Page 69 of His Broken Queen

He gazed up at me in disbelief. Did he really think I missed?

“That’s right,” I said. “You’re still alive.”

“What are you doing?” He coughed up blood. “Just get it over with.”

“You want me to make this quick for you? You don’t want me to make you suffer?”

“Fuck you.” He gritted through the pain. “Just kill me.”

“There’s one reason you’re not dead.” I walked around his battered body. “Looks like my wife fought hard.”

“I didn’t think she had it in her.” His face twisted in pain, but he still managed a strained laugh. “Poor, weak Lu. She’s not as helpless as I thought. Although, you have to work on her instincts. She’s an accident waiting to happen.”

“I should blow your brains out.” I waved the gun over him when I thought about how he terrorized my wife. “With your own gun.”

“Why don’t you?”

“I told you there’sonereason you’re alive.”

“Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“Rocco,” I said. “You’re alive because of him. He can decide what to do with your useless ass.”

“You would do that for him?”

“He has Bilotti blood running through his veins. I can’t deny that.”

If Rocco and I were ever going to establish a connection and become true brothers, I couldn’t murder Vincent. As much as I hated the situation, it was the cold, hard truth. I wanted to avenge Stella, but I had to look at the bigger picture.

“If you ever come after my wife again, it won’t matter who your brother is. I’ll kill the rest of your family and make you watch before I shove a gun in your mouth and blow your head off.”

He closed his eyes, and breathed through the pain.

“Don’t make me keep that promise.” I kicked him in the ribs.

“Fuck!”

“That was for Lu.” When I kicked him a second time, he screamed out in agony. “That one was for Stella.”

I left him bleeding and broken on the bedroom floor.

When I went out into the hallway, I leaned against the wall. My blood raced with adrenaline. I had never shown that kind of restraint before. A huge part of me wanted to walk back in there and kill him. I wanted to be done with him. But if I killedhim, it would never be over. Our families were more connected than I liked. I had to look to the future. I would have to make the Torrios pay for what they had done to me in other ways.

I would get creative.

I headed to the staircase, noting how quiet it was in the foyer. There was movement, but no one spoke. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, everyone stared at me.

“Romero.” Lu got up from the floor and took my hand. “We heard the, um…well, we didn’t know if…”

“I didn’t kill him.” I looked at Rocco. “He’s not dead.”

“What?” Rocco moved toward me. “Vincent is alive?”

He tried not to display his relief, but I saw it in his expression. I didn’t begrudge him that.

“I did that for you because you’re my brother. I showed mercy because you’re my blood. I protect my own. You gave me your loyalty today, and I won’t forget that.”

“I don’t know what to say.” He gazed up the staircase. “Thank you.”

---