Page 123 of Mafia Virgin (The Kings of Italy)

“Because we know something you don’t.”

“That’s why you’re here, stronzi. So I can learn where Virga is hiding.”

“No,” the other man wheezed. I’d broken one of his ribs already. “It’s about your wife.”

I gripped the handle of the hammer tightly. Were they trying to draw this out and distract me, or did they actually know something? “Your information sounds outdated. She’s not my wife.”

The first man grinned around bloody teeth. “Then you don’t wish to know what Virga discovered about your bride yesterday?”

Were these two bullshitting me? I glanced at Zani and read the uneasiness in my friend’s eyes. He was worried they might be telling the truth.

I considered the two men carefully. “You said you didn’t know where Virga was hiding, so how would you know shit about what he discovered yesterday?”

“Because the men are talking about it. Word spreads quickly when it concerns Signora Buscetta.”

Had something happened in Naples? Had Virga tracked her down?

I switched the hammer out for a knife. Flipping it over in my hand a few times, I walked over and plunged the blade into the thigh of one man. He howled in pain, his back arching as he dangled. I found another knife and did the same to Virga’s other man.

When they both quieted I picked up the hammer again. “Whoever tells me first dies quickly. Whoever doesn’t will suffer for hours in agonizing pain as I carve you up, letting you finally bleed out onto the floor. Now, what will it be?”

Both of them remained quiet, their eyes closed tight as they battled the pain, so I hit each of them in the kidney with the hammer. “Tell me,” I shouted, “before I cut your dicks off!”

The one with the broken ribs was the one to speak up after a few more swings of my hammer.

“Virga learned . . . your wife . . . in Toronto.”

A ringing started in my ears, the kind that came after a blow to the head. I gripped the wooden handle in my fingers and tried not to hurl the hammer against the wall. My wife, my sweet little scientist. Why wasn’t D’Agostino keeping her in Naples, safe from harm, while he dealt with Reggie Mancini? Why would he take Emma to Toronto while Reggie was still breathing?

There was only one reason. Because they planned to involve her somehow.

Those motherfuckers.

Striding over to Zani, I snatched the pistol from his hand. With one shot I killed the man who’d given me the information. Then I opened the door and strode into the outer room, where two of my soldiers waited. “He dies slowly,” I told them. “Make it excruciating.”

Zani was right behind me as we exited the building and headed toward the car. “You don’t want to see what else they know?”

“I know enough.” I unlocked the car and opened the door. “They are using Emma as bait for her uncle.”

“Che cazzo? That can’t be right,” Zani said, frowning as he slid inside the sedan. “Why would they put her at risk like that? D’Agostino wouldn’t dare.”

“It’s the only reason he’d take her to Toronto. Maybe Emma insisted on it, thinking she could help. But whatever the reason, D’Agostino is about to be very fucking sorry.” I started the car and put it in drive. “Text the crew at the airport. I want the jet ready in thirty minutes.”

“Thank Christ. I’m relieved you are pulling your head out of your ass and going after her.” Zani started working on his phone. “Should we call D’Agostino next? Or Ravazzani? We should warn them.”

Ravazzani would only threaten me away from Toronto again, and D’Agostino wasn’t known for being reasonable. No, I wanted to handle this myself.

Still, I wasn’t willing to risk Emma’s life for my pride.

I tilted my chin at Zani’s mobile. “Tell D’Agostino’s brother that Virga knows Emma is back home.”

“Toronto isn’t her home. Her home is here. With you.”

He was wrong, but I didn’t argue. Emma belonged in Toronto with her family, freezing her sexy ass off as she finished school. But I wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to her, not while I had breath left in my body. I didn’t care if she was in Palermo, Toronto, or in a bunker under the Kremlin. I would come to her rescue. Every. Single. Time.

“There.” Zani put his phone down. “I’ve warned Vito D’Agostino. You know, this could be a trap. Virga wants you there, unprotected.”

“I don’t give a shit.” I peeled around a corner. “Nothing else matters if she dies, Francesco.”

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