Page 198 of Sins of the Orchid

“He’s no longer yours.” George’s tight smile and cold eyes gave me the creeps.

“Adriano,” I whispered, ignoring George. That man was beyond redemption, but Adriano… I had to save Adriano. “Why?” I choked out, my throat squeezing with emotion.

“You chose him,” he responded, his voice emotionless.Him. I chose Santi, except that I hadn’t. Not really. I had been Santi’s before I even understood what that meant. With the first tear he dried.

“He had enough of being a sidekick,” George snarled. “Just as I had enough of being used by your mother, being her sidekick.”

I stared at him, wide-eyed, my heart pounding against my chest.

“What do you mean?”

He laughed. “That whore made me believe you were mine. She dared to play me for a fool. That was the second mistake by the Perèz-Regalè family.”

He stepped forward, the hate in his eyes could burn hell, making me stagger backwards.

“Y-you had her tortured,” I gasped out, choking down the frantic beat of my heart. “All because you couldn’t handle her relationship before she married you?” I took a deep breath. “You know there is divorce for that.”

He snarled. “But what’s the fun in that! And I’m not an idiot. I knew of your grandfather’s marriage clause.” He made me sick to my stomach. Shooting him in the head was too nice of a treatment for him. “Do you know what the first mistake was?” he mocked.

I knew what it was, but I kept trying to buy time. Not sure why since everyone in this room seemed to hate me. My eyes shot to Adriano, pleading with him without words. I wanted him to see how sorry I was. That I loved him. He was family, just as my brothers were.

My gaze flicked back to George. His face was almost distorted with hate when he looked at me.

It’s a thin line between love and hate.

There would be no mercy from him, I knew it without a doubt. Even if I died today; he would die. Santi would hunt him down to the edge of this earth and kill him.

“What was the first one?” I rasped in a strained voice.

“Your grandfather fucked me over. I was supposed to own all of the Perèz Cartel. Imagine my surprise when it all went to your grandmother upon his death,” he snarled.

There would be no reasoning with George. I could offer him the cartel, but he wouldn’t believe me. Besides, it wasn’t mine to offer. Grandma still ran it.

“Once you are dead and that bitch of a grandmother of yours is too, it will all be mine. I will rule the most dangerous cartel in the world.”

Lunatic!He reminded me of the ridiculous villain from theAustin Powersmovie. All he had to do was start laughing like a maniac. Except, George left a trail of actual dead bodies behind him.

I choked out a laugh. “You’ll get nothing. Because it will all go to my husband.”

He brought his fingers up to his chin and tapped pensively. “But you are not married yet! Good try though.”

“But you see,” I started, taunting. My fucking turn to mock. “Iammarried. Blissfully so. In fact, today marks a week of wedded bliss.”

The tension in the silence that followed was heavy. Adriano broke it. “No matter. Because Santino is going to die too. I’m taking over the Russo family. I share the sandbox, unlike my brother.”

“You are insane,” I spat. I couldn't see the man that cared for me for the first thirteen years of my life. “You are seriously screwed in your head.” I turned to look at Adriano. “Please, Adriano. Don’t do this, come with us.”

I tried to convey with my eyes that I’d save him. I’d fight for him. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt him.

“Shoot her, Adriano,” George issued the command.

I held my breath as I watched with terror my best friend raise his gun and point it at me. In all my life, I never thought I’d be staring into the barrel of my best friend’s gun.

CHAPTER77

Santino

Istood at the top of the stairs, hidden in the shadows with Renzo by my side. It fucking killed me to hear the hurt in Amore’s voice. I wished I could have spared her, told her the truth, but it would have been a risk. It was important for this plan to work, or we would have had the threat of the Anderson Cartel looming over our heads for the rest of our lives.