Page 37 of Dangerous Intent

Lissia tried to get past Collins as I approached.

“Listen up, you little bitch.” Danny tugged her toward him. “I’m going to give you a message, and this time you make sure your husband gets it.”

“Why don’t you give it to me yourself?” I blocked the entrance of the hall. “You have about a second to get your hands off my wife.”

Collins shoved Lissia in my direction. “You can have the whore.”

She slammed into me, and the rage inside me broke free. I handed Lissia off to Milo before swinging at Collins’ jaw, sending him hurling to the ground.

He yelped when I kicked him in the ribcage.

The commotion behind me should have stopped me, but all I could think about was what that piece of shit had done to Lissia.

“Get up!” I kicked him again. “Stand up and fight me like a man instead of coming at me through her.”

“Chello.” Milo placed his hand on my shoulder. “We have an audience.”

I didn’t care how many eyes were on me—how many videos were being taken. Collins had my wrath coming for weeks.

Two of my men pulled him to his feet and stepped away, letting me finish this.

Danny motioned at me with both hands to come at him. “Let’s settle this.”

Lissia grabbed my bicep. “Marchello. Not here. Not like this.”

I moved Lissia behind me. “Milo, get her out of here.”

“I’m not leaving you,” she said.

Even without looking at her, I pictured the determination in her eyes.

“How the hell did the great and powerful Marchello Accetti marry such an insufferable brat?” Collins laughed. “You should have let me take her off your hands when you had the chance.”

I swung at him again, and my fist connected with his jaw, but this time he stayed standing. I sensed the crowd behind me growing larger with each flash of a phone camera.

Collins lunged toward me.

I grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the wall.

“Did you come for a fight?” I gritted my teeth. “Because you’re not really trying.”

“Why would I fight you when I could just shoot you?”

“You tried that. It didn’t work.”

“No, but I almost took out your lying bitch of a wife.”

“Fuck you!” I hauled my arm back, but he pulled his gun on me.

“No!” Lissia gasped as on-lookers shouted out.

My guards stepped in front of me faster than Collins could get off a shot, disarming and restraining him.

Without thinking, I pulled my gun from the back of my pants and pointed it at Collins’ face.

Milo hurried to my side and held up his hand. “There are cameras every-fucking-where. You know better than this. That’s why he chose now to show himself. There are too many witnesses.”

I took a breath and kept my glare trained on Collins as I lowered my gun and shoved it back in my waistband.