Page 74 of Reaper’s Wrath

Sofia gives Michael an approving nod. “You have your husband to thank for all of this.” She motions to the decor around us. “I offered, but he assured me he had it all under control.”

Evie turns a shocked face to Michael. “You little sneak. I had no idea!”

His answering grin is packed with smug satisfaction. “That’s sort of how surprises work.”

She glares at him playfully, then leans in for a kiss. Sofia and I exchange a warm glance of shared happiness for our friend. While the two of them have clearly known one another for years, I feel surprisingly close to Evie even though we’ve only known each other a week. It’s amazing how being stuck on a boat together will speed along a friendship.

The same applies to more … intimate relationships.

I peek over at Elio to find him already watching me, though I’m not the one talking, nor is this my party, but that doesn’t seem relevant to him. His gaze is often fixed on me as though nothing else interests him quite as much as I do.

I flash a shy but happy smile before sipping from my wine. The guys launch into a discussion about the Yankees playoff performance and their chances in the upcoming season, while Sofia tells Evie and me about her Thanksgiving plans. The reminder that my dad will be all alone for the holiday is grounding, but I don’t have long to dwell because a clamor outside our room seizes our attention.

A second later, the door bursts open. We all jump to our feet as Fedele the giant ducks his head to enter the room.

“Nobody move,” he calls in his eerily deep voice that carries through the rafters.

Ignoring the command, Michael slowly backs himself and Evie around the table away from the intruders. At the same time, Mazzi Antonelli joins the party, a semi-automatic gun in his hand with two more men waiting in the wings.

“You all are shit at following instructions,” Mazzi spits in a disgusted tone. “But what else should I expect from a bunch of traitors?”

“Antonelli, what the fuck are you doing here?” Nico demands.

“Me? I’m not the one having a Chardonnay with the enemy. That’s my fucking fiancée, in case you forgot, dickhead. Were you going to tell me where she was, or is this your way of ensuring I never rise above you?” He grows more frenzied with every word, waving his gun around the room like it’s nothing but a toy.

Ever so slowly, Elio positions himself between Mazzi and me, shielding me. I don’t like it one bit. If Mazzi shoots anyone, it’s going to be Elio, not me. I’m the one who should be protecting him.

“No,” Nico barks with an authority that slices through the room. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re barging into, going off half-cocked. Put that fucking gun away before I shoot you myself.”

Oh God. This is awful, and it’s all my fault.

Mazzi’s only here because of me. I don’t know how he found us, but he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t obsessed with marrying me. If he hurts anyone in this room…

I can’t bear to think of it.

“Mazzi, please put the gun away.” I interrupt quietly, the room going silent. “I’ll go with you, but please, don’t hurt anyone.”

My fiancé snickers as he puffs his chest like a bloated peacock. “Finally, someone with an ounce of sense.”

I take one step to the side to move around Elio when his chilling voice sends the temperature of the room plunging.

“Don’t. Fucking. Move.”

CHAPTER 39

ELIO

Death stands in the room with us, waiting to see which unlucky souls will soon be his. The air is thick with his presence. We all feel the suffocating pressure, but I’m one of the few who thrive in these situations. Lessons in survival through the years have taught me to whittle away weaknesses such as fear and indecision. When faced with an unexpected threat, I respond with the opposite of panic.

My senses sharpen.

My thoughts crystallize with pristine clarity.

My awareness expands to process a plethora of variables.

And through it all, I am calm, confident, and merciless, which is exactly how I assess the situation the instant Antonelli and his giant crash our party.

Isa must sense the change in me after my harsh command not to move because her body locks down, frozen beside me. She’s sacrificed her needs for her father for so long that I’m not surprised she’d volunteer to leave with the Italian psycho rather than endanger the rest of us. What she fails to grasp is that she has me now, and my job is to ensure a sacrifice on her part is never required.