Page 30 of Red Retaliation

As he moves to the door, I follow, clinging to him in the hope of preventing him from leaving.

I fail.

It’s futile, as is my sickening pleading.

“Remain here until I return.” Red meets my eyes, his own devoid of emotion. “It’s for your own protection rather than stopping you from running.” He pauses, his look sending shivers of apprehension up my spine. “I wish I’d let you go in the first place, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, is it not?”

As the door slams behind him and the key turns, I can do nothing but sink into a chair.

What did he mean by “my protection”? Protection from the Bristonis, my own family, Red’s men and brothers or himself?

I sink into the only chair in the room and rest my head in my hands, the heat of Red’s random and meaningless kiss pushed to the back of my crowded brain.

All I can do is wait and see if my family is spared because if they aren’t, I’m not sure if I can live with the realization that it’s because of what I’ve done. This ismyfault.

CHAPTER

19

Red

DEL IS CONFIDENT the clientele in the Scorpio Lounge are none the wiser about the shooting. Nor the police. This is good because the last thing any of us need is police swarming everywhere, including over other properties associated with me. If the remaining cocaine is discovered, I’ll lose thousands, not to mention the gear’s street value. I don’t want customers put off from frequenting my establishment due to a ‘turf war’ either.

My eyes narrow. This is far from a turf war. It’spersonal. But when push comes to shove, all I want is Steve back. He was a top man - one of my best.

My fingernails dig into my palm as we speed along the road in one of our fleet of Transit vans.

One of my best men lies dead and for what?

Because our suspicions were correct, and Arianna’s actions have been construed asours.

I will not let that go. The Bristonis and Galvatores - whoever is responsible - possibly both, will pay for this error.

And they will pay greatly.

I don’t care what Arianna wants. What is she thinking, asking me to spare her family? Does she really believe that old cunt of a father of hers isn’t capable of this? She’ll learn and learn the hard way; I’ll make sure of that.

She is a selfish bitch, bleating on about being dead inside. The woman needs to think herself lucky that I didn’t kiss her for real.Thenshe’d knowwhat “alive” really means.

But however tempting it is to kiss Arianna properly, I will not allow my lips to take hers for real. I will not infect myself with anything made from Galvatore DNA.

That, and in case my worst nightmares are realized and I enjoy it as much as my cock believes...

Fuck. I shouldn’t have even chastely pressed anything of mine against her.

Dragging the back of my hand across my mouth, I hope that if thereareany Galvatore genes left on my lips, they won’t take hold.

I’ve made my point and that’s that.

Besides, whether the Galvatores are behind Steve’s death and what happened tonight is irrelevant. I know what they do and how they do it. I’ve seen it countless times and now, because of Arianna, my men, my firm and my family are targets.

It will get messy, but not with further casualties from my side. One is enough.

My jaw aches, and such is my stress, my shoulders and neck feel like they’re connected by steel girders.

Oh, you have lots to learn, little girl, I think, my anger deepening.

“What are you planning to do when we get there?” Del glances at my shirt. “Hey, you realize you’ve taken a bullet?”