Page 34 of Broken Mafia Prince (His to Break #1)

I jam my foot into the doorway and push it open while throwing a punch at his face. He lets out a pathetic scream, clutching his nose as blood squirts out of it. A woman on the bed screams, jumping out of the bed and racing out naked.

“What the fuck, man?” Luca asks. “What are you doing here, you son of a bitch?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I tell him. “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping yourself for your soon-to-be bride?”

He snorts. “Don’t tell me you’re here to fight for her rights.”

“This isn’t about her.” Even though a part of me wants to just go to town on him for being a piece of shit. It makes me a hypocrite to be offended for her sake about him sleeping around when I can still hear the sounds she made as she came as clear as day.

“Really? Cause it’s starting to feel like you’re so desperate for her pussy, you’ll let her lead you along on a leash,” he laughs, pulling out a snowy white handkerchief to mop at his nose. “You’re pathetic.”

“Says the man who’s involved with the Syndicate. What did they promise you? A house in the Bahamas?”

His teeth snap together. “Who I collaborate with is none of your fucking business.”

“Not when you’re collaborating with people who are hunting me down,” I tell him coldly. “What does the Syndicate want? Why are they suddenly coming after Giulia and me?”

He laughs. “Maybe it’s your father’s doing. Maybe he’s trying to keep you from getting involved with that little bitch.”

I don’t think. My fists fly out and catch Luca in the jaw.

His head snaps backward, but he recovers quickly, dodging my next punch and throwing one of his own that makes contact with the underside of my jaw.

I stagger back a little, almost losing balance, but manage to catch myself on the dresser behind me.

He lets out a furious roar and charges at me, but this time, I’m ready for him.

I sidestep, wrap my arm around his neck, and pin him in place.

He drives his elbow back into my stomach, and I release him.

While I’m still distracted by the pain in my ribs, he jabs three more hits into my middle in quick procession.

He’s about to land the fourth when I catch his hand, yank him forward, and knock my head into his as hard as I can. He stumbles back, looking dazed.

“Fuck you!” he spits. “You’re just mad that she belongs to me, and we both know that at the end of the day, she’ll be mine to do with as I please. Just wait and see. I’ll make her life a living hell. She’ll be my whore for eternity, and nobody can stop that. It’s been signed and soaked in blood.”

A cold rage I’ve only ever felt once in my life—the day my mother died—bubbles up to the surface, and my fingers twitch for my gun.

“I’ll make sure to record every moment of it so you can participate, too,” Luca smirks.

I see red.

My entire plan to not kill him goes out the window. I’m on him in seconds and this time around, it’s with the intention of turning his face into pulp. I don’t plan on stopping until his head is caved in and he’s entirely unrecognizable.

Luca is still mouthing off as we go down to the floor, but it sounds like it’s coming from afar.

There’s a buzzing in my head that I know won’t stop until I silence him permanently.

So lost in my head, I don’t realize we have an audience until something smacks the back of my skull.

I glance over my shoulder and see a tiny woman in a red negligee holding up a second pair of her heels to throw at me.

“I’ve called the police!” she shouts, even though she’s shaking in fright. “You’re in big trouble.”

“Yeah, asshole,” Luca groans, trying to shift his face into a smile, but he hisses in pain. “You’re in big trouble. After you’re locked up like the animal you are, I’ll make sure to come around with my pretty wife. Maybe I’ll gift you a conjugal visit with her. One-time offer only.”

Bile rises up my throat, and with it, fury.

I raise my hand to hit him again and end this once and for all, but he speaks up again. “Nah, I take back my offer. The night you spent with her at your safehouse should be more than enough for you.”

My hand freezes in the air. “You had us followed? I’m going to kill you, you piece of shit.”

“Then who’ll tell you that the Syndicate is on their way to the safehouse right now to pick up your little whore?” He laughs at the look on my face.

“You’re lying!” I growl, not wanting to believe how evil he truly is. “Why would you give them her location? They’ll kill her!”

“Hey, I’m the good guy here.” He shrugs. “The bitch must miss her twin so much, I’m just reuniting them.”

I bring my fist down on his face one last time, knocking him out before jumping to my feet and digging out my phone. I’m dialing Giulia’s number as I race out of the room, ignoring the woman’s panicked screech as I move past her.

“C’mon, c’mon, pick up,” I mutter as I slide into my car. My heart is pounding faster than it’s ever done in my life, and I feel both lightheaded and more alert than I’ve ever been.

I turn the car in the direction of the safehouse, sweat dripping down my face, and drive like a bat out of hell to go save her.

The safehouse is eerily silent when I arrive. It’s empty.

Too empty.

I scan the space—nothing out of place. No forced entry. No sign of Giulia ever being here.

A slow, sickening realization crawls down my spine.

She never made it here.

I whip out my phone, dialing Tommaso. He picks up on the first ring.

“She’s not here,” I say, already heading for my car. “She never was.”

A pause. “What?” Tommaso’s voice sharpens. “That doesn’t—boss, I swear, I watched her leave with Isabella earlier today. They were headed straight there.”

“Tell me how the fuck Luca knew she was supposed to be here. Did he bug my phone? Was he listening in on our conversation?”

“Shit. He must have tapped your line.” Tommaso exhales hard.

“Damn it. I should’ve been more careful,” I bark, already heading back to my car.

A second line rings in. Unknown number.

I already know who it is.

Luca.

Motherfucker.

“You’re a little late, Gagliardi. I hope you enjoyed your little road trip, because while you were busy playing knight in shining armor, I got exactly what I wanted.”

My body goes still.

He played me.

I exhale through gritted teeth. “Where the fuck is she?”

Luca chuckles. The sound makes my blood boil. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll see her soon enough. I even left a little invitation for you—at the Montanari penthouse. You might want to hurry. Tick tock.”

Rage ignites in my chest like gasoline thrown on fire.

“You touch her, and I’ll carve you into pieces,” I say, voice low and lethal.

Luca tuts. “Tsk, tsk. That’s not a very friendly tone. And here I was, trying to do you a favor—giving you one last chance to see your little princess.”

I grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles go white. “What do you want?”

Luca chuckles. “Oh, just a little fun. Get to the penthouse. Come alone. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll get to say goodbye. Don’t make me wait. I’d hate for you to miss the real show.”

The line goes dead.

“Tommaso,” I bark. “Find out where the Montanari penthouse is. Now.”

I throw the car into gear.

“On it,” he says. “Boss… you think she’s still alive?”

I floor the gas pedal.

“She’d better be.”