Page 37 of Ruthless King

Ugh, fucking Irish. As if the Chinese Triad wasn’t enough to deal with, I had to worry about the rising Irish mob. “Do you know why you’re here?”

He ticks his head at Tony and Mickey. “They said I stole from you, but I didn’t know. I swear to God, I didn’t fucking know.”

“Are you new in town?”

His head whips back and forth.

“Then how the fuck did you not recognize my guy withmygirl?”

“I—I didn’t know … I’m sorry….”

I jerk my arm back and release again, the satisfying crunch of bones breaking satiating the rage. “I’m going to do you a favor Sean O’Malley. I’m going to let you live, but you’re going to do one for me in return, got it?”

His head dips, one eye nearly swollen shut already. “Anything you want.”

“You’re going to spread the word that Stella Esposito McKenzie is mine. Anyone talks to her, comes near her, anyone fucking lays a finger on her, and I’ll gut them from spine to sternum. You got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

“Signor Valentino,” I hiss.

“I got it, Signor Valentino.”

I tug a handkerchief from my jacket pocket and wipe my hands, then remove the brass knuckles and tuck them into my pocket. My fingers curl around the knife. I spin around and strike, dragging the blade across his forehead until I hit bone.

He lets out a wail, muttering curses.

“And that’s for pulling a gun and scaring her. A permanent reminder for all those to see what happens to anyone who fucks with what’s mine.” I spit on the scum’s shoes and march out.

* * *

I should be at the office tonight. I’d spent all day tracking down that asshole with Tony and now I should be working with Clara to move things around my calendar to reschedule the meeting with the city commissioner. If we don’t get the rights to the docks’ redevelopment project, we’re going to lose out big. Instead, I’m lingering outside Stella’s room like aminchione. Peering through the crack in the door, my eyes settle on her figure splayed out on the bed. She’s still in my shirt, despite the fact that Mickey had dropped off a suitcase of her old clothing.

My ribcage tightens, the space suddenly too small for my constricting lungs. I’d watched her all last night on the monitor. Her sleep had been plagued by nightmares brought on by that asshole. And I’d let it happen under my watch.

A wave of guilt pummels through me. Stella had already suffered so much; she didn’t deserve any of this. Bringing her into my life was only making things worse. Fuck. I should just let her go.

My heart riots at the idea.

What is it about this woman that has me so fucking rattled? My eyes close, and my mind drifts to the past. A smiling little girl with freckles and a contagious laugh fills my vision.

“You again, Luca?” A fiery, tiny thing glares up at me. She’s in a My Little Pony bathing suit, splashing around the busted fire hydrant.

“Yes, me again. You think you’re going to get rid of me that easily? I’m your brother’s new best friend.” I hitch a thumb at Vinny. He’s sitting on the front steps of the barber shop, a black and white ball between his feet.

“Just ignore her, or she’ll follow us everywhere for the rest of the day.” He stands and kicks the ball around.

“I will not,” she hisses. “I don’t care what you guys are doing anyway.”

“Good.” Vinny pats her on the head, and she shoots him a scowl. “Stay here where Mrs. D. can see you,piccola. We don’t need you getting into any trouble, Stellina.”

“Don’t call me that. I’m not a baby anymore.”

“You’ll always be my little Stellina.”

She plants her hands on her hips and mutters what I swear is a curse in Italian. “Where are you guys going anyway?”

Vinny doesn’t answer, just keeps walking down Mulberry Street. So I turn back and shout over my shoulder, “We’re just going to play some football, kid. We’ll be back soon.”