Page 129 of Gin & Trouble

It would have been so easy to push his buttons, to goad him into taking a shot at Enzo, to buy enough time for someone to take him out before he hurt her. And my God, did I want to, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t sacrifice one for the other.

But I can sacrifice myself.

I took a step forward, but Sophia shook her head. It seemed unlikely that I was the only one who’d noticed her, but no one spoke as she crouched to pick up one of the fallen guards’ gun.

“Come on,T.J.You must want something.” I spoke louder in hopes of keeping his and his remaining men’s attention. “Think about it. She has to be worth more alive than dead, right?”

Glaring, he jostled Frankie hard enough she cried out. “Shut up, Marchionni.”

Painstakingly slow, Sophia crept closer to her siblings.

“What? We all know you tried to blow her up because she knew the truth about Enzo.” I shrugged. “The cat’s out of the bag. You might as well name your price.

Frankie’s eyes went impossibly wide. “Dante, don’t.”

Ignoring her, he looked past me to Enzo. “Your brother for my sister, Marchionni.”

Marco shouted, “Dante doesn’t have the authority to negotiate for me. I’m thecapohere.”

“And so am I.” Enzo took a tentative step forward as Sophia moved into position. “Let Frankie go and you can walk out of here. Hurt her and all bets are off.”

Iris glanced up from her lover and shouted, “Behind you!”

Tommaso turned, but it was too late. Sophia pressed her gun to the side of his head before he had a chance to respond.

“Drop it or I’ll blow what little brains you have all over this hallway.” She shoved it harder against his skull.

He held his arms out wide and dropped the gun. “I’m surprised yourhusbanduntied you long enough to join us, little sister.”

“Don’t push me.” She’d spoken like a tough-girl, but the hitch in her voice told me he’d struck a nerve.

Who did he force her to marry?

Frankie hurried to my side and pulled me closer to the wall. She gave me a hard look that told me I would live to regret putting myself in harm’s way.

I drew her close, happy to take whatever punishment she chose to dole out. “Are you all right?”

Frankie nodded and turned back to her siblings.

“Tell your men to put their weapons on the ground.” Sophia spoke through gritted teeth.

Tommaso remained silent. Not the smartest move considering Sophia seemed ready to put a bullet in his head.

“Do it before I lose my patience.” She tapped his temple with the barrel.

Tommaso swallowed hard. “Lower your weapons.”

His men knelt and set their rifles on the slick marble.

Marco and Giancarlo motioned for their men to move in.

Sophia nodded to Iris. “And get her out of my sight.”

Once the security team had removed the injured, and Iris, Marco blew out a breath. “What do we do with Tommaso?”

Giancarlo folded his arms. “Lock him, and his men, up until theFratellanzadecides what to do with him.”

“Before you do that, Tommaso has something to tell you.” Sophia leaned close and whispered something to her brother.

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