The Banker (Banker 1)

I held his gaze, my eyes narrowing with a promise of death.

Damien dropped his smile, and against his will, he showed a slight look of respect. “Damn, you’re stubborn.”

“Damn, you’re a bad shot.” He’d hit me in the shoulder, missing the main arteries and organs.

“No. I hit my mark perfectly.” He kept the gun trained on me, this time aiming it between my eyes. “Drop the sword. Or die.” The barrel didn’t shake as it stared me down. “What’s it gonna be, sweetheart?”

I wanted nothing to do with this life. While I loved my father, I’d told him I wanted nothing to do with his business. By putting some distance between us, I’d thought I could have my own life, a reputation untarnished by the criminal underworld.

It looked like it had followed me anyway. “What do you want from me?”

“Drop the sword.”

“What do you want from me?” I hissed. Blood was ruining my clothes and dripped down my arm. Dizziness settled in my brain. My strength was slowly starting to drift away, but I kept myself upright, like I had something to prove.

“What does it matter?” He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in irritation.

“Because I need to know if it’s worth dying for.” I wasn’t the kind of person who could be a willing prisoner. Instead of surrendering, I’d much rather die. Maybe it was my family bloodline or my Italian roots, but I was the most stubborn woman on the planet. I’d rather die for what I believed in than submit to anyone.

He shook his head slightly. “You’ve always been a crazy bitch.”

“I take that as a compliment.”

The corner of his mouth rose again. “We have your father. If you want to save him, drop the sword.”

I continued to hold my pose, my heart beating harder in my chest. My father was being held captive, and if I died then and there, I wouldn’t be able to help him. Damien had me cornered, and he knew it.

“Continue this suicide mission and die,” he said simply. “Or come with us—and we’ll work out a deal.”

“Work out a deal?” I hissed. “You’ll just take me and kill me too.”

“Normally, yes. But I have another use for you. Drop the sword.”

My hand wanted to keep gripping the handle, but there was doubt planted in my mind. Even if there was nothing I could do to save my father, letting myself die now wasn’t an option. We fell apart a long time ago, but my loyalty had never waned.

I dropped the sword.

He grinned wide. “Good girl.”

2

Siena

The men stopped the bleeding then stitched up both my entry and exit wounds, like this was an everyday occurrence. They didn’t give me anything for the pain, and I was too stubborn to ask. A thick piece of gauze was wrapped around my shoulder, hidden underneath my t-shirt so I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb.

I was thrown in the back of the Escalade before they escorted me into the center of Florence. It was five in the evening, but the sun was still bright because it was summertime. We ventured down the narrow streets until we approached an old building. With a tap of a button, a door to the underground garage opened, and we descended.

It didn’t bode well that they allowed me to see where we were going.

I could have broken the window with my elbow and jumped out of the car at any time. But if they really did have my father, running wasn’t an option. Regardless of our differences, we were family. He would lower his weapon for me in a heartbeat…at least, I hoped he would.

We plummeted into the darkness of the underground garage. Other expensive cars were parked in the spaces, all SUVS and all black. After we parked, we got out of the car. The two sidekicks tried to handcuff me.

I kicked one in the shin. “Are you kidding me? I surrendered and I’ve been shot.”

He clenched his jaw before he snatched my wrists again.

Like a horse, I slammed my leg back and bucked him.

Damien raised his hand. “Let her be. Nothing she can do anyway.”

The guy finally let me go.

I kicked him again anyway, hitting him in the ankle.

He didn’t hesitate before he backhanded me, hitting me hard across the cheek and making my body turn with the impact.

I moved with the momentum and almost tumbled to the ground, but I regained my balance before that humiliating event could occur. I righted myself again and glared at him, ignoring the tingling sensation in my cheek.

He pointed in front of him. “Walk, bitch.”

“You know, I’m getting a little tired of this nickname.” I stepped in front of him and followed Damien.

Damien opened the door and led the way. “I hope not. It fits you so well.”

I was tempted to kick him in the back of the knee, but Damien would do something worse than slap me. I was already suffering from a gunshot wound, and I didn’t want a stab wound to go with it.