Page 65 of Vicious Heir

“Fuck off, Dominic.” Stefano gives him a smug grin and stands up to face me.

It takes everything inside of me to not just fight this out. To use my fucking words instead of the fists I’m used to.

He comes to stand nose to nose with me and says, “You know as well as I do that women and children aren’t off-limits in this family,boss.”

He spits the word as if it tastes like a fucking poison.

“Well, maybe I’m not down to do shit the way my father did,” I say. “I don’t agree with it, and it’s about fucking time you and everyone else at this table knows it. And I certainly don’t fucking agree with doing business behind my back. Business having to do with innocent women and children.” I turn to the group while Stefano’s breath is hot against my face. “Who knew about whatever this operation is that Stefano has going on?”

Not one single man raises his hand or speaks a word.

“Who are you working with, Stefano? Why are you buying women and goddamn children?”

Instead of answering me, the fuck makes a move, rearing back and sucker punching me right in my jaw. I realized at the last second what he was doing—a fucking second too late.

And in the amount of time it takes me to right myself and land an uppercut of my own, the men around us are pulling weapons.

Pietro shouts, “Everybody, calm the fuck down and hold your weapons!”

Nobody listens. Either that or no one hears him as shouting erupts around us. The workers, along with Monty, make themselves scarce as Stefano tries to run toward the door.

“The fuck you going?” I yell after him, knowing if I fire a bullet into the bastard, all bets are off.

But knowing and doing better are two different beasts, aren’t they?

I quickly make my way across the diner, closing the space between us.

“Stefano, one last thing!” I bellow, trying to get his attention.

Suddenly, a series of shots ring out in the air, and I ignore them as I grab hold of Stefano. Dom is quick on my heels and takes one side of him, holding a knife to his throat as I grab his other side.

“Everybody, sit the fuck down,” I shout at the rest of our family.

Pietro holds his gun in his hand, and I realize he’s the one who fired the warning shots.

The men do as I say, and I’d like to think it’s because I’ve built a rapport with them over the last couple of decades. Dom and I push Stefano down into a chair, and he holds him down—Dom’s easily twice his size—as I address the rest of the room.

“I will find out who knows about what this fuck has been doing. And if any of you do and aren’t telling me now, so help me fucking god, I will end you.” When no one speaks, I turn toward Stefano. “What was your goal with Evelina, and who else is in on your games?”

When he says nothing, and only gives me the same smug face I’ve come to know so well, I pistol whip him repeatedly, until blood runs down the front of his face and he’s missing teeth.

It’s a bold move. A boss and an underboss going at it like this…in front of the rest of the family.

But I don’t give a fuck because I need to figure out what this operation is and why Evelina is important enough to spend as much money as they spent on her. She wasn’t a random purchase—I’m sure of it. There was a motive, and she isn’t safe until I figure out what it was.

After giving Dom and the other men orders to take him to the warehouse, I fucking leave. I need to separate myself before I kill this bastard. The only thing is, I don’t plan on calling Gabriel because I’m not positive he isn’t in on whatever scheme Stefano is waist-deep in.

Now that I think about it, it would make a whole hell of a lot of sense. The two of them have worked so closely—and for decades.

I can’t let Gabriel onto the fact that I know something is up, and luckily enough for me, no one else has a line of communication to him, so he’s currently none the fucking wiser.

32

EVELINA

When he comes in, I’m waiting.

I cock the gun and point it right between his eyes. The shock on his face is almost comical.

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