Page 8

I swear to God, I will rain pain and destruction on the entire Rossi organization if John names Francesca, Savannah, or Alexandra.
John looks at me, eyes wide and lip trembling. “Savannah Whitlock, Alexandra Ferguson, and Avery Brown.”
Damn it. This isn’t good. He’s going after our women. I’ll die before I let them touch a hair on Alexandra’s head.
My vision blurs as I unleash all my anger on John. Unbeknownst to him, he just handed Rossi the gun to take us out. If there’s something I know about the guys, it’s that they will do anything to protect their women.
Even sacrifice themselves.
After several minutes, my knuckles scream in pain. I turn around and leave the room. Rhett or Spencer can come in, untie him, and bandage him up.
I have to inform Dad about what I just found out.
Running up the stairs, I quickly shower and change into proper mafia attire. My suit is fitted and wrinkle free, my shoes are shined, and my knuckles show that I’m not afraid of getting the job done.
I hop into my car and race to the arena for the weekly meeting with Dad and Alexandra.
I park in the empty parking spot next to Dad and make my way inside the arena and up the stairs to the conference room.
Dad is sitting at the head of the table, talking on the phone with a supplier.
Alexandra ignores me as she brings Dad a cup of coffee. I walk over to the coffeemaker and pour myself a cup. I add a splash of non-dairy French vanilla creamer and take my seat at the opposite end of the long table.
I guess I do deserve the cold shoulder, but I’m not going to stop caring about her.
While waiting for Dad to get off the phone, I send Rhett and Spencer a group message.
Will you two be around in half an hour?
Spencer immediately responds.
I’m downstairs in the gym. What’s up?
Not waiting for Rhett to reply, I respond to Spencer.
I need to talk to you two after my meeting with Dad.
Spencer’s reply is everything that I expect it to be.
Is everything alright? I can come upstairs now if it will make things easier.
Having Rhett and Spencer here will help keep me from repeating everything that is discussed during the meeting.
Yeah, get Rhett, and come join us in ten minutes.
The conference door opens and Francesca steps inside, joining the meeting.
“What are you doing here?”
If she’s here, then where is Rhett? The two of them are practically attached at the hip.
She plops down in the chair to the left of Dad. “Uh, attending the meeting because I’m part of the family and want more responsibilities. My opinion matters, too, you know.”
I shake my head and apologize. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out how I intended it to. I was trying to get in touch with Rhett to have him come up here for the meeting and assumed the two of you were together.”
“We were, but he was heading downstairs to find Spencer. Why do you need him here for the meeting?”
“There are some things I need to discuss, and it will be easier if Rhett and Spencer are here to hear as well.”