CHAPTER XXXIII
A lphonse Gambino came barreling into my home like a serial killer on a rampage. The black wool trench coat, gloves, and black-out sunglasses made him look like he’d stepped out of a crime movie. He was a seasoned mobster ready to kill, and it appeared that I would be who he started with.
“You motherfucker!” he bellowed, a finger accusingly aimed at me.
“Oh, shit. You're fucked,” Luca said with a chuckle, and the two other dumbasses followed me into the hallway. Even my uncle, who just a few minutes ago was a hard ass, now cracked a grin.
“How did you get in?” I asked calmly, considering the man was ready to put me down like a dog.
“That’s not the fucking point!” he continued to shout. “You brought my daughter here without telling me she was released! Who the fuck do you think you are, Moretti?”
“I knew you’d want her to leave with you, and I wasn’t about to let that happen,” I replied.
“Damn right I would!” he agreed.
“Exactly,” I said.
He reared back, his expression fierce. “Do you hear yourself right now?” He took a menacing step forward, his face inches from mine. “She is not a fucking object, and as long as I am still breathing, you will not treat her as such. You hear me?”
I wanted to laugh in his face. If he only knew I fucked his daughter last night like it was my last day on earth, and that she loved every minute of it.
“I think we all need to take a breath here,” my uncle interjected, stepping beside me.
Luca, Lo, and Matteo hung back, keeping their distance; we didn’t want to give the impression we were against Alphonse.
After all, he was just a father doing what any protective dad would do for his daughter. I couldn't fault him for that.
Alphonse turned his gaze on my uncle, pushing his sunglasses on top of his head. “I’ll calm down once I see my daughter in the flesh.”
Before I could find the words to ease the situation, a flicker of movement on the stairs caught my eye.
My breath hitched as I watched my angel gracefully make her way down.
My damn dog trotted beside her, and Tabi trailed behind them.
Gigi’s warm gaze flitted from her father to me, then back to Alphonse.
“Hi, Dad,” she said, her smile radiant, lighting up the heavy atmosphere.
“Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay?” he asked, his tone softening.
“Yeah, of course,” she replied, taking a few confident steps until she reached the bottom of the stairs.
But as soon as she stood before him, it was like a switch flipped—a tense energy enveloped him. His shoulders tightened, and he tipped her chin slightly, inspecting her neck with an intensity that made my heart race.
My heart sank as I realized the marks on her neck from our rough lovemaking were still visible.
Fuck me.
Alphonse slowly turned his head toward me. In a flash, he drew his gun, aiming it directly at my head.
“Dad, no!” Gigi cried out.
My men drew their weapons and formed a protective barrier around me. My uncle stepped in front of me, ready to protect me.
“I am going to skin you alive!” Alphonse boomed. “Did you put those marks on her neck? Because they sure as hell weren’t there two days ago.”
I stepped out from behind my men, unafraid. “Stand down. There is no threat here.”
“Are you sure about that, Moretti?” Alphonse challenged. “I'm not afraid to die for my daughter.”
“And I’d do the same for her,” I replied.
“Enough!” Gigi positioned herself squarely between us. Her slender frame stood protectively against me.
“Gigi, step aside,” I commanded, firmly gripping her hips.
She spun around and glared at me. “No.”
Turning back to her father, she pleaded, “Dad, please put the gun down.”
He looked down at her, his nostrils flared. “Did he do that to you?”
“Dad, I’m an adult,” she declared. “Whatever choices I make are my own, not yours, and definitely not his.” With a dismissive flick of her thumb, she gestured toward me.
“He’s not good for you, bambina ,” he said gently, the deep worry lines etched across his forehead smoothing out as he spoke. “A man who treats you like a whore is not worthy of you.”
“Are you serious?” I exclaimed. “She’s your daughter!” I grasped Gigi’s waist, positioning her securely behind me. She was feisty as fuck and swatted my injured arm.
“Damnit, woman,” I hissed.
She stepped back into her place between us, and gradually, her father relaxed, dropping his weapon. “Just to be clear, I wasn’t calling you a whore,” he said.
“I know,” Gigi said quietly. “But killing him isn’t going to solve anything.”
“Why not? Just look what he did to you.” Her father glared at me, his chin jutted forward.
I clenched my jaw at his insinuation that I would hurt her.
“Because... I...” she began. I drew her closer, savoring the warmth of her body against mine, a sensation that ignited my every nerve ending. The soft rise and fall of her chest settled the restless beast in me.
“Because I love him,” she breathed, and my heart raced wildly in my chest. Hearing that gave me hope for our future.
Alphonse looked down at his daughter and sighed. He holstered his weapon and wrapped her in a loving hug, his affection for her evident on his face. “Of course you do,” he murmured and kissed her on the head.
My hands itched with the desperate urge to pull her into my arms to reclaim the connection we once shared.
“Listen, you should stay with us for a while,” her father suggested. “Your aunt Valarie has been asking for you.”
No, fuck that.
I tightened my grip on her, my fingers digging into her hips like the possessive asshole that I was.
She turned her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Nico, let go,” she hissed.
Ignoring her protest, I lowered my lips, brushed them against the delicate curve of her ear, and inhaled the fresh, floral scent of her shampoo.
“You are not leaving me,” I said, keeping my gaze fixed on her father.
“You can visit him, but you will sleep here. With me. In my bed.” I squeezed her hips for emphasis.
Gigi stepped out of my reach and walked over to her father. “How about we talk first?” she suggested. Tension rippled through me.
“Angel,” I warned.
She turned to face me, her gaze fierce. “Don’t.”
For the first time, I felt the weight of my resolve falter. I couldn’t fuck this up. With a curt nod, I conceded.
Gigi reached for her father’s hand, and they walked toward the piano room.
“That was fucking intense,” Luca said and whistled.
“Maybe her father is right, Nico,” my uncle said, his tone cautious but insistent.
I snapped my head in his direction, irritation flaring. “What?”
“I just think that with everything going on, her staying with her father would be the safest option right now. Then we can work on finding the Puppet Master without distractions.”
“She’s not a distraction,” I shot back, my voice sharper than intended.
“I have to agree with Uncle on this one,” Matteo said.
I glanced at my men, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I don’t give a flying fuck what any of you think. She’s mine. Mine to protect. Mine, period.”
There was no way in hell I was letting my angel slip away when her wings were barely functional.
But soon, the angel would take her rightful place by the devil’s side, and together, we would dominate the fiery depths of hell.