her ass. “Get moving.”
I spun on my heel and dragged the doors closed behind me as I heard the two women dart and dash around the room. The squeaking of their shoes on the cement floor and whispered remarks a balm to the jagged edges of my rapidly fraying irritation.
I strode back out to the hallway. Nico and the would-be assassin were still talking. The rest of the family was at the other end of the hallway. Momma had another gun from somewhere and had it pointed at the man. “Ragazzo, move out of the way,” she called.
I pushed up against the far wall. “Thanks, Momma.”
Her smile was beautiful. “You call me momma. You’re a good boy.” She glared at me. “My Willow needs a big rock on her hand. Fix it.”
I laughed. The mafia boss got all squishy that I accidentally called her momma and then she threatened me to put a ring on her adopted daughter’s hand in the same breath. Man, I loved this family. “Si, Momma.”
Her dark eyes sparkled. She walked up to her middle son. “Who is this man? Does he need to die?”
The guy, who on second look, couldn’t be any older than Nik, quaked in his shoes. “No, ma’am. A simple misunderstanding.”
I snorted as the fire raged through me again. “Are you responsible for the artwork on my woman’s wall?”
All of the Amatuccis snarled as more guns came out of concealment. Seriously, how many guns did this family own? I shook my head. As long as I wasn’t in the crossfire, I really didn’t give a damn.
“What is this artwork you speak of, ragazzo?” Papa asked.
“Brilliant red paint that reads, ‘you’re next, bitch.’” I crossed my arms over my chest.
The hired killer shook his head frantically. His messy dark brown hair flopped and flapped over his forehead. “No. I swear. It wasn’t me. You gotta believe me, man. It wasn’t me. I don’t know how to jimmy the lock. I’ve been waiting in this hallway for twenty minutes since I got the call.” He held his hands out. “See? No red paint.”
Nico leaned forward slightly. “You could have washed it off.”
The man whimpered. “No. Fucking hell. I’ll give you anything you want, but you gotta believe me. I was just supposed to kill the big guy and the chick with the ass.”
I snarled and jumped forward.
Nico beat me to it. He lifted the appropriated weapon and punched it across the idiot’s face.
The guy fell to the floor in a lump. A low sigh sounded before his body went limp.
I kicked him in the belly. Fought not to stomp his head into dust and brains. I clenched and relaxed my fingers at my sides as I warred for control. Breathed through the red haze that had closed over my vision.
“He said Cavendish sent him,” I said through gritted teeth. I had to focus on something other than the mental picture of me tearing this guy into a million pieces.
Tali pushed forward, her gun pointed at the floor. She slid around her mother. “Are she and Jessa in the apartment?”
I nodded. Moved out of the way for her to pass without getting in anyone’s barrel lines. I heard her knock and her low voice at the door.
The elevator dinged behind us. All guns were pointed at the opening. Nik’s pale face emerged as she ducked. She raised her hands, glared at all of us. “Shit. I leave for two minutes to load my car up and this is the greeting I get? Where’s the fucking love, man?”
I laughed. Pulled the woman from the cabled car.
A low snarl came from amid the group of Amatuccis.
I ignored it. “Get in the house with the other women. And I swear to Willow’s goddess, if you give me any gruff for it, I’ll fire your ass.” I pushed her in the right direction. “Tali’s already in there. And she’s got a gun. So don’t just rush through like the bulldozer I know you are.”
She stuck me with a savage look. Stabbed her finger into my chest. “This time. Because it looks like everyone’s on edge. But that goddess will be needing to help you if you ever talk down to me like that again. Got me, bossman?” She bit out the nickname.
“Yes. Fully understood. Go.” I pushed her down the hall.
Nik stomped down the hall before she snapped her knuckles against the door in three hard raps. “Tali, it’s me. Let me in. I’m being sent to the kitchen