” The woman next to him—Vinnie’s mother—grabs onto her husband’s wrist and pulls him back down to the pew.
Releasing his hold on Vincenza, August takes a step away from her into my direction. Pulling my Glock from its holsterbeneath my jacket, I aim the barrel directly at him as I walk down the aisle toward them.
Nervous murmurs, small screams, and a few sobs sound throughout the crowd at the sight of my weapon. I pay them no mind—not even giving my attention to the Paladino family as I hold my gaze on August.
Adrenaline rushes through my bloodstream, my monster fully unleashed—prepared and excited. Not an ounce of remorse flits through me for what I’m about to do.
August looks ready to tear me limb from limb, and the only thing that flickers through my mind is him raising his hand to the love of my life.
He deserves to die.
Baring his teeth, August takes the altar step down. “If you think you can?—”
God, please forgive me.
Squeezing the trigger, I fire my weapon.
Screams erupt throughout the church as the gunshot echoes through the grand vaulted ceilings, and August’s lifeless body crumples to the floor. Vinnie’s scream is prominent against the others, her hands covering her mouth as she looks at the corpse beside her in disbelief.
For the quickest moment, I lock eyes with Luciano, who gives me a quick nod as he sits next to his father, which I hope means he has reached the head of security and ordered them to stand down.
He must have, since I am still breathing.
When I make it to Vinnie, I see the red splatters of blood across her dress, her chest, and a little on her hands. Surprisingly, her face is spared of August’s blood.
“Piccola ladra,” I breathe as I take an altar step. “Are you alright?”
It’s an idiotic question—there is a dead man laying on the floor in front of her—of course she’s not alright.
Still, I do not trust her family, so as I see movement from my peripheral, I briefly look over at where they are and raise my Glock, pointing it at Joseph Paladino. “Don’t you dare try anything, stronzo,” I growl in his direction before sweeping the direction of the gun over to Vinnie’s father.
“What are you doing here?” Vinnie asks, still in shock at my abrupt entrance.
