His Stolen Bride - MINK Page 0,33

me.” Bella grips my shoulders. “Don’t. I just found you. I can’t bear to lose you.”

“You’ll never lose me, Bella. I’m your warrior, and I’ll fight for you until my last breath.”

She presses another soft kiss to my lips. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Turning, she follows Gianna up the stairs, and I hear our bedroom door slam and furniture scraping across the floor. She has a pistol plus another secret stash she thinks I don’t know about. If someone comes for them, she’ll take as many down as she can. Because she’s a fighter. Because she’s strong. And because she’s mine.

I turn and stride to the front door, then throw it wide.

A black sedan pulls up next to the marble fountain and the back door opens. Fernando steps out, a fox’s smile on his face as he approaches.

“What welcome is this for your father-in-law?” he tsks as two trucks of his soldiers pull up and crush the new landscaping Bella just installed yesterday.

“Why are you here, Fernando?” I don’t move from the doorway. He’s not welcome here. Not like this.

“I’ve come for my beautiful daughter.”

I smirk. “I’m afraid I married her already. She’s a Baldoni and belongs only to me.”

“You know who I mean.” His façade is already fading, cruelty setting in as he looks up at me.

“Gianna prefers to stay here.” I shrug.

“It doesn’t matter what she prefers. She’s my daughter. She’s coming home.”

“Why now?”

He glances past me, clearly angry I haven’t invited him in. “She is to be married. I’ve found a suitor.”

“You have? And who is that?” I cross my arms.

“That’s none of your concern.” He jerks his chin toward his men.

All of them move up behind him. Armed to the teeth, there are 20 of them, and each one would love to make a name for himself by taking me out. They’d have to get in fucking line. I’ve been targeted more times than I can count, and I’m always the last one standing.

“It is my concern. You see, Gianna is under my protection now. She fears for her safety if she returns to your home.”

“Lies.” His eyes narrow. “I’ve done nothing but dote on that girl. Produce her, Santino. Do it now before things go sideways.”

I lift my gaze to his soldiers. “It appears things are already sideways. After all, you brought a small army to my family home. To the home where my wife sleeps, where my children will one day play.” I keep my rage in check. Barely. “But you seemed not to mind insulting me in this manner. Even though I’ve allowed you through my gates. Even though I could’ve mowed all of you down with the .50 cal machine gun disguised in the front vineyard. I didn’t. Out of respect. But you’ve failed to show me the reciprocal respect.”

“You can threaten me all you like, little capo. We all know you don’t deserve a Carrera bride. You’re stronger than Giuseppe, but you have no name. You aren’t a Davinci. You’re a Baldoni.” He says my name like a curse. “A nobody. I should’ve killed you and taken Bella back. Given her to some low-level capo who’d treat her as she deserves and put her in her place.” He waves a hand at the estate. “Not spoil her and put lies into her head about her beauty.” He laughs. “She’s a dog, so maybe it’s fitting she married a mutt like you.”

“Leave. Now.” I stare down at him. He has no idea I’m hovering on the edge of a knife. I want to kill him right now, right this second. I can see it in my mind, him bleeding out as his men open fire and all hell breaks loose. The only reason I don’t is because Bella and Gianna are upstairs. But he’s sealed his fate. I will kill Fernando for insulting my Bella. He is a dead man.

“Give me Gianna!” he bellows.

“Not a chance.”

He steps back and raises a hand. “Kill them!”

22

Bella

The sound of rapid gunfire barks through the house and makes my stomach drop.

Gianna squeezes my hand tightly. “It’s going to be okay.” I try to reassure not only her but myself, too. My heart races, but I know there isn't anything I can do. As much as I want to race downstairs and make sure my Santino is okay, I can’t leave my pregnant sister up here alone. And I very well could be pregnant myself at this point. I need to be smart in my decision-making.