Page 87 of By Blade, I Love
“We played right into his hands, didn’t we?”
I nodded because it was the cold hard truth.
“If my family makes it out alive, then I’m glad we saved you. But if they don’t…I’ll regret this for the rest of my life.”
I didn’t take any offense to that at all. Not when I would have felt the same if this were Francesca. “We aren’t going to let anything happen to Rosaria and the girls. We’re going to show that asshole what happens when you fuck with Cosa Nostra.”
“Then we’ll divide into teams. You take the front, and I’ll take the back.”
I nodded. “He’s more likely to come out and play if I show up.”
“Let’s head out.” Don Russo turned away and started to orchestrate with the other men.
I turned back to Francesca. “Take my Range Rover and head back to the vineyard. I’ll let you know when it’s done.”
“Excuse me?” Dirt was caked on her clothes, her hands, and her arms. There was even a little bit on her cheeks. “I’m not going to go home and sit on my hands.”
“You can go to the Palermo house, then. I’ll give you my key.”
Her eyebrows furrowed even more. “That asshole buried you alive. I want his head on a fucking platter. I want to shoot him to pieces until he’s fucking mush. I want that asshole to pay in this life and the next andthen the next.”
I loved it when the Mafia side of her came out. She was sooo fucking hot. I’d lain there in that coffin and dozed off because I knew she would figure out a way to get me out of there. I wasn’t the least bit worried at all. I hadn’t slept well the night before, so I took a nice nap. When I woke up to the sound of gunshots, I knew she was there. I felt the dirt shift as it was lifted from the coffin. Sounds from the outside world became more audible the more of it was removed. I was pretty certain I heard Francesca’s voice when she yelled at Leo for something.
The pride I felt…was indescribable.
That woman was made for me. Fearless and feisty and no-nonsense…and she was my wife.
“Are you even listening to me?”
My attention snapped back into focus. I got lost in her angry eyes and the way she could produce so much hatred for someone so small. “I’ll handle it.”
“You call me a tough bitch then tell me to sit out?” she asked incredulously. “I can’t ask Leo and the rest of the guys at thevineyard to fight for you while I sit on my ass. I’m not one of those rulers who sends their army to do their bidding. I’m on the front lines like everyone else.”
Could she be more perfect? “I understand, but you’ve never been in this type of situation before?—”
“I covered Leo while he dug you out of that hole. You tell me how capable I am, but then when I want some skin in the game, you tell me no.”
“This isn’t your fight?—”
“Yes, it fucking is. I had to stand there and watch you be buried alive. You’ll never understand how that felt. You might have been lying there grinning like a psychopath, but I sobbed until my ribs nearly broke, so that son of a bitch is mine.”
“Baby—”
She jabbed her finger up at me. “Don’t baby me right now.”
“Time is of the essence. As much as I love arguing with you, because you’re so sexy when you’re pissed off like this, I don’t have the time. I know it’s hard, but you need to step aside?—”
“No.”
“Francesca—”
“I said no.”
“I can’t do my job if I’m worried about you.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. I can handle myself. Or do you not actually believe in me like you say you do?”
“I absolutely do, but I don’t want to risk your life needlessly?—”
