with the other women.”
I winced. Knew I’d be paying hell with all four of those women.
Nik’s mouth split in a huge smile as the door was ripped open. “Ryker said it. Shoot him. You have my blessing.”
Tali stuck her head out the door, narrowed her eyes on me. “We’re going to have a talk, Mr. Penn.”
“Oooooh,” Nico sang loudly. I was immediately thrust back into high school gym class. He had a huge smile on his face. “Penn’s gonna get his ass beat. Penn’s gonna get his ass beat.” He looked down the hall. “Tali, can I come watch this talk?”
Tali shook her head. “No. Finish taking out the garbage. We little women are about to lose our guts to the stench in here.” She glared at me a final time before she shut the door.
My belly loosened. I’d literally just handed my ass to them. And not in fun, sexy ways. Damnit.
I shook it off. Turning back to the Cavendish flunky, I bent down. “If you’ve been here for the last little while, then you can tell us who was in my woman’s home.”
He shrank back, shook his head. “I don’t know. I swear to you; I don’t know. I haven’t seen anyone coming in or going out since I got the call. Not even from the garage.” His outstretched hands were shaking. His dark eyes wide, his lower jaw was slack.
I looked up at Nico. Raised an eyebrow.
He looked at his mother. “Momma, I vote we send a message to Cavendish.”
I straightened. “That gets my vote as well.”
Momma sighed, put her gun away. “Fine. But only a couple fingers. I’m sure this idiota needs his hands for more than just a good night.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “If I find you around my girls or my family ever again, you will wish I had killed you today. Do you understand me?”
I felt my balls draw up in fear and I wasn’t even the one in trouble. The guy nodded. If I wasn’t mistaken, his eyes misted with tears as his nose began to run. “Yes, ma’am. Yes, I swear. You’ll never see me again. Thank you.” He dipped his head low, cast his gaze to the floor.
A motion at the far end of the Amatucci group caught my attention. I looked up. Foster’s bright white hair seemed to stick out like a flame in the pitch black. I raised my brows.
He flicked his gaze to the gunman. Looked back at me.
I nodded slightly. Good. We’d be able to track this little shitstain and pry into his life. I stepped back. “Get your ass up.”
With moans and groans, he stumbled to his feet. He shoved his hands behind his back as if we’d forget that we’d threatened him. “I’ll just be going now.”
Nico’s chuckle was dark and a little happy in a creepy way. “Sure. We’ve got a couple more items on our agenda to take care of, but we’ll get you on your way soon enough.” He reached out, grabbed the scruff of the guy’s neck and pushed him to the end of the hall.
Mas and Rafe were the last of the human gauntlet he had to pass through. Rafe grabbed the guy’s wrist, held it steady. Mas had his hand up and slicing down in one smooth motion before the would-be killer even had an idea of what was going on.
The man’s scream scented the air with fear and piss.
I winced, but I forced myself to watch it. I wasn’t going to pussy out on the darker side of being with the Amatuccis. Not when they’d offered me support and family.
Momma was busy watching me while her sons carried out her orders. I felt her heavy gaze on my face. When I shifted to meet her gaze, she smiled. A light of pride in her eyes. She nodded and walked toward me. “Bravo ragazzo.” She was careful not to touch me as she passed.
I looked up just in time to see Rafe wrapping the man’s hand—minus two fingers—in a large wad of gauze. Mas said nothing, as if cutting a man’s fingers off was the same as taking the garbage out to the trash.
“Don’t bleed on my floors,” Rafe said in a hoarse whisper as if he were holding back some kind of strong emotion. “Or I’ll gladly take your other fingers.” As he turned, a huge goofy smile tugged at his mouth.
I could have sworn I heard him chuckling to himself as he passed