Page 87 of Dirty Behavior

He had orders to not lay a hand on me. And he knew how serious Remo was about it. A small bubble of control rose up, lodging itself in my chest. My heart thudded against my ribs, each beat crushed against the bone, trying like hell to break free.

I was going to do something to help Sesto.

Remo only needed me. He didn't need to wear his power on his sleeve by killing another man. I wasn't going to stand for it.

I took a step forward, Gio's chair screeched across the floor as he jumped up. “Sit back down!”

Flicking my head over my shoulder, my lip curled in a heavy snarl. “Are you going to stop me?”

Fumbling with his phone, he started to walk at me. “Don't, Ivy, there's nothing you can do.”

“I'm getting him down, Gio, that's it.”

“No you're not.” His head clicked to his shoulder, brows dipping down hard. “You touch him—”

Cutting him off, I whipped around and threw my hands up. “If I touch him you'll do what? You can't do anything to me, Remo gave you orders. He's not a threat to you, look at him!” Pointing at Sesto, I turned back around and kept walking.

Gio stood there stunned, but he knew I was right. He wasn't going to do anything to me because he wasn't allowed to. It was that simple. He had been given strict orders, one rule that he knew damn well Remo would keep his word on.

Loosening the rope, Sesto slipped out and hit the floor. He didn't make a sound, he didn't grunt or groan in agony. He just fell to the hard ground, his arms landing awkwardly because he hadn't protected himself. His face was down, nose blowing out bursts of dust with each wilted breath.

Bending down, I rolled his head to the side so he could hopefully take in air better. Brushing the hair from Sesto's face, I whispered into his ear. “I'm sorry, I never meant for anyone else to get hurt.”

“Now get away from him.” Gio snapped, his teeth bit down on his lip as an audible growl whooshed out from his lungs. “Remo isn't going to like this, and I better not get flak for it.” Pointing his finger in my face, his jaw cocked to the side. “Because if I do. . .”

Standing up slowly, I waited for him to finish. Folding my arms across my chest, my hip kicked out, lips thinning. “Go on. If you do, then what?”

Slicing the air with his hand, he turned from me and dropped back into his seat. “Forget it, Ivy.”

POP!

POP!

My muscles shivered at the sudden gunfire, all my thoughts completely erased. My arms fell to my side as I stood stone still, unable to move.

What the hell happened?

Who was shooting now?