Page 118 of Carnal

"Sorry! I tried to keep her away!" Pina blurts out. I assume she's referring to the few times she tried to sabotage their plans. As good as Pina is, Massimo found a way around her obstacles.

Massimo freezes. His eyes widen as he shakes his head. "You're here to trick Katiya?"

I protectively pull Pina to my side.

"Well...umm..." Pina looks guiltily at both Katiya and Massimo.

"Goddamn it, Pina! You work for Dante! Not Tristano!" he reminds her.

She winces.

More surprise fills Massimo's face, and the blood drains from his cheeks. "Dante knows why you're here?"

Cringing, she replies, "He is my boss. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but honestly, Massimo. What the heck are you doing?" She puts her hand on her hip and arches her eyebrows.

God, I love this woman. She's not easily intimidated, and most women would be hiding in a corner right now the way Massimo's reacting.

He fumes, "Fuck off, Pina. And mind your own business."

I warn, "Don't talk to her like that."

"Or what? You're both out of line," he asserts.

"You just admitted she's an Abruzzo trying to betray us," I snarl, scowling at Katiya.

He pulls her to his side, roaring, "So what?"

Pina gasps.

My insides shake. So this is it. The truth I didn't want to believe. I step closer.

"I didn't want to!" Katiya interjects.

Disgust fills me. "Sure, you didn't. And now you're going to fuck with my brother's head some more."

"No! I—"

"Don't waste your breath on him," Massimo instructs, then adds, "I'm only going to tell you one time. I know all about it. She didn't betray us and is as much of a victim of Leo as Arianna or Cara were to the Abruzzos."

"How is that?" I seethe.

"None of your business," he claims.

His attitude makes me angrier. "I beg to differ."

"Beg all you want. Get the fuck off my dock," he demands, then spins with Katiya.

She tugs on his arm. "Wait."

He mutters, "What?"

"We have to sort this out," she insists.

He shakes his head then throws daggers at Pina and me with one look. "No. We don't need to sort anything out. I'm done. And tell Dante I'm done with him, too."

"Massimo! Don't say that!" Katiya cries out.

"Yeah. If you're through with the family, she can't get what she wants," Pina interjects.

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