“Ah, that,” is my father’s only response.
“No,” I cry at his response. This can’t be happening. I do lose control at the reaction he had to have, but as Giovanni presses the gun barrel against my temple once again, I remember not to falter. “So it was true?”
“Bambina,” my father starts. He’s putting on a tone he knows will melt me. One he thinks he can mollycoddle me back into submission with.
“No!” I shout, stunning him to silence. “You can’t keep doing this to us. You can’t brainwash us to do your jobs. You can’t keep abusing us to do your dirty work. You can’t corrupt us, Papà. This all has to stop now!”
I close my eyes, trying to blind myself to the inevitable as I begin to squeeze pressure upon the trigger. And just like my heart stopped no more than an hour ago, I close my eyes tighter as the sound of a bullet leaving a gun breaks the tension, and I lose all power of my senses.
Apparently, heartbreak and death go hand in hand in bittersweet union.
The End - for now.
BONUS MATERIAL
Femme Fatale Reloaded – The Pericolo Series (#2) – exclusive blurb and snippet.
FEMME FATALE RELOADED
Pericolo #2
BLURB
I used to be fearful. I used to be admired. I used to be the Femme Fatale.
Until I fell.
I fell from my status, from the pedestal I had been placed, and I fell in love.
And that’s where it all went wrong.
I once thrived on one motto – Don’t feel, don’t deviate, kill.
Now, I thrive on betrayal, a reminder never to trust my heart, and the need to be Femme Fatale Reloaded.
It’s time I got myself back to the place I most belong – a cherished, yearned for secret weapon.
However, when the Zane Maverick walks into my life again, pledging to be an Abbiati, my life turns upside down all over again.
My biggest problem was never the kill, but the thrill of the chase. Apparently, love is the most dangerous game I can ever play, and my life is about to spiral out of control.
EXCLUSIVE SNIPPET
Subject to change upon publication
“We’re here to swap money for diamonds,” Zane states. There’s alarm in his eyes, but the training he had to become an officer is clearly sparking to life. He’s got the ability to negotiate and he’s going to be using it to his advantage. “Now, let her go.”
“Well, you see,” Carmello pipes up, stepping out of the shadows. He’s a large man with an unhealthy glow to him and a back comb hair style. He’s tanned, overweight, and reeks of power. “We can’t do that. Salvatore owes me more than just a pitiful swap job. I thought his beloved Amelia was pretty good collateral damage.”
“She isn’t anyone’s collateral,” Zane comments, and I notice that although he’s getting hostile, Carlo leaves him to play this part. “We have your money.” He turns and Carlo throws the pouch of money to him. “This, for the diamonds. That was the deal Salvatore said. Amelia is no form of payment.”
“Like my good pal Sal, I like to change things up,” Carmello comments casually, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a small pouch that I can only assume is the diamonds. “Like him letting you take this job.” Carmello laughs when he see’s Zane’s eyebrows furrow. “I know all about you,” Carmello acknowledges who Zane is. “The wannabe for Don Abbiati.”
Zane scoffs. “You know nothing about me.”
“No, no, I do,” Carmello comments, moving closer to Zane. “That pretty little thing over there was set to kill you. That didn’t happen too easy so Big Al stepped in to help the Dio Lavoro only to take Ms. Amelia’s stiletto to the neck.” He looks to me with hungry eyes. “Damn, girl, you are killer when it comes to those you love, I have to hand that to you. I wonder what pretty fortune your father will pay when he finds out you’re now working for me.” Carmello laughs, eying me quickly from head to toe. I feel like his gaze leaves a trail of dirt behind. “I actually bet you’d look good tied up in my bed. I can’t to wait to fucking claim you as mine. No one will want you after I’ve ruined you.”
My stomach bottoms at the thought of what his nasty mind is thinking up. Before I can truly panic, the look on Zane’s face loosens, but not for long. Suddenly, he comes blinded with the rage that ignites in him, and all at once, he’s picking the hammer up from the workstation before him and is slamming it into Carmello’s face. Blood sprays out and the wounded man yelps. Zane doesn’t stop with one hit. I watch as he slams the hammer into Carmello’s jaw, another hit to the cheek sends the man to his knees.
“I’ll go in for another hit if she’s not released in three seconds,” he threatens, raising the blooded hammer above his head. “It’s an easy choice. If she’s harmed or not let go of, you’re both going to wish for a quick fucking death.” There’s a pregnant pause and I close my eyes as the knife pushes further into my neck. I whimper as I feel blood trickle down my knife a little and as I open my arms I see Zane watching me. “You’re pushing me here. If anything happens to her more than it has, I’ll make sure you’ll learn pretty quickly that hell is a place on fucking earth!”
“Let her go!” Carmello orders, still shielding himself from the threat of taking the hammer to the face a fourth time. He’s not speaking much now, damage to his jaw obviously done.
Zane doesn’t speak until I’m released and back by Carlo’s side. The look he uses on Carmello after is truly frightening. He’s heaving with such aggression, fuelled by rage. This is a side to Zane I have never experienced before.
“Don’t ever think you know a fucking thing about me,” Zane spits at Carmello, tossing the hammer aside. He leans in, making Carmello cower a little. “Touch something that isn’t yours again, I’ll make sure the reminder is far more life limiting.” He stands up straight, taking the diamond pouch from the floor and turns to me. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I croak, pushing them away. I see the look he fixes me with, and I crack a little. “I’m fine!”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BETH
My partner in crime, you are always there for me whenever times get a little to GRR inducing. Your love of this book blew me away as it always does. I’m so pleased to have one of my best friends support and love my work as much as you do! You keep me sane on my craziest of days and I couldn’t do without my vents, bitching moments, and the giggles I have with you.
JADE
The Georgie to my Poppy! You have literally blown into my life and given me so many giggles, so much support, and so, so much love. And the best thing is - I feel like I’ve known you forever!
I’m, also, still pleased with myself that I broke the pickiest reader I’ve met, and I will love you forever because I can now, proudly, say – I won Jade over!
Here’s hoping book two does the same!
TRACY
My crazy, amazing Scot! Thank you for jumping on this journey with me and loving the book even though it’s not your ‘normal’ type of thing to read. Your friendship means to world to me and I’m not sure I’d survive without the bitch fests or the ogling at hot men in my life! Thank you for being an amazing friend, Tracy!
JENNY
Thank you again for being a lifesaver and allowing me to call you my editor. You have done a fantastic job of not only editing, but respecting deadlines and being quick to work on tight schedules. You deserve a medal! (Just excuse the errors here! LOL)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kirsty-Anne Still is a twenty-three year old writer from Kent in the south east of England. Having found a love for writing in 2009, Kirsty dreamt of pursuing her writing. She allowed it to consume her life in the form of wild ideas scrawled onto post-it notes, scraps of papers, whichever surface is first available!
She spends her time with family, friends, working and dreaming about her next best novel idea! Always been a soft touch for romance, Kirsty cannot withhold from having a strong romantic touch to her books, regardless of how dangerous the
plot can become!
After being just another Fanfiction writer, Kirsty found the self-belief to step out from writing someone else’s characters and writing her own. Even though A Fire That Burns was an adaptation from a Fanfiction she had written years before, The Viper Series was a trilogy that added to a long line of original work that is yet to be finished – blame it on the overactive imagination!
Writing is a lifeline. She now loves creating a world that others can literally fall into and love as much as she does. She loves having the control to make a whole new world. It’s like a dependency, and an addictive one! As much as she complains, Kirsty does love the mini dialogues that go on in her head, the plotlines that attack her when she least expects them to, and the excitement that comes with a brand-spanking-new idea! The ones that jump to life at the most inappropriate times and drive her totally crazy!!
For now, Kirsty splits her life between writing, dreaming, working, and volunteering with children.
To learn more about Kirsty, visit-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/authorkirstyannestill
On Goodreads-
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7059341.Kirsty_Anne_Still
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