“The cameras are going off. Someone’s on my property,” her father says as we head down the road.
“Maybe it’s Delaney?”
“No. He has the passcode to go through the gate.” He makes a call as I drive like a madman. “Delaney, be careful. My silent sensors just went off. Okay.” They talk for a minute.
“What happened?”
“He’s almost there, and the boys are in the safe room there with their nanny.” I can see the panic in his eyes. They’re his little grandbabies, and it’s turning that fear into an animalistic rage. Grasso has been one hell of a Don, but with age and a happy family, he’s slowed his businesses.
“Good.”
My phone rings again as we get closer to the house. I put it on speaker. “What have you got, Luigi?”
“We’ve got him ID’d. It’s Franco Tortelli, the kid that tried to kiss her and you broke his arm.” He didn’t need to finish that last bit. I’d never forgotten his name. Anyone that dares to defile my queen is on my hit list. I should have finished him off back then, but he was just some punk kid who had a crush.
“What? Are you fucking serious?”
“Shit. He’s gone off the deep end. We’re on this way to his apartment, and we’re going to wait to see if he shows up."
"Good. Bring him to me if he does.”
“I’m going to take my time with him,” Grasso says, clenching his fists. We arrive at their gated residence and see Delaney. Rage is apparent as hell on his face as he holds both of his boys in his arms. Three of his men are surrounding him and the boys.
Through gritted teeth, he snarls, “He’s inside. My men have him tied down. Have your way.”
We enter the house and go straight to the sound of someone struggling. When we do, I see the little bitch on the ground, tied up and still struggling. I swiftly kick him in the balls, watching him crumble and squeal like a little bitch.
I grab his collar and drag him onto a chair. “You fucked up, Franco, buddy. You had the nerve to come to my home, kill my men, and scare my bride. You’re either nuts, or fucking stupid. Either way, you’ve sealed your fate.”
He spits at me through his busted lip. “She deserves someone better than you.”
I shrug and chuckle lightly. “She does, but that’s not your business.”
Grasso interrupts, itching with violence in his eyes. “It’s mine, and I’ve given this man my blessing. Who are you to deem otherwise?”
“She loved me, and we were supposed to be together.”
Wow. I laugh harder because he’s got a few screws loose. “This guy’s nuts. She didn’t love you, and I know that.”
“He’s fucking pathetic and a bit crazy. My daughter wouldn’t give you the time of day. She was freaked out and felt grossed out that you nearly put your mouth on her.”
“I should have killed you then,” I remind him that I’d granted him mercy.
“Maybe, but if I can’t have her, neither can you.” He swings his legs, trying to stab me with a hidden knife in his shoe, but he’s not quick enough and I break his ankle, causing him to scream like music to my ears.
“Nice try,” I add, dropping his leg.
A gun goes off, and I snap my head toward my father-in-law, who’s smirking. “Sorry. I was getting tired of the little prick.”
That’s when I notice his shirt. It reads Tick Tock, Motherfucker. I don’t know what it means, but it sends a chill up my spine. “No need to apologize. I’m ready to get back to my woman. Let’s get some things and head back.”
“They’re gonna freak when they see the blood on us. Let’s go wash up.”
“Good idea.” We barely make it into the hallway toward the stairs when the house goes off in an explosion, sending us falling backward, and the world goes black.
Chapter Five
Aria
“Where are they?” I sigh, freaking out more and more as time ticks by, wringing my fingers as I sit down and get up again to pace the room. It’s been two hours since they left the estate. They should have been back. I stare at Cormack, who looks calm.
“What the hell happened, honey?” Gloria asks her husband. I stop and wait for him to explain where my father and fiancé are.
He shrugs like it’s not a big deal when I’m ready to jump out of my skin. “I don’t know. They were going inside the house to get the guy that my team had bagged and gagged believing he’s the guy who was here. Maybe they went to work on him.” So what he’s saying is they probably took him somewhere to torture and kill him.
“Well, why don’t you call them and find out?” I snap, getting in his face. Gloria gently takes my hand and leads me to a chair.