Page 132 of Villainous Kingpin

“I’m up for the bet,” Byron chimed in. “I say she doesn’t.”

“Stop it,” Brennan grumbled. “DiLustro, let my niece go. I’ll wire a hundred million to you. And we all move on.”

Dante whistled. “She’s worth a lot to you, huh?”

“Everything,” he admitted. “I made a promise to keep her safe. She’s not safe around you. Just like her mother wasn’t safe around your father.”

My teeth clenched. I’d keep her safe until my dying breath.

“You can have a war, Brennan, but Wynter is mine either way.”

CHAPTER54

Wynter

Uncle’s expression was murderous.

The detest and hate were so thick in the air it touched my skin as I stood frozen in Bas’ arms, tasting fear.

For Bas’ life. For Uncle’s life. For everyone’s life.

While nobody else seemed concerned, my heart turned to a block of ice.

Fear twisted so violently in my stomach, I felt the need to throw up. I couldn’t let these men kill each other. I turned my head around, meeting Bas’ dark gaze.

No words. No smile. Nothing.

Yet, there was this vulnerability deep down that I sensed more than saw. The ache in my chest swelled. If I didn’t do something, it would mean violence and death.A war.

I knew what I had to do. What I should do. But self-preservation was a hard thing to overcome.

My gaze flicked to Uncle. We hadn’t talked since I took my anger out on him months ago. I blamed him for too much. It was wrong and seeing firsthand he was willing to go to war to keep me protected highlighted it even more.

“I’ll do it,” I rasped. Basilio’s arm around my waist tightened and I swore he pulled me closer to him. All the while a lump in my throat grew bigger and the tension hung over the room like a stormy cloud.

Uncle’s eyes shifted to me. “Wynter, that’s not what your mother wants for you.”

“Neither is a war,” I reasoned.

“Smart girl,” Luca commended. It didn’t feel smart.

“Wyn, no,” Uncle protested. “No, you deserve so much better.” Then he narrowed his eyes on Bas, and if looks could kill, the love of my life would be dead.

“I have to agree,” Sasha chimed in. “I never agree with your uncle, but on this one. Just say the word, Wyn.”

I shook my head. I’d never be able to say the word. Not when it came to killing the man I love. His father… yeah. But never Basilio.

“Wyn?” Uncle called out and I felt like such a cheat. He worried for me and I craved my villain with all my heart. I’d never be able to sever this love I had for him. My heart knew it. So did my soul and brain.

“I got this,” I told him in Gaelic, holding his gaze. “Let me marry him and we keep the peace.”

Maybe I’d at least get the chance to kill Gio.

* * *

I sat locked in my room.

Three of DiLustro’s guards surrounded me and walked me to my room, then locked me in.