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“That’s a long time,” Matteo said “Aria must look awfully delicious in coasp

Umberto’s hand twitched an inch toward the holster around his waist Everyone saw it Father watched like a hawk but didn’t interfere Umberto cleared his throat “I’ve known Aria since her birth She is a child”

“She won’t be a child for er,” Luca said

“She will always be a child in lared at Matteo “If you insult e you in a knife fight to defend her honor and I’ll kill you”

This would end badly

Matteo inclined his head “You could try” He bared his white teeth “But you would not succeed”

Luca crossed his arood choice, Uaze fixed on Matteo who ignored him

Luca’s eyes settled on Raffaele and he dropped whatever civility had cloaked the monster within until that point He moved so close to Raffaele that my cousin had to tilt his head back to return the stare Raffaele tried to keep his expression arrogant and self-confident, but he looked like a Chihuahua pup trying to iht as well have been two different species

“He’s fa an interest in hter?”

“I sa you looked at Aria,” Luca said, never taking his eyes off of Raffaele

“Like a juicy peach you wanted to pluck,” Matteo threw in, enjoying this entirely too much

Raffaele’s eyes darted towardfor help

“Don’t deny it I knohen I see it And you want Aria,” Luca growled Raffaele didn’t deny it “If I find out you are looking at her like that again If I find out you are in a room alone with her If I find out you touch as much as her hand, I will kill you”

Raffaele flushed red “You aren’t aeven if I raped her I could break her in for you” God, Raffaele shut your mouth Couldn’t he see murder in Luca’s eyes? “Maybe I’ll even film it for you”

Before I could even blink, Luca had thrown Raffaele to the ground and dug a knee into his spine, one of led and cursed, but Luca held hiripped Raffaele’s wrist while he reached under his vest with the other, pulling out a knife

My legs turned weak “Leave now,” I told Gianna in a whisper She didn’t listen

Look away, Aria

But I couldn’t Father would surely stop Luca But Father’s expression was disgusted as he stared down at Raffaele Luca’s eyes sought Father’s gaze – Raffaele wasn’t his soldier This wasn’t even his territory Honor deliere – and when ht the knife down and cut Raffaele’s pinky off The screa in my ears when my vision turned black I bit down on my fist to stifle a sound Gianna didn’t She let out a screech that could have woken the dead before she threw up At least, she’d turned and aimed away from me Her vomit spilled down the steps