Page 80

“Doesn’t this story sound familiar?” I push him when his back is turned to me, then follow up with another punch.
To my shock, he catches it and jabs me in the gut.
It’s like I got hit with a hammer. Usually at this point, I’d have my tools to dissect my prey, but he’s my cousin, so I have to do this the old school way—blow for blow.
“Me and Ellie arenot this.”
I grab Donny by the collar, kick his leg out and shove him back into the table. His failure to see the hypocrisy is infuriating. I jump on top of him and punch him hard in the jaw.
“You nearly got us all hunted down when you took Don Shadow’sdaughter.” I block another punch, grab his collar, and shake fucking sense into him. “You took a risk. It’s no different here.”
“This is law enforcement, Aros.” He grits his teeth and shoves me hard off of him. “This is the bratva, we’re talking about.” We rise at the same time with our fists up. “It’s not the fucking same.” He comes at me again.
“You took the daughter of a rival fucking family.” I throw a hook to his face. “You sure it ain’t the same thing?”
He dashes into my space and grabs me by the jacket. I grab him back.
“What am I going to do when they figure it out, huh?” Donny says.
“Not your fucking concern.” I grit my teeth. “I told you once.”
“How?”
I turn to give a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure she’s out of earshot, then lower my voice. “I’m giving myself in.”
He lets go, and all the air in the room is sucked out.
“Alright? When this is all said and done, I’m giving myself to the Russians and telling them I acted alone. The Valentinos will be free and clear.”
Donny shakes his head. “Like hell.”
“Not your fucking business.” I point. “I don’t work for you. I’m a freelancer. Or do I have to remind you what I gave for this family?Huh?”
He backs away, blood leaking from the side of his eye, bruise forming on his neck.
I didn’t get away easy either. Feeling the taste of metallic in my mouth, and the small river exiting my nose makes me remember what it’s like to tangle with a goddamn horse.
Donny takes a breath and paces to the broken table. He picks up one of the dish cloths and tosses it at me. “You’re bleeding.”
I wipe my nose. “You too.”
“Men are fucking idiots.” Quinn runs by and gets another two cloths, shoving one into Donny’s ribs where she knows I punched him.
He groans and smirks. “Feisty.”
“You’re an asshole,” she says. “Andyes, I know who you are. I don’t care.”
He laughs at that. “Maybe you twoaremeant for each other.”
Quinn squeezes herself under my arm and dabs my nose for me. “You’re too old to be getting into fist fights, Silver.”
“And aren’t you a little young for him?” Donny comments.
“Sometimes things can’t be helped,” I say.
“So what, you two just beat the shit out of each other, and it’s all fine after?” Quinn asks.
“Let me assure you,nothingis fine.” Donny licks the blood out of his teeth. “I’m dealing with the aftermath of your father’s disappearance. And I’m not talking about the first one. The Russians are livid. Yuri pulled some of his men to investigate, which means our precious metal operation is taking hits. Castor isn’t happy,I’mnot happy.”