45. Blake

CHAPTER 45

Blake

M y back to the wall, Oz’s gun pointed at my chest, I watch the scene before me unfold. None of this is new information to me. After I won back my wife, I had every intention of asking her what she wanted to do about her non-bio father. Does she loathe him for what he did—or rather, what he didn’t do? I’m prepared to do anything from giving him a piece of my mind, to breaking his knee caps, to slitting his throat.

What I don’t yet understand is why Oz is bringing this up. What’s his angle? Is he beating me to the punch?

Pontrelli sags, suddenly transformed from a mafia don to a frail old man. “I should have protected you, but you have to understand that Lorenzo was my older brother, he was the don before he died, and he’d always been a bully. I was weak—I am weak.”

I sneer at him, disgusted by his pathetic excuses. Gin deserves so much better.

Our eyes meet, hers wide with terror. I attempt to silently communicate that everything is going to be okay.

I’m not sure if I’ll succeed, given I haven’t figured out how it’s going to be all right yet. I rushed here so quickly that I barely had time to come up with a plan, much less call for help. I just needed to get to Gin as soon as possible.

Though maybe my lack of planning is a blessing in disguise. Roman, or anyone else, barging in here right now could rapidly deteriorate this delicate situation. Before I do anything, I need to understand Oz’s motivation. Get inside his head. Then take him down.

Mrs. Pontrelli speaks for the first time. “What do you want with us? You already have our blessing, and my husband’s confession of his sins. Why don’t you let us go?”

Oz shifts his attention to her, though his aim never leaves my chest. “What do I want? I want you to realize that I’m the best thing to ever happen to Ginny. She’s mine, she’ll always be mine.” He shakes her by the hold he has on her hair, and she whimpers, her eyes screwed shut.

I see red. My fingers ball into fists at my sides. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, Oz?” I snarl at him.

“Wait your fucking turn,” he snaps. “I’m still dealing with Daddy dearest first. We’ll get to you later. I’m sure you did bad things to my Ginny, and you’ll pay for your sins, too.”

Guilt crowds out some of my rage. He’s right, I did fail Gin. If I’d killed this motherfucker when I had the chance, none of us would be here right now. This—all of this—is my fucking fault for being an arrogant prick. I truly thought I was untouchable, that Oz would never do anything to draw my attention or earn my wrath after he turned himself in, out of fear of what I’d do to him if he wasn’t behind bars. But he’s more of a maniac than I anticipated.

For years, no one dared cross me for fear of retribution. Until Oz, and I greatly underestimated him. He’s a threat I never saw coming. I’ve obviously been blinded by pride. I’ll have to remedy that flaw.

“Ginny, I know you don’t see it now, but you’ll come to see me as your savior. I’m going to give you vengeance. Today. Right here and now. While I can’t kill your dead uncle, I can do the next best thing and kill Daddy. He never loved you and he’s going to pay for that.”

“No. Please don’t,” Gin begs. I’m not sure why she’s feeling so forgiving of her piece of shit parent right now, but she is.

“If you love her, you should respect her wishes,” I tell Oz.

“No one is fucking talking to you, Baron! Shut the fuck up or I’ll shoot you.”

“You don’t have the balls.”

“Want to bet?” His hand steadies and his tendons flex like he’s about to squeeze the trigger.

“No!” Gin shouts.

Oz spins her around and smacks her across the face with his gun. She crumples to the floor. He lifts her to her knees, again using her thick blond curls like a leash.

My teeth grind together so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if they crack. I need him to get his goddamn hands off of my wife. Even though I have my knife on me, I can’t do anything while he has that weapon pressed to her head. I won’t risk her getting hurt.

“Now listen to me, you ungrateful bitch, you’re going to kneel right here and watch me bring you what your heart really desires. Afterwards, you’re going to thank me by wrapping your pretty lips around my cock. I’m going to fuck your face while your soon-to-be dead husband watches. It’s the least he deserves.” Oz tugs on her hair until she makes eye contact with him. “Now tell me that you love me.”

Gin opens her mouth, but no sound comes out.

“I said tell me!” He presses the gun harder against her skull.

“I-I”

“You what? Let me hear you say it.”

“I l-love you.”

“Convince me, Ginny.”

“I love you,” she whispers, her gaze drifting to mine. My heart leaps.

“That’s more like it. Now look at your daddy.” Oz points his weapon at Pontrelli. “Say goodbye, Ginny, it’s time for Daddy to die.”

Oz moves both of his hands to his gun and pulls the trigger.

Gin screams.

Mrs. Pontrelli’s shrieks blend with her daughter’s broken sobs. She cradles her husband’s body. Gin lurches toward them.

“Ginny, get back here,” Oz warns. “Do as I say, bitch, or I’ll put a fucking bullet in you.” He takes aim at my wife, and time seems to creep forward.

My pulse slowly, deliberately pounds in my ears. Oz spews threats at Ginevra, and I just know that he’s unhinged enough to see them through. My body acts before my brain has time to catch up.

I throw myself toward my wife, to cover her body with mine.

A deafening bang sounds just as my side explodes in white-hot agony.

The floor meets my face.

Darkness.