Top Dog

“But we didn’t kill your father. Who was the one in your family responsible for all of the bloody work your father did up until a certain point?”

“Stefano was only doing what needed to be done.”

“Who is the one sitting on the Bianchi throne right now?” he asked.

“That doesn’t mean he killed his damn brother, Romeo!”

I clenched my fists at my sides. My nostrils were flaring with anger. My mind was spinning a thousand miles a second, and I felt like I was going to be sick.

“You killed them,” I said.

“You have to get past that, Julia. You have to see the bigger picture here. You and my son are in danger.”

“He’s my son.”

“Just because you won’t let me near him doesn’t mean I’m not responsible for him.”

“Yes, it does,” I exclaimed.

Before I could think, I cracked my hand across his cheek and his head flew off to the side. I stood there, stunned, rooted to my spot. His stoic blue eyes slowly panned back around, and my stomach dropped to my toes. His cheek was a fiery red against his tanned skin, and my jumbled thoughts suddenly fell into place. My father was working on peace for Matteo?

“Your uncle is a brutal killer, whether you want to admit it or not,” Romeo said as he dabbed at his lip. “That man has slaughtered more innocent lives than my father and yours combined. You talk about wanting to keep him from me because I neutralized a very real threat to my family, yet you willingly leave Matteo in the hands of someone whose past is saturated with red. For fuck’s sake, Julia, you just said he ‘did what needed to be done’.”

I shook my head from side to side and wrapped my arms around myself. I couldn’t believe any of this was happening, and I didn’t know which one of the two men was telling me the truth. Did I believe my family or the man I loved? “Get your head out of the clouds, Julia, and look at what’s going on around you. You aren’t seeing the reality because you want to believe the best in everyone. Your uncle will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He’ll kill me, and he’ll kill you, and I know that because he killed his brother.”

“He didn’t kill my father,” I said as tears flooded my cheeks.

“He did. And then he spun it onto my family and that’s what killed mine. He wants me out of the way so he can head the largest criminal syndicate in all of New York City. And if you want to protect Matteo, you need to open your eyes.”

I felt my hand trembling. I wanted to slap him again. I was nauseous, and I didn’t want to stay in the park any longer. I didn’t want to be around Romeo, and I sure as hell didn’t want to be exposed the way I was. I grabbed my purse and stormed off, my mind refusing to process the information Romeo had just spewed at me.

There was no way in hell my uncle was capable of what Romeo was saying.

CHAPTER 19

ROMEO

I watched her run away from me yet again, and I slammed my fist into the bench. Of course, I’d let my emotions get the fucking best of me. I got that damn trait from my mother. I pushed Julia away when I needed us to be a united front the most, and in return, I’d gotten a fucking slap in the face.

A slap I deserved.

I turned on my heels and roared out in frustration. People were watching me, and I knew I was exposed. Too exposed. I had to get back to my car and get home. There were so many things I had to dig into and investigate, but I knew Vincent was right.

Vincent was always right.

I had to figure out what my next move was going to be. So long as Julia and my son were under the same roof as that psychopath, they were in danger. And that shit wasn’t going to fly with me. I strode to my car and yanked the door open, ready to race down the street and start digging immediately.

But a hand came down onto my shoulder and whipped me around, no easy feat considering my size.

“What the fuck?” I asked.

“You leave Julia alone.”

The large man standing in front of me seemed vaguely familiar. I studied him carefully as I shrugged his hand off my shoulder. He was almost my height. Broad. Looked like he could kick some serious ass. His face was hardened, and he clearly didn’t like me anywhere near Julia.

“Come again?” I asked.

“Julia,” he said. “Leave her alone.”