Page 24 of Red Retaliation
Arianna says nothing, just stares at me. Did she not understand? “No man in his right mind would stand by and...” I steel my jaw. “I’ll deal with my brothers. I can assure you nothing like that will happen again.”
But I don’t need to worry because she’ll be shipped out of heretomorrow. When shall I tell her that plans have changed and she can no longer remain? Evenhere, it seems she is not safe.
“Thank you, but I don’t need you to protect me. I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull back and move away. Ever bolshie, even in this situation. No matter - I’ll let her play her own little game. For tonight, at least. I can’t discuss this now. I have to deal with Liam. I’m too fired up to evenlookat him right now, but he needs to be brought to task. I’ll let Arianna know plans have changed tomorrow just before she is taken away, and then she’ll have what she says she wants: she will no longer have my protection.
I move towards the door and then turn back, eyeing her coldly. “A server from the casino will bring food and drink up for you.”
Walking away before Arianna has the chance to start a futile argument, I enter the corridor containing the offices and immediately recognize Liam’s voice. After what he’s just done, I trust myself to be nowhere near him, but I have no choice but to deal with him.
About to burst in demanding to know what the hell he was playing at, I refrain, the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention. Pressing myself against the door, I tune my ears into the conversation within the room.
“I’m telling you, he’s lost the plot. Have you seen the state of my face?”
My jaw clenches.The cheeky bastard! Lost the plot, have I?Liam needs to learn that he can’t go around groping women under my banner. This ismyfirm;mycasino. And more to the point, until tomorrow, Arianna ismyresponsibility and belongs tome.
I then hear Del speak, but I’m too busy ranting about Liam in my own head to catch it.Concentrate!
“I don’t care what you say, I’m not having it. If Red doesn’t get that tart out of here, then me and Oscar will deal with her ourselves. We won’t accept her presence, no matter the excuse or reason.”
My hands clench into fists. Liam will dowhat?
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Del says. “If you...”
“Red’s fucked things up! No one would sanction this bullshit!” Liam rages.
“We’ve got to do something to stop this, Del. Thanks to that whore, we’re already earmarked for retaliation.”
I don’t believe this! Oscar is there too? I know Liam expects life to beone long holiday camp of fucking and drinking half the time, but I gave Oscar more credit. It seems I shouldn’t have.
“Ah, come on, let’s be honest,” Liam continues. “We all know our brother hasn’t been quite right since he drove Lorna over the edge, but why get sanctimonious about me copping a feel? Why the fuck shouldn’t I? The Galavatore bird is one hot chick and regardless of Red’s attempt at playing ‘knight in shining armor’, I’ll have my go with her before she’s thrown into landfill.”
My teeth clamp so tightly, I expect them to snap. If only they knew I was nothing to do with Lorna’s suicide, but everything to do with her murder. I want to storm in and tell them the bare facts: thatIfucking killed her andwhy. I want to tell themLornaarranged our parents’ murder and used her connection tomein order to do it. I want them to know that I’m 99% sure she was on Galvatore and Bristoni’s joint payroll.
But my brothers are too unhinged to learn of this without reacting in a way to make our father’s hard work pointless. I have kept this secret and shouldered the blame for a completely different reason and will continue to do so until everything is in place to raze both those fuckers and their firms to the ground, with no one left standing.
We’re not there yet, but now we have no choice but to be because of Arianna being under my bastard roof and the problems that brings.
My rage has now passed the level of steaming into the room and finishing what I started on Liam’s face. I’m in the white zone, which is much worse and a ton more dangerous.
Yanking the door handle, I walk in, my outwardly calm demeanor showing everyone that I’m not pleased. They know I’m never this calm unless I’m about to blow.
I show no outward surprise to see Steve also present. It seems the disagreement over my decision to give Arianna protection is more widespread than I believed. I do, however, see the flash of surprise and a tiny hint of fear on Liam’s face. I also notice the damage I’ve made and think I’m right about him missing a tooth...
My ears ring with the screaming tumult of thoughts inside my brain as I look at each and every one of the men. “It’s a shame you’re all so vehemently against my decisions.”
“Red! We didn’t expect you... erm...”
I hold up my hand for silence. “I am speaking, no one else and I’ve heard enough.” My glare rests on Liam. “I’ll get straight to the point. After the way you behaved today, you are no longer welcome here.”
Liam blinks, his smashed-up mouth curling into a sneer. “I was only doing what anyone would do. The bitch was askin...”
“You think I’m joking?” Walking further into the room, I lean against the wall and inspect my fingernails. “You think I won’t cut you out of my life and the firm? Well, I fucking will and Ihave. You donotlay your hands like that on a woman.”
It hurts me to say it, but Liam must learn. “As for my decision to offer Arianna protection, she is leaving tomorrow morning. I had already decided that’s the best thing for the firm under the circumstances. You got your own way, so what you did in that fucking cellar was for nothing and regardless, does not excuse it!”
I give Steve the nod. He knows what I’m asking, and yes, I’m putting him in an awkward position, but that can’t be helped.
