He clicks off withoutanotherword.
Luca’s hold tightens on the man in his hands, increasing the pressure against his windpipe until Cueball is wheezing forbreath.
“We’ve got your partner. He’ll pay for what he did to Theo, that’s a promise.” His words are a dark vow. “ButyoutouchedDelilah.”
Eyes flashing with fear, face reddening from lack of oxygen, Cueball claws at Luca’s arms in a desperate bid for air. Luca never flinches. His hold never loosens as he methodically chokes the lifefromhim.
He’s going tokillhim.
“Don’t,” I whisper, horror consuming me. “He’s notworthit.”
Lucaignoresme.
“Please.” My voice breaks. “Please,love.”
At the endearment, Luca’s eyes cut briefly to mine. There’s a harrowing lookinthem.
“Don’t throw our life away over this asshole,” I whisper, never blinking. “Thenhewins.”
Some small sliver of logic permeates Luca’s bloodlust, because his hold loosens, just a shade, until Cueball can draw a desperate breath into hislungs.
“Fuck you,” he rasps at Luca, struggling against his hold but unable to tear free. “Think this is over? My boss will just keep sending us. Won’t stop till he gets his money, or his revenge. Your pretty little Delilah will never be safeagain.”
A dangerous growl moves through Luca’s chest and then, before I can blink, he’s lifted Cueball up and body-slammed him against the catwalk at my feet with such little effort, you’d think he were made of paper. Luca pins him with one knee in the center of his back and holds his head tight to the metalgrate.
“Don’t talk about Delilah ever again. Don’t say her name. Don’t look at her. Or I will throw you in the shark tank and let nature sortthingsout.”
Thankfully, before he can fulfill that threat, the door swings open and several badass-looking Knox Investigations boys run out onto the catwalk. Luca drags Cueball to his feet and passes him off to Owen and Alden, who promptly zip-tie his wrists together and start dragginghimaway.
Cueball struggles, screaming at the top of his lungs. “You’re private security! You’ve got no jurisdiction toholdme!”
“But I do,” a dark-haired man in a suit says, stepping into the fray. I recognize him instantly as one of Nate’s work associates — and an occasional attender of Phoebe’s dinner parties. His intense blue eyes sweep around the group, not missing a single detail. He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a badge. “Agent Conor Gallagher, FBI. Organized Crime Unit.” His gaze fills with what can only be described as excitement as he watches Owen and Alden drag Cueball through the door. Following them out, his voice echoes back to us from the stairwell. “I have some questions I’d like to ask you aboutyourboss.”
I shake my head, drawingNate’sgaze.
“You good?”heasks.
“You invited the FBI to your wedding? Does Phoebe knowaboutthis?”
“She’s the one who invited him.” He shrugs. “She’s determined to set him up with someone. He’s been single for about a decade and now that she’s found true love, she thinks it’s her duty to make the rest of the world equallyhappy.”
“That’s Phoebe West,forya.”
His eyes get warm. “PhoebeKnox.”
“Right.” My eyes sting. “Ofcourse.”
He looks at Luca, who’s hovering by my side in silence. “Youokay?”
“No,” Luca says bluntly, blowing out a puff of air. “I’ll get there,though.”
Nate nods, as if he understands. “I’ll handle things with Conor. You sort thingsouthere.”
With a final glance at me, Nate turns and walks away. In the silence that follows, I glance up at Luca and find his eyes already locked on my face. There’s a look in them thatscaresme.
“Luca,” I whisper, voice breaking a bit. “Luca,I…”
The words never make it past my lips, because he pulls me away from the rail, into his arms, and crushes me to him in a rib-cracking hug. His forehead hits my shoulder and I hear him release a huge, shudderingbreath.