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“Let’s hit them before they do, Fra Valentino,” Giuseppe says, pushing a shock of thick hair back from his face. He has small, beady green eyes, unlike his brothers, and right now, those eyes are trained on me. “Let’s put them down once and for all.”
“It’s Francesca they want,” Matteo says.
Hearing my wife’s name fall from his mouth has me on edge. She called him dreamy. Him? She’s such a fucking liar.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Matteo continues. “Terra de Barbiera is about to make us all fucking rich. That land is worth its weight in gold.”
“The land belongs to me,” I remind him. “There’s no us when it comes to Terra de Barbiera; only me.”
The room goes silent as everyone glances at each other. I wait for any opposition, but there’s none. The relationship between me and Terra de Barbiera is way more than anyone knows. Yes, it’s a land flowing with milk and honey, but it is mine Valentino, not the Barone clan. Once the land is half-developed, I have a plan that will make them all rich beyond their dreams, but not now.
“I suggest we use Franco as bait,” Zio Marco says suddenly. “Someone obviously wants his head, and we want to know who it is; we will use him to draw out the enemy and eliminate them.”
“Or we can use Francesca as bait. A far more attractive option,” Matteo counters.
Did this fucking guy just mention Francesca again? I’m getting a little upset, and that’s not good for anyone.
“What did you just say?” Roberto asks incredulously. He was always the one with the brains.
“Hear me out,” Matteo says. “If we use Francesca, they’ll take the bait quicker. We all know that Paulo and Franco Barbieri hid her well because she is the real prize.”
“I think he’s right,” Federico says. “This might work. What do you think, Fra Valentino?” he asks me, and I stare at him, wondering how in hell he thinks Matteo made any sense.
“We’ll be sure to protect her, of course,” Matteo says. “No one would actually be within touching distance of her. But we will fool them into thinking she’s up for grabs, I swear it’s the fastest way to fish out the face behind the bounty. Think, Fra Valentino. Using Francesca is a no-brainer.”
The more he talks, the angrier I get. The thought of Francesca being used as anything makes my blood boil.
“I’ll let you off this time just because you arefamila,” I cut Matteo off. “But I swear to holy fucking God, the next time my wife’s name falls from your lips, I’ll make sure to kick you within an inch of your life.”
The room goes silent, but this time, it’s pregnant with shock. I turn to Federico. “And that applies to you, as well.”
“Valentino!” Zio Marco says crossly. “Don’t say things like that. These are your brothers. You should know better than to threaten to hurt them.”
I respect Zio Marco, but he is demented if he thinks I’d let him speak down on my authority as the Head of the family organization. “Speak to your sons, or you’ll lose one of them before night falls. I promise you that.”
“Come on, bro,” Matteo says.
Bro? What is he, a black rapper now? My eyes narrow to slits.
“You can’t let Francesca-”
I always keep a gun in my drawer, and it is drawn and cocked and pointed in his direction in two seconds.
Matteo’s eyes bulge in astonishment and everyone freezes.
“Valentino!” Zio Marco growls, springing to his feet with impotent fury. “You don’t do this to your family.”
“Francesca is family! Suggesting I put her up as bait lets me know you haven’t taken her as that.” I look into his eyes. There isshame there. “I suggest everyone take tonight for introspection because we will have this meeting again soon. I will shoot you all down before I let you disrespect my wife.”
With that said, I walk out of my study.
Chapter Eleven
FRANCESCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3vTgpNPzYQ
-Hey Baby, there ain’t no easy way out-