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I’m not worried about torture or pain. Just her.
I let go of the rookie in my grasp and put my hands up.
Rodney turns around. “You’re the neighbor. The one Quinn kept going to see.”
“You?” Ferraro belly laughs. “That’s my fucking niece. The fuck do you think you’re doing with her?”
I grit my teeth. “Fuck you, sending the bratva to sell out your own.”
“Big mouth, even when the cards turn against you.” Ferraro picks up his gun and cocks it.
“Ah, ah.” Nikolaj sticks a finger in Ferraro’s face. “It’s like this Italian scum said before… You’ve done enough, I think,da? Go help clean up the mess outside.”
“Niko… if someone sees me—” Ferraro pleads.
“Best move quickly then.” He taps his watch. “Hurry up. I have four men coming to help.”
Ferraro scoffs, takes a good look at me, and moves out of the room.
“Now where were we?” Niko pulls out a curved knife and flips it into his grasp. “You killed Yuri’s cousin, hm?” He grazes the blade across my face.
I know I can move quick enough to stab Nikolaj, but I’d be killed thereafter, and then the Valentinos would be dragged into this mess. I have to state my case and keep the family clean.
“I think I know what this is all about now.” Nikolaj puckers his lips. “You fell in love with a girl. The forbidden fruit. She’s beautiful, isn’t she? The captain’s daughter. My bratva brothers showed me pictures of her in Ferraro’s house.”
I tense hard, and Nikolaj grips his knife harder against my neck.
“Want to test me, old man?” He smiles. “I hope she was worth it.” He clicks his tongue, kicks my gun away, and then paces around the room. “Or maybe… that’s all a ruse, and you’re sent from one of the families. You like to play costume. You are interesting. What is your name?”
“Arosso Valentino.” There’s no point to hide it. “But I was kicked out of that family a long time ago,” I scoff, making a show of it. “Said I was too unpredictable. I’m on my fucking own and don’t you dare associate me with those scum.”
“Ooh. Testy.”
“Don’t care what you do to me, Nikolaj. Just leave the Dalls out of this. Back it up. Take Ferraro and me, give Yuri a two-for-one and call it a day.”
He arcs an eyebrow. “You have no more pull since my man Kashmir got the better of you, hm? Besides, you made a mess for me. And led me on a goose chase, like I got nothing better to do.”
Shit. At least I cleared Donny. Best I can do now is take out this prick before I go.
Sorry, Quinn. You and your father are going to have to find protection on your own. At least I thinned the heard for you.
Just as I’m about to make a move, I glimpse a man in a trench coat heading up the front stairs, gun drawn.
“Boss,” Kashmir says.
“Don’t fucking move.” Patrick stomps into his house, dirtying the wood floor with snow under his boots.
I shake my head in anger. The whole point was to keep this big idiot safe.
“Patrick,don’t!”
Kashmir tightens his hold around my neck.
“Reinforcements,”I try to say.
“Let go of the silver-haired prick.” Patrick points to Nikolaj. “He’s your man, right?Do it.”
“Captain.” Nikolaj drops his knife. “You’re playing out of your league, I think,da?Policemen cannot do much with their threats. But we’ve shown you,we can.”