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“A little high-spirited? The woman tried to take my head off with a tray of appetizers. If her brother hadn’t thrown her over his shoulder and hauled her away, I’d have strangled that psycho right where she stood.”
“He’s a presumptuous, bad-mannered asshole who somehow brainwashed my sister into marrying him!” I snap. “Regardless of how things are between them now, I will never forget that. And I will never get along with that dick!” “Indeed. At least, not until the two of you are on even footing. I’m giving you that chance.” Ajello’s gaze lies heavy on me. “He got your sister. You get his. Problem eliminated.”
“Both obedience and loyalty should be inspired by respect, Arturo. A man who would ask someone he considers a friend to do his bidding as repayment for help freely given is not worthy of that respect. What I did, I did because it was the right thing to do. You are in no way indebted to me for that.”
“Are you really going to put a bullet in my head if I don’t do it?” He looks at me over the rim of his glass. “No. But I’d greatly appreciate it if you’d just agree.”
As far as women are concerned, the key is not to go soft around them.” Ajello’s phone starts ringing, and he shrugs as he takes it out. “Cara mia, you’re still up? … No, I didn’t have time to get the cat food, yet. I’ll do it as soon as I’m finished with Arturo. … Yes, I’m aware that Kurt has been throwing up since yesterday. The damn pest probably ate another gross bug and— … What do you mean he scratched you?” Spinning around, Ajello races toward the office door. “Stay put. I’m coming up right now. I’ll call Ilaria on the way. … I don’t care if it’s just a nick! … No, I’m not overreacting!
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“You have two months to convince your future bride to marry you.” The door slams shut in his wake, but I can still hear the sound of his fading voice while he continues making a fuss about his wife’s damn scratch. Jesus. If anyone had told me a few years ago that Salvatore Ajello would be such a goner for a woman, I’d have laughed in their face. It’s a tragedy, really. At least no one would ever catch me losing my mind like this. Especially over an unwanted wife.
“But beautiful, yes? I’ve only seen her from afar, but”—he whistles—“she’s a babe. I wouldn’t mind doing her if you two don’t end—” My fist flies as if of its own accord, slamming right into Nino’s face. “What the fuck, man?” he groans, pressing his hand over his busted lip. “Watch your damn mouth,” I growl, then take off at a clipped pace toward my car. Yeah… What the fuck was that?
Truth is, I didn’t give a damn about who I was shooting when I pulled the trigger. I saw that asshole slap Tara, and rage unlike any I’ve ever known boiled in my veins.
“I’m going to make your life a living hell.” “Of that, gattina, I don’t have the slightest doubt.”
“You died.” His voice is so quiet, it hardly qualifies as a whisper. “For a minute and forty-seven seconds, your heart stopped. And during each of those one hundred and seven seconds, I died a thousand deaths. It fucking broke me, gattina.”
