Page 103 of Dangerous Intent

“If you want to do business with me, I’m going to ask that you spare him.” Martino shrugged. “Now, of course, I’m not going to get in the middle of what’s between the two of you.”

“What?” Diego frowned. “I thought I had your protection.”

Idiot.

“I won’t do business with the Accetti family if they eliminate you, even though walking away would be a bad business decision for me.” Martino shook his head. “But if Marchello decides to walk away from our potential association because of you, I can’t stop him from coming for you, especially after you went after his wife.”

Clearly, I had Martino where I needed him to be. He wanted to do business with me more than I wanted to partner with him. Which meant I had the upper hand.

“I appreciate that.” I pondered my options because working with Martino could be beneficial to my organization. “I’m going to hear you out, Diego. What is it you want from me that you took the time to send me such an elaborate and personal message?”

“I wired Gian a substantial amount of money, and I was promised something in return,” Diego said.

“My wife.”

The urge to pull out my gun and kill him was greater than the possibility of going to prison for the rest of my life. But when my feisty girl’s gorgeous face flashed in front of me, I came to my senses. I could never be locked in a cage while she waited for me. I wouldn’t survive that.

“She wasn’t your wife at the time.”

Diego was either stupid or really brave.

“She was under my protection, and if you didn’t know that, you didn’t do your homework before you wired three million dollars into a dead man’s account.” I smirked. “Talk about irony. Now that money belongs to the very woman you tried to buy.”

Martino and Lorenzo snickered.

“You see how amusing that is?” I asked. “So, if your intentions were to come here and demand that money back, I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”

“Why is that?” Diego’s jaw tightened, accentuating the dried blood in the corner of his mouth.

“Lissia donated that money to a charity that helps abused women.” I shoved Diego’s shoulder. “More irony, you dumb fuck.”

“That money belongs to me,” Diego said. “I want it back.”

“I could get you a one-way ticket to where Gian is and you could take it up with him.” I shrugged. “But I’d rather handle this like businessmen.”

“I believe my message was clear enough when I sent that warning.” Diego glared at me. “That’s how I do business.”

“You’re more stupid than I thought.” I turned to Martino and raised my hands. “I’m afraid I can’t enter into an agreement with you. I have to kill him. That’s how I do business.”

“Diego,” Martino said. “Is three million dollars worth your life?”

“I want my money back, and I intend to get it,” Diego said. “One way or another.”

“You’re a dead man.” I glanced at my men and nodded toward the exit. “We’re leaving.”

“You could end this by giving me my money back,” Diego said. “I’ll walk away, and you can resume your business with Martino.”

“How does that benefit me? You’ll still be alive.” I looked at Lorenzo and Martino. “Am I supposed to let him remain a threat to my family? To my wife?”

“Once I have my money, you’ll be of no use to me,” Diego said.

“And I’m supposed to take your word on that?” I asked. “You put an explosive in my car, and if that wasn’t bad enough, you approached my wife without me present. I already know what kind of man you are.”

“I’m losing my patience.” Martino raised his voice. “I came here to work out a deal with you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have brought him.” I thumbed at Diego. “I hope whatever he did for you is worth protecting him from me, because it just cost you the use of my ports.”

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave my property,” Lorenzo said to Diego.