Chapter 4 - The Scent of Gunsmoke
Adriana shrieked in horror, backing toward the dining room doors as four Romano guards instantly drew their weapons, surrounding the room in a steel ring.
Salvatore choked, his face turning purple as Massimo’s fingers crushed his windpipe against the mahogany paneling.
"Massimo, stop!" Francesca cried out from her chair, her hands flying to her pearl necklace. "Not in front of the grandmother!"
Donna Caterina didn't flinch; she calmly buttered another piece of toast, watching her grandson with grim satisfaction.
"A Romano defends his woman," the matriarch murmured softly. "Let the boy finish his point."
Massimo didn't pull the trigger, but he pressed the steel muzzle hard enough to leave a deep circular bruise against Salvatore’s flesh.
"West Randolph Street is under my personal protection as of six o'clock this morning, Salvatore," Massimo snarled into the man's ear.
"Two of my best tactical units are stationed outside that flower shop, and four guards are sitting in the lobby of that nursing school in Evanston."
"If so much as a stray cat scratches the bumper of Sophie's delivery van, your entire bloodline ceases to exist."
Massimo released his grip with sudden force, letting Salvatore collapse to his knees on the rug, coughing and gasping for air.
Adriana rushed to her father's side, glaring at Massimo with wild, unhinged fury.
"You're throwing away twenty years of peace for a nobody!" Adriana yelled, tears of humiliation streaking her face.
"Get out of my house," Massimo commanded, holstering his weapon and turning his back on them.
"The alliance is dead. You have until Friday to clear your containers from my terminals."
Salvatore stood up on shaking legs, clutching his bruised neck, his eyes burning with venomous promise.
"You think you're untouchable, Massimo," Salvatore wheezed, backing toward the double doors.
"You think this little florist is your shield. We will see what she looks like when the fire reaches the roots."
The doors slammed shut behind them, leaving the dining room heavy with the metallic tang of adrenaline and gunsmoke.
Massimo walked back to the head of the table, picked up his fallen chair, and turned toward me.
His eyes were still dark with violence, but as his gaze landed on my pale, trembling face, the predator receded.
He reached out, his rough thumb gently brushing a stray lock of dark hair behind my ear.
"Are you alright?" he asked softly, the tenderness in his voice startling everyone in the room.
"He knows where my sister sleeps, Massimo," I whispered, my voice breaking.
"He knows where she sleeps because I wanted him to look there," Massimo replied, taking both of my cold hands into his warm, scarred palms.
May you like
"My men secured Claire three hours before breakfast. She is in a safehouse in Lake Forest right now, studying for her exams with two armed guards outside her door."
"Nobody touches what belongs to me, Sophie. Not ever."
