Page 51 of The Gangster King

Jono shakes his head. “Idiots. They’re not going to catch them.”

“Who was it?” I ask darkly, even though I know.

“Carlos Baldoni’s men,” Nick says, meeting my eye in the mirror as he pulls the car back onto the road and down to my driveway. “Not sure, but I think Leo was in the back.”

Adelina’s brother.

Ten of my men rush through the gates as soon as the gap is big enough. Rifles raised as they glance around.

I don’t expect another drive-by.

That was a warning. One I heard loud and clear.

One I can’t let go without a response or my men will see me as weak. I plan to run things a little differently around here than my father did. But I need to ensure my men are loyal, find out who isn’t, and then make the changes.

Not the other way around.

“A message from Carlos.” I growl. “It’s time I sent one back.”

To make it clear to Carlos that I am not some young naïve don who is going to be pushed around.

Gianna get your little ass home!

Braxton owes me his life. He needs to send Gianna home. Once Leo has his bride, Carlos can set his ego aside and tell the families that we came to an agreement.

This is the only way it will work.

I don’t want to start a war, but I’m furious. If he thinks he can send men to take me out on the streets, he’s wrong. I’m not playing tit for tat.

I will teach him a lesson more publicly. One that will hurt his pride way more.

A family ball is just a few days away. I wasn’t going to go...but now I think we will.

My heart is thumping as we pull up outside the front entrance. Blood thunders through my veins as I rip open the door and stride inside, my anger directed at his daughter.

“Dante, you—”

I hold up my hand to stop my mother.

Not today.

Not right now.

I don’t slow as I make my way through the house to her room. When the guards see me, they stand up straighter and I instruct them to open the door. Two point one seconds later I hear it unlock, and I push it open.

Adelina is standing at the windows in a pair of white shorts and a black halter neck top with white sneakers.

She spins around, her dark hair high on her head in a ponytail.

How handy.

The door clicks behind me as our eyes lock.

“No, Dante.”

“Get on your knees and open your mouth.” I growl.

“Don’t you dare speak like that to me, you monster,” she replies. I cross the room, and she doesn’t flinch, but I know inside her blood is pulsing.