I looked at my brothers, Stacy, and Molly, but everyone looked just as lost as I felt. Willow had obviously figured something out that none of us had and was now holding that information over Anthony Carducci. I was almost as impressed as I was terrified. People didn’t just push Anthony Carducci around, but I could see Anthony silently reading Willow’s expression, and even the twins on either side of him were looking at him with heightened interest. They also didn’t know what was going on and weren’t expecting Anthony’s response.
“I could just kill you here, and the information would die with you,” Anthony replied finally, but there was a shake to his voice that made it clear he was taking a shot in the dark with intimidation.
“If you think I’m so stupid to only keep the information to myself, you might be as dumb as Dario.”
Luca’s jaw went a little slack. “Willow.”
Willow wasn’t moved. She continued to stare down Anthony Carducci with the confidence of someone who’s been in this life for decades and knew it inside and out.
“It could be bad for everyone,” Willow said. “Denise would get burned, for sure, and I shudder to think of what would happen to Callista.”
The twins shifted uncomfortably, and Anthony swallowed hard. He studied Willow for a long time, obviously weighing his options, but Willow’s words had weight—tons by his reaction. Behind Willow, a wide smile found my face. She was the Varassos ace in the hole. For all of our barking that she wasn’t prepared to take on this world, she was the only one who didn’t veer off track, and now she was staring down Anthony Carducci like she was made of steel.
I didn’t think it was possible to fall even more in love.
Anthony gritted his teeth. “What did you have in mind when you say ‘deal?’”
Marco and Luca’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their skull, and it took everything in my not to chuckle with happiness or cheer for my girl.
“As much as I’d love to stick the barrel of my gun straight down Denise’s throat and blow her up from the inside,” Willow said in a threat that had jolts of electricity rushing below my waist, “I know why you need her. So, let’s split the pot. We’ll let you take Denise, and you let us keep Dario.” She side-glanced Luca. “The Varassos have a long score to settle with him.” She looked back up at Anthony. “We’re both out of here before the cops come.”
Anthony mulled this over. His gaze flicked between Dario and Denise, and even once over to the twin standing at his left. They shared a silent exchange before Anthony finally turned his eyes back to Willow. “Well, who might have expected that the tiniest Varasso would be the most vicious?” He let out a laugh that was notably nervous. “I suppose the quietest dogs bite the hardest.”
Willow didn’t waver under Anthony’s harsh leer, only grinned. “We find we’re underestimated as a breed.”
He scoffed before looking down at the twin to his left again and motioning over toward Denise. He immediately stepped from Anthony’s side and walked between Gabriel and me to take Denise’s arm in his hand. He dragged her back across the office and threw her to the ground at Anthony’s feet.
She looked up at Willow and shrugged. “You should have left it well enough alone.”
Somehow, Willow had figured out that going with Anthony was a far worse punishment than eating some of our bullets. Anthony reached down and took a fistful of Denise’s hair into his hands. “You’ve let me down for the last time.”
“I’m sorry, Ant,” Denise whimpered, and though my brothers and I all seemed shocked by the turn of events, Willow seemed totally unphased.
Anthony held Denise roughly at his side. “Anything else, little dog?”
“Just one thing,” Willow said. “You know where we’re going. I assume that information will stay as quiet as mine will.”
Anthony let out a more joyous laugh. “Hah! I’m almost sad I didn’t get to you first, pup.” He looked into Willow’s eyes, an expression that was equal parts impressed and angry. “My mouth will stay shut, as will hers.” Anthony shook Denise’s head at that. “I’ll see to it.”
“Good.” She smiled brightly. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
“Hang on to this one, Varassos. If you’d had her the whole time, Angelo might still be stomping around.” He looked to the twins. “Let’s go.”
“W-wait!” Dario yelped. “You can’t leave me here. What about our alliance?”
Anthony sneered. “Consider it broken.”
With one last look at Willow, Anthony turned and dragged Denise out of the office, the twins walking out after him.
I rushed to Willow once they were gone and forcefully pressed my lips to hers. “That was…” Smoke was puffing out of my nose like a dragon. “When I get you alone…”
Willow winked, and I almost had an orgasm.
“Okay, before that…” Marco said, sounding a little disturbed. He turned and looked down at Dario. “Let’s take care of this.”
Police sirens screamed out into the silence. They’d be converging on the manor any minute. We had to go.
“Shit,” Molly huffed.