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“You already took out eight of our soldiers,” Arnie tried to be the voice of reason. “You take out the Blind Don too and the Rossis won’t come back from this. The commission will get involved and morale will sink further.”

“I’m within my rights?—”

“As I was within mine!” Raffa shouted. “You threatened me. You coward. You threatened a blind man.”

“Then come after me and not my wife!”

“Then you’re even, Sandro,” Arnie said. “Bianca’s not hurt. They didn’t touch her.”

“She has bruises on her,” I roared. Red welts in the form of fingers circled her wrists. Bloodlust was still a riptide inside me. Killing eight men wasn’t enough. “She’s covered in blood!”

“I’m fine.” Bianca’s soothing voice washed over me and she tightened her hold around my torso. “Help me get rid of it.” She paused. “You all better leave.”

Griselda, who wouldn’t look at me until then, glared at Bianca. “You ruin everything!” she screamed. “You’re like a cat who always lands on her feet!”

“Griselda…” I warned. I was at the root end of my patience. If I were inclined to kill women, she would be at the top of my list.

I heard a growl of fury, before I realized Bianca had shoved away from me.

“You fucking bitch,” my wife snarled before launching herself at Griselda.

Chapter

Nineteen

Bianca

“You’ve messed with me for the last time!” I raged, tackling Griselda to the floor, straddling her body, and smacked her across the face. She covered her head with her forearms, and I was frustrated I couldn’t scratch her eyes out.

Everyone had their breaking point. Griselda had flicked my crazy switch.

“Someone get this bitch off me!” Griselda screamed.

“Not so tough now, huh?” I clawed at her arms. There was no excusing her harmful manipulations. “You let other people do your dirty work. Well, I’m not afraid to do mine.” Bits of Gold Tooth’s blood and brain rained on her.

Fingers gripped my shoulders to pull me away. “Bianca…”

It sounded like Sticks, but I was still caught up in the maelstrom of my fury. I felt violated when Gold Tooth grabbed my arm and hauled me away. When unwanted fingers tried to undress me, expose me. If Sandro hadn’t arrived in time, I would be scarred for life and there would be three more bodies in the study because that would have been Sandro’s breaking point.The doc, Raffa, and Griselda would be dead. She should’ve been thankful she was alive.

“Get your fucking hands off her,” Sandro boomed. “This is long overdue.”

“Sandro,” Griselda cried. “How could you…”

“He could because I’m his wife,” I snarled. “And his loyalty is to me.” I got off her and yanked her up by her hair. “Get that through your damned head, Griselda!” With a fistful of her hair, I dragged her out of the study the way Raffa’s men had dragged me earlier. She tried to fight me, but my fury was greater than her spite and I was livid beyond rational thought.

I stalked across the foyer with her shrieking behind me. Most of Sandro’s men stood by as we passed them.

“Help me!” Griselda scraped my arm with her nails to dislodge my grip, but she knew if she fought too hard, she’d end up with a bald spot. We reached the open door and I jerked her through. That was when I released her. I was panting hard. All the heat seemed to have gone to my head. She swiped at her face and stumbled down the steps.

“You’re a lunatic,” she croaked out. She was sobbing, her face blotchy and mascara smudged around her eyes.

“Bitch,” I shot back. “You haven’t seen lunatic yet. They don’t call me sweet but a psycho for nothing, and you’ve triggered my psycho.”

Arnie hurried Raffa past the threshold, not even stopping to say goodbye. I realized what a fright I looked. Like Carrie on prom night covered with pig’s blood. I remembered my words on my wedding day to Griselda. It might have been a prophecy.

Arms hugged me from behind. “You okay?” Sandro’s voice rumbled in my ear.

I turned in his arms and gazed up at him. His eyes were fierce and wary at the same time.