His Stolen Princess - MINK Page 0,35
I took a few for questioning. Got some intel.”
“The soldiers aren’t the problem. Not the real one, anyway.” I walk with him down the stairs and to my office. “Who backed him?”
Santino cracks his always-bruised knuckles. “Giuseppe. He bankrolled the whole thing. And he’s the one who turned Nico.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “He’s been a thorn in my side for years, and I’ve let him live. But this?” I shake my head. “This is the end of his line.”
Santino whistles. “The other bosses--”
“Don’t matter to me.” I meet his gaze. “He put my lioness in danger and sicced Antony on me to settle a score Giuseppe should’ve settled himself. He’s still angry I took his poppy fields and ended his human trafficking operations.”
“Let’s kill him.” Santino is always happy to spill blood for me.
“It’s time.”
“Time?” He cocks his head to the side.
“Time for you to take your place.”
“What?”
“You end Gisueppe Carantino, you take his territory.” I don’t want to let Santino go, but he’s been loyal and patient for so long, and it’s past time for me to reward him for all he’s done.
He shakes his head. “You need me here.”
“I do, but you have everything it takes. Our families will be allies. Stronger together. This is your chance. The bosses will fall in line, or I will come for them, too.”
He stares at me, half dumbfounded, half giddy. “Me, a boss?”
“I should’ve given it to you when Giuseppe fucked up the first time.” I lean against my desk, my side aching, though I don’t show it. “Take him out and enjoy the spoils. I’ve heard he has a young wife.”
“Just married her two weeks ago.” He grins. “But I heard he can’t get it up to seal the deal.”
I wave him away. “Kill him, save her, write your own story.”
He walks to me and drops to a knee. “I will always be loyal. That will never change.”
“Stand, my friend.” I pull him to his feet. “You kneel for no one. We are equals, loyal to each other.” I offer my forearm.
He takes it and pulls me into a fierce hug. “My brother.”
“Always.” I clap him on the back. “Now quit dawdling and put Giuseppe’s head on a pike. Take as many soldiers as you need.”
“No problem.” He grins and heads for the door. “I’ll be back to visit soon. Flavia would miss me if I stayed away too long.”
“You mean you’d miss her tiramisu.”
“That, too.” He strides out to do untold violence, and I finally take a breath. Letting him go is difficult, but it’s also the right thing to do. My gaze lifts to the ceiling, my thoughts drawn back to my lioness and our cub. They are my future now, my family, my heart’s blood. No threat will ever touch them again. And if anyone tries? I’ll end them the same way I destroyed every last Lantino. I will grant no mercy and send my enemies to the gates of hell.
“Mmmph.” Apollonia rolls over, her eyes fluttering open. “Hi.”
I smile and stroke her dark hair from her cheek. “Good morning, lioness.”
She glances around. “Carter?”
“Sleeping in his room. Safe.”
She snuggles back down and scoots closer to me. “Good.”
When she rests her cheek on my chest, something inside me relaxes, my heart free to beat its own rhythm.
“Wait.” She sits up and stares at the bandage on my side. “Are you okay?”
“All is well.” I pull her back down. “You and Carter are safe. I’ll heal quickly. I always do.”
She sighs and accepts my embrace, her body so warm and soft. I’d watched her sleep until I succumbed, too. And when I woke, she was cuddled against me, her hand on my chest, her thigh slung over mine. Heaven.
“It all seems like a bad dream,” she says softly, then trails her fingers along the edge of my bandage. “But it was real.”
“Yes.” I take her hand and bring her fingers to my lips, kissing them. “It was real, but it’s over.”
“Antony Lantino.” She turns and looks at me. “Did you know he was alive?”
“Yes.” I rest her hand over my heart. “I let him live. He was away at school when your family was killed. I kept up with him as he left for college. After that, I assumed he’d put violence behind him and intended to start a new chapter for the Lantino name. Or perhaps that’s what I’d hoped would happen.”
“They’re rotten. Every last one of them.” Her fierce tone makes my blood pump