“That’s a tough sell,” she says.
“Try, at least,” I ask her.
Riona nods, resolute. That’s the perfectionist in her. She can’t turn down an assignment.
She leaves to talk to Callahan again, and Dante Gallo takes her place next to me. He’s got one of those faces that always looks unshaven, dark shadows all around his lips and broad jaw. He’s got a kind of brutal, uncut look to his face and bulky frame. Hunched and defensive, like a fighter. I’m not intimidated by him—I’m not intimidated by anyone. But if I had to face off against one of Aida’s brothers, I wouldn’t want it to be Dante.
I already know why he came over here to talk to me.
Sure enough, Dante looks me in the eye and says, “My father may be handing Aida over to you people, but don’t think for a second we’re forgetting about her. She’s my baby sister. And if you lay one finger on her in a way she doesn’t like—”
“Save it,” I cut him off. “I have no intention of abusing Aida.”
“Good,” Dante growls.
But now it’s me who takes a step closer to him.
“Let me tell you something, though. When she says those vows to me, she becomes my wife. She’ll belong to me. And what happens to her isn’t your concern anymore. She answers to me. What goes on between us is my business, not yours.”
Dante’s shoulders hunch up all the more. He clenches two fists the size of grapefruits.
“She’ll always be my business,” he snarls.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about. I’m pretty sure she can take care of herself.”
Dante scowls.
“Yes, she can,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean she’s unbreakable.”
I look across the room where Aida’s talking to Nero. He apparently didn’t close the deal with the bartender, and Aida seems to be ribbing him about it. While I watch, she throws back her head and laughs, so loud that I can hear it all the way over here. Nero scowls and punches her hard on the shoulder. Aida just laughs harder, without flinching.
“She’ll be fine,” I say to Dante.
He shakes his head at me, eyes dark and serious.
“Treat her with respect,” he says threateningly.
“Worry about your own side of the family,” I tell him coldly. “If we’re chained together, you fucking savages need to learn to act civilized. I’ll kill every last one of you before I let you drag us down.”
“Just so long as we understand each other,” Dante says.
He turns and stomps away. I look around for another drink.
In the last week, I’ve had enough of the Gallos to last me a lifetime. And we’re only just getting started in our new “close-knit” relationship.
Dante can take his protective older brother schtick and shove it up his ass.
He thinks Aida has some vulnerable side?
I doubt it.
She’s an animal, just like her brothers.
Which means she needs to be broken.
Oliver wasn’t able to tame her—she ran right over him. Made a fool of him, publicly. Well, she’s not doing that to me. If Aida is a rock, then I’m the fucking ocean. And I’m going to beat against her, over and over, wearing her down one pebble at a time. Until I’ve broken her up and swallowed her whole.
9