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“Wade,” the biker could barely squeak out.
“What did you see in there, Wade?”
“Nothing, I swear!” the biker croaked.
“That’s too bad. Cesare, take him back inside and show him what happened.”’
“Everything, I saw everything!” Wade put up his palms. “P-please don’t kill me!”
“Cristo santo,” Enzo muttered in disgust.
“I’m not going to kill you.” I took another drag from my cigarette. “I want you to go back to the rest of your brothers and tell them what happened here. Make sure they know this is over. If they come back at us again, if they set foot anywhere near Paesano, retribution will be swift and severe. There will be no one left to send a message home next time.”
“I swear, I’ll tell them. Thank you!” he said, wiping the snot running out of his nose.
“Now fuck off,” Enzo snapped. “Before we reconsider.”
“And you go on foot,” Giacomo added. “Not on your bike.”
Wade didn’t argue. He sprinted down the dark street as fast as he could go, disappearing.
“Cesare,” I said. “Grab the gas cans. You and Tommaso douse the bikes and the bar. I want nothing left.”
As Cesare and Tommaso set to work with the gasoline, I turned to Enzo and Giacomo. “We can get the fuck out of here after we change clothes.”
The three of us stripped to our briefs and one of my men took our stained clothing over to the impending bonfire. When we were redressed, I slapped both Enzo and Giacomo on the back. “Grazie mille.”
“Prego, fratello,” Enzo said with an evil grin I knew well.
“This was fun,” Giacomo said, buckling his belt. “And if you learn we’ve underestimated the stupidity of these bikers, ring me. I’ll happily hop on a plane to New York and help you finish it.”
“I will, don’t worry.”
After we got back into the SUVs, we watched as Tommaso tossed a flaming lighter into a pool of the gasoline, whichimmediately enveloped the motorcycles in flames. Then the fire spread to the bar. Soon the entire scene would be a pile of ash.
Exactly as I’d planned.
Exhausted but wired, I climbed the stairs up into my jet. My body always reacted this way after violence, with a rush of adrenaline, and it usually took hours to calm down. I couldn’t wait to work out all this energy by fucking my woman senseless tonight.
Enzo and Giacomo trailed me up the metal steps. They would take the jet back to Toronto after dropping me and my men in Paesano. “Slow down, fratello,” Enzo called. “You’ll see her soon enough.”
“Hurry up, old man,” I said over my shoulder. “Or I will leave without you.”
I went into the cabin, ready to start barking orders for our departure, and promptly froze.
Maggie was sitting in one of the leather seats, legs crossed, champagne glass in her hand. Her mouth curled as she took in my shocked face. “Surprise,” she said, raising her flute in a toast.
My mind couldn’t take it in. Was she really here?
Then my sister filled my line of sight as she walked down the aisle. “I see everyone made it back in one piece.” Paloma kissed my cheeks, then eased past me to greet Giacomo and Enzo. “I take it your errand went smoothly.”
“What . . . ?” I shook my head as I strode toward Maggie. In three steps I had my arms around her, hugging her into my chest. My muscles relaxed, the noise inside my brain quieting as I breathed her in. Cazzo, I’d needed this. “How did you manage it?”
“Paloma,” she said, tipping her chin to stare up at me. “It was her idea.”
Turning, I searched for my sister and found her standing next to Enzo. Both of my siblings looked all too pleased with themselves. “You’re welcome,” Paloma said with a lift of a single eyebrow.
I squeezed Maggie’s waist, so grateful that she was here. “Grazie,” I told my sister. “Ti voglio bene.”