Page 191 of Sins of the Orchid

Shit! Shit! Shit!

“Don’t try anything,” Adriano growled. “I can have your family find your brains splattered against this floor.” He chuckled menacingly. “Assuming they even find this car or you.”

I went deathly still at his words, watching him warily while my heart hurt. It fucking bled. My best friend wanted me dead. Our years of friendship and all the moments we shared since the day he entered my life sped through my mind. I would have never dreamt it would lead us here.

He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. I watched his every move. I wasn’t ready to die, not by his hand or anyone else's. Though in my mind, I already tried to come up with something to get through to Adriano. To reason with him.

“I got her,” he spoke into the phone, his gun trained on me.

My eyes darted between the driver and Adriano. I could try and clock the driver over the head, but we’d risk a crash. Besides, Adriano threatened to shoot me. Could he follow through? In my heart, I refused to believe it, but I wasn’t sure if I could trust my heart right now.

Maybe I should make him talk? So I could figure out if there were any windows for me to escape.

“What are you doing?” I asked him. “Where are you taking me?”

He ignored me. Frustration clawed at my insides as anger boiled in my veins. I couldn’t understand how a man who had been my best friend for years could do this. The betrayal was devastating.

“Why, Adriano?” My voice choked. I thought I had a family, a best friend, and a brother-in-law. And yet again, I was being betrayed. “Why?” I asked again in a raspy voice. “I should at least know why you betrayed me before I die.”

I noticed the driver ‘s eyes flicker to me in the rearview mirror, but they immediately returned to the road.

Adriano sneered. “You betrayedmewith Santi.” I couldn’t argue with that, but it wasn’t as if I could control who I loved. In truth, I loved them both. Very much, only in very different ways. I blinked hard, desperate to keep tears at bay. “We were friends first. You were supposed to be my wife, not Santi’s. Our parents arranged it.”

I swallowed hard. I hurt him and now he was hurting me back. “What is your plan? To kill me?”

“You started this, Amore.” God, was this really my best friend? I couldn’t recognize him. “I’m going to finish it. No more errand boy for Santi. No more being second best.”

How was it possible that I never picked up on his resentment? Was I really such a bad judge of character?

“You are not second best,” I rasped, my voice shuddering. “Please, Adriano. We can fix this,” I pleaded. We are supposed to be family. Take care of each other. Not kill each other. This was lunacy.

“Iamfixing it,” he drawled. “I will take over the Cosa Nostra. And your little cartel empire will finally be led by someone other than your bitchy grandmother.” Fear shot through my veins, turning my blood ice cold. “That dragon lady will be next.”

“Adriano, are you nuts?” I hissed. I wanted to grab him and shake some sense into him. I’d always stood by him, even when he was reckless. But this was way beyond reckless. He’d get usallkilled. “Please be reasonable. The Andersons will betray you. They killed my mother, and she had nothing to do with the cartel. They’ll kill you too when they get what they want.”

Couldn’t he see that? It was so damn obvious.

He blew out frustrated breath, like he thought I was a brat and his patience was running out.

“I’ve got it all worked out,” he said matter-of-factly.

Frustration clawed at my chest, the need to smack some sense into him so strong that my fingers itched to connect with his cheek.

“Santino will never allow you to be part of the Cosa Nostra,” I gritted out, annoyed.

He laughed. “Then I’ll kill him too. He has a little surprise coming his way.”

What?

“You won’t succeed. My father, brothers, and Santi will come for you.” I shook my head whether in denial or disbelief, I wasn’t sure. “Adriano, please,” I attempted again. Despite everything, it physically hurt my chest to think of Adriano getting injured or killed in the crossfire. “You are going to get yourself killed. Please don’t do this. I am sorry I didn’t tell you about your brother. I meant to but—”

“Shut up!” he cut me off, his voice bitter. “I know exactly what I am doing.”

The car came to a stop and Adriano practically jumped out. The back door swung open, and his hand reached out. I scooted away but unsuccessfully. He grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked it so hard, I winced as the sharp pain exploded on my scalp.

His features turned deadly and savage. “We’ll see how much you’ve got to say with my gun against your temple.”

The barrel of his gun pressed against my skin felt cold. It didn’t matter that DeAngelo had trained me to fight and keep a cool head. It all evaporated into thin air, replaced by frozen fear.