Page 104 of Possession

He shakes his head and continues to spew bullshit that does not matter right now. “Sir, they were about to break in and stop him. I swear—”

“But they didn’t. It doesn’t fucking matter what they were about to do. My wife has the bruises to prove it.” I recline back in my chair and level my eyes on him. “I put this order out once, and I’m only going to do it one more time before someone pays for their fuck up. No one touches my wife. You can open a door for her or carry her shit, but that’s it. If she so much as offers you a hand to shake, you’d better run the other fucking way, and that includes every man connected to the Marinos.”

His chest rises and falls quicker than it should. “Yes, sir.”

“Not one fucking finger, you got it?”

Beads of sweat dot his forehead as he nods. “Got it. Run the other way. Not a finger. I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

I sit up straight and pick up a pen. Then I scribble two short sentences that light a fire in me.

I fold the paper and slide it across the desk.

Don stares at it.

When I lift my chin, he slowly leans forward to pick it up. I watch him as he reads my order. His gaze jumps to me, and his eyes widen.

I tip my head.

He nods.

I send him on his way. “Go.”

He proves he doesn’t want to be here anymore than I want him here. He tosses the paper to my desk and is out of my office in record time.

I pick up the paper and read it one more time.

Find Nic.

I want him in the garage.

I’m in the business of collecting information. I document every fucking thing I come across, whether it’s legit business or that run by the Marino Cartel.

But not this.

I swivel in my chair and feed the paper into the shredder that’s never gotten any use by me since I got here. Alamandos put out the order, but I don’t need it on official record with the federal government that I aided him.

Nic is going to pay for every mark he put on Landyn.

Then he’s going to pay again for doing the same to Rocco.

And I’m going to be the one to deliver the message.

If he lives through it, he’ll understand.

If he doesn’t, even better.

24

REVERSE SEXUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Landyn

Istare at myself in the mirror.

The cuts on my lip and face are almost healed. My dark bruises have faded to a lovely yellowish-green. I’ve gone from looking like a punching bag to a crumpled paper bag.

Better … ish.

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