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I turn to Kota. “Watch her,” I snap. He glances at me through the mirror and nods.

I push the door open hard enough to make the metal groan. My shoulders are squared as I step toward the SUV. Antonio steps out, adjusting his cuff links like this is just another fucking day at the office. Two of his men head into the building, leaving the other two to flank him but remain a step behind Antonio with their eyes locked on me, like they’re just waiting for the go-ahead to pounce. I guess they are still feeling the heat from the docks, making them ballsy right now.

He better be here to check on Cindy like he mentioned earlier today, before the mess at the docks. I’m not taking the blame for this shit. Olivia was his employee, right under his nose. My jaw clenches so tight it aches. Myfingers flex at my sides, my muscles coiled, ready. This is about to get fucking messy.

I stop a few feet away, feet planted, my shoulders squared. “If you’re here for Cindy, she’s still breathing,” I say, stopping a few feet away. I hold his gaze, giving him nothing, for now.

Antonio tilts his head, eyes dragging over me, assessing me in his calculating way. “That so?”

I exhale slowly, keeping my expression as calm as I can. “She got sick. It happens.” I roll my shoulders, cracking my neck from side to side. “Maybe you should’ve been paying closer attention to the people under your own roof.”

His smirk barely twitches. “That’s rich, coming from you,” he scoffs, tilting his chin.

The fucker thinks he’s slick, mocking the fact Liv got away on the damn roof. Like she didn’t almost break my dick, leaving me momentarily paralyzed while she pulled a fucking Houdini.

My fingers twitch, itching to wrap around his throat. I want to feel the fight leave his body under my grip. But I don’t move. “Let’s cut the shit,” I shout, stepping closer. The men at his sides tense, but Antonio lifts a hand. An unspoken order for them to stand down. “If you wanna point fingers, try looking in the fucking mirror.”

Antonio lets out a slow breath, he knows I’m fucking right. “And the girl?”

I knew this was coming. “She’s coming with me,” I say, throwing my hands up like the idea of leaving her here is so fucking ridiculous it doesn’t even deserve a discussion.

His brows lift slightly. “Is that so?”

I don’t blink. “It is.”

A long pause stretches between us before he grunts and jerks his chin toward the car. “That girl’s been digging into shit she shouldn’t be. You know that.”

I keep my face blank. “Yeah, well… she’s my problem now.”

Antonio exhales through his nose, glancing toward the car where Olivia’s still bound in the backseat. I don’t have to look to know she’s probably glaring daggers at me or throwing a temper tantrum.

Finally, he nods. “Fine. But if she causes any more problems, she’s done. And that’s not a request.”

I give him a cold stare, “Noted.”

Cazzo.

11

Liv

I’m trying to stay calm, but it’s a losing battle. The guy I’ve been secretly digging into for weeks now has me wrapped up in a sheet like a damn burrito, completely naked underneath. And now, he leaves me here with two hulking goons while he storms off to have what looks like a very animated conversation with Antonio.

At least I manage to spit out the stupid piece of fabric the jerk shoved in my mouth to gag me with.

Seriously, can’t a girl catch a break? I just hope Antonio isn’t too pissed about Cindy. I’ve seen how these guys handle problems. Making people disappear is practically their specialty. And I should know, they did a thorough job of making my parents vanish.

The shouting from Alessio snaps me out of my dark thoughts. He’s gesturing wildly with his hands while he talks to Antonio. When Antonio points at the car I’m in, the panic starts to bubble in my chest.

“Don’t mind him, he’s always like this,” the mountain of a man in the driver’s seat says, glancing back at me.

“Don’t talk to her, Kota. She isn’t the Don’s woman; we don’t need to play nice with this bitch,” the passenger snaps.

“Fuck off, Alonzo. I’ll do what I fucking want,” Kota growls, making Alonzo cower a bit.

A grin tugs at the corner of my mouth, at Alonzo’s discomfort…dumbass.

“What are you laughing at,stupida puttana?” Alonzo snaps. Like I just insulted him. I mean, I did, but not out loud.