Page 80 of Dangerous Intent

Asshole.Angelo’s smug demeanor infuriated me, but I had to keep it together. I couldn’t interfere. Not in this.

“Taunt me all you like.” Marchello grinned. “It’s not going to save you.”

Marchello took the gun Milo had given him from his inside pocket and swiped the barrel along Angelo’s jaw. My husband’s calmness startled me. Would he pull the trigger without warning? Or would he get the information he wanted and let his suspect go?

Am I going to see someone take their last breath right in front of me? Can I handle that?

The room didn’t seem as cold as when I first arrived, making the space the four of us gathered in a bit claustrophobic. Sweat gathered underneath my sweater and trickled down my back.

“Why did you bring me here?” Angelo’s gaze shifted to the gun pressed against the corner of his mouth. “What do you want?”

“Who put that warning bomb in my car?” Marchello asked. “The one that was meant to throw me off-balance when they came after my wife in the same barbaric way someone killed my mother.”

“I don’t know.” Angelo stared into Marchello’s eyes with such defiance.

“You’re a liar.” Marchello landed another swift punch to Angelo’s jaw. This time, he knocked him to his knees.

“Does this make you feel tough?” Angelo stood. “Coming after an unarmed man?”

“Do you want to go a few rounds with me?” Marchello laughed. “I’ll give the gun to Milo, and we can fight it out, but I have a feeling we both know who will finish this. So, why don’t you tell me what I want to know?”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Angelo said.

“Your boss is dead, and most of your soldiers have either fled the city or defected to other families.” Marchello slowly circled Angelo. “I know the bomb wasn’t your handiwork, but I do think you assisted in that weak display for power.”

“That was nothing compared to what’s coming. You have no idea who you’ve fucked with.” Angelo smiled at me. “All to protect her.”

“Who set up the car bomb?” Marchello asked. “Who is sending me the message?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Angelo gazed around the basement. “So, if this display of nonsense is over, I’m leaving.”

“What makes you think you’re walking out of here?” Milo asked.

“Do you think taking me from my home, roughing me up in a car, and bringing me to a staged hit scene is going to scare me into revealing anything to you?” Angelo shook his head. “Your father would be so disappointed. Because if he were here, my throat would have been slit already, and he would have found his answers another way.”

“My father might not be here, but he is still very much in control.” Marchello waved his gun in front of Angelo. “My tactics may not be the same as his, but make no mistake, we are very much alike.”

“Your father would never let a woman interfere in his business.” Angelo motioned toward me. “The spoiled brat that you call your wife is going to bring down this shambles of an empire, and you won’t even see them coming.”

I inched closer to Marchello, staring into Angelo’s eyes when I stood by my husband.

“I already know Collins is coming,” Marchello said. “Let him.”

“Collins.” Angelo continued to glare at me. “You’re going to wish he was all you have to worry about. He is nothing compared to who Gian has unleashed on you.”

“You’re lying.” I moved in front of Marchello, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “My father can’t do any more damage to me.”

“Always so naive,” Angelo said. “I told your father you would be the death of him, and it turns out I was right.”

“My father was responsible for his demise, not me.” Siding with Marchello may have been an act of war in our unorthodox world, but my father couldn’t see that his actions forced me into the arms of his enemy. “If my father would have listened to reason, he might not be dead.”

“What is your exact idea of reasoning?” Angelo asked. “Allowing you to marry Marchello? Being fine with his daughter living in Nico’s home?”

“That was better than what he had planned for me.” I cringed when I recalled what my father would have wished on me. “Starting with Danny.”

“For the record, Lissia, I never agreed to the union with Collins. He is too much of a loose cannon. Your father shouldn’t have trusted him, but Gian was so focused on the bigger prize that he was willing to sacrifice to get what he wanted.”

“Sacrifice me?” I raised my voice, shaking from the anger I had pushed so far down that I didn’t know if I was capable of releasing it.