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The man standing a little too close to where my sister is sitting on the couch shifts. “There were only eight of them. They’re all dead, even Astor.”
Adalie stares at him. Eyes wide. Mouth parted, as if she wants to say something. But he cuts a look in her direction and she presses her lips together.What the fuck is that?
Vito pauses, eyeing Alec. “I thought I told you to leave Grigory alive.”
“It was unavoidable.”
Vito notices my sister for the first time and scowls. “Your wife failed to mention your sister was here.” He eyes me, gears spinning. “You know,” he begins, eyeing Cassia, then Adalie, “you and I need to have a discussion.”
“About what?” I ask through gritted teeth. He’s not getting what he wants.
He sneers. “You know my help doesn’t come for free. Adalie might help even the score.”
She sucks in a breath, understanding his meaning, probably remembering all the men Dad had been bringing around. I glance at her, worried she’ll faint, too, but my sister is steady, stronger than I ever expected, given the bodies surrounding her.
“I have a nephew,” Vito begins, moving closer. “And he needs a wife.”
Rage pours through me. “No.”
Vito shakes his head. “Your family is done telling me no.” He makes a gesture at Alec. “Kill him.”
“No!” Adalie rasps, clutching the back of the couch. Part of me expected her to hate me, considering I killed our father, but when I see the worry on her face, I know she doesn’t. All that’s there is sisterly affection and terror at the thought of Vito’s men killing me. “Please don’t hurt him,” she begs.
Alec glances at his gun, looks at my sister again for three seconds too long, and tips his head. Adalie swallows, chewing on her bottom lip.
My hackles rise as he raises the gun, but his focus isn’t on me. I manage to step away from Vito right before the bullet hits the center of his forehead. Chaos follows the shot, Vito’s men—his former men—cussing, berating, and shouting at Alec. A few older guys lift their weapons.
Goddammit.
“Adalie, get down!” I shout.
Tony is already jumping out of the line of fire. I take as much cover as I can, but the gunfight is over with four pointed pops that are followed by solid thuds. Heart jackhammering, I shield Cassia with my body and glance around. Adalie is fine. Her fingers are pressed to her mouth as she stares at the men who stepped forward to avenge Vito, now all lying on the ground, dead. Copper is heady in the air, blood splatter and brain matter covering the marble.
“Look away, Adalie,” I tell her.
She rips her gaze from the bodies on the floor, her eyes colliding with mine before jumping to Alec.
I clench my jaw.Why does she keep looking at him like he’s some type of savior?
“Anyone else have a fuckin’ problem here?” Alec asks, voice level and low.
The men he leads as capo are the only ones left alive. The younger guns all dip their heads. Over the years, he’s gained their respect. Working side by side with them. From what I know, Alec was always destined for more than a capo. He’s not like Luca. He was never going to be content under a leader who couldn’t even lead a gunfight. Vito’s body swims in a pool of blood, and Alec holsters the gun.
“Adalie,” he murmurs, studying my sister with far too much interest.
There’s no way in hell that’ll ever happen. Vito’s nephew was bad enough, but Alec? No fucking way.
I brace myself for his next demand, but it never comes. He wrenches his gaze away from her, glances at me, taking in the hard set of my jaw, the bunching of my shoulders, and nods in understanding.
He approaches me. “How do you want to handle this?”
“My DNA is on Darius. That’s a problem.”
Alec sighs. “JJ.” He calls over one of his guys. “How much?” he asks me.
I glance at my sister and grimace, pitching my voice low. “Mostly his neck, but they had Adalie too. I don’t think they touched her?—”
A soft breath comes from far closer than where Adalie was sitting. I glance at her, pinching my eyebrows together. What has gotten into her today?