A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

anything for Gianna so she is looking past it." She nods at his explanation. "Anyways, we need to go. We are gonna be late."

"Everybody knows you're supposed to arrive fashionably late to a party, Nico. Don't be such a bore." Marina pipes up in a chipper voice.

"Mar, this isn't a party, it's a fucking meeting, with a rival family, on their territory." I remind her as if she has lost her mind.

Shrugging she walks back to the door. "It might not be to you pussies, but it sure sounds like a hell of a party to me." I exchange looks with Nico as she steps outside and he only shakes his head in response to her. Only Marina would be excited about this. This girl is fucking crazy and dangerous as shit, not to mention she doesn't take shit from anyone. Nico was smart not to force her to marry someone. She'd have probably killed him by now if he had.

***

We arrive at an old Italian restaurant as we pull up to the address given to us for the meeting. Dante didn't want us to be anywhere near his home, not that I blame the guy. He was skeptical enough when Nico reached out requesting this meeting in the first place.

My instincts shift on as I glance around, taking in every detail of our surroundings, making sure nothing or no one looks out of place. I climb out, instinctively reaching back, placing my hand over my gun on my waist. When nothing happens I turn, giving Marina and Nico a nod for them to follow.

Taking the lead I walk up to the door.  As I step through, a bell chimes above notifying anyone inside of our arrival. Looking around, the restaurant is deserted. It is as if life has been sucked out of the main room compared to what looks like a fairly frequented joint. As I finish my sweep around the room I notice a man leaning casually beside the wall in the corner. I catch sight of something metal reflecting off the light as he spins a knife around in his hands, silently watching us.

As he catches sight of Marina his eyebrows raise. It's not typical for a woman to accompany men to a meeting, so I'm not surprised by his shock. Most Familia's that we work with are familiar with it by now, so I forget it's uncommon for most.

His shock seems to dissipate as he takes her in. Her sheer black shirt over a black bra doesn't hide much, as you can make out the outlines of tattoos on her pale skin. Her pink skirt raised high on her thighs and stilettos are not your normal business attire, but he doesn't seem to mind as he stares at her.

"Can I help you?" Her voice dances across the room to him. A grin pulls on his lips at her attention.

"Are you lost baby, because I don't think this is the place for you to be right now?"

"Oh? And where should I be instead?"

"Somewhere where you'll be safe and protected.  Away from here babygirl, or did these two bring you in hopes of keeping themselves safe. To cower behind a woman?" He asks, goading us as he turns his attention to Nico and myself. As intended my irritation flares at his comment and my fists clench. Any other situation I'd have gone over and proved his comment wrong.

I see I am not the only one he got a rise out of as Marina lifts her heel up to her before hurling something in the man's direction. The soft thump of a knife sticking into the wall next to his head causes all of us to whip around, looking at her once more. "I'm sure this baby girl can protect herself, and these men don't need to cower behind me. Now, are you going to get your Boss so we can get this started or are you going to stand there all day like a worthless limp cock."

"I don't know how you do things in New York but here our women respect men."

"And in New York, we respect our women." I grind out irritated at this prick.

Grabbing the knife from the wall he walks over to us. My hand reaches back to my gun, unsure of what he plans to do. I tense as he stops in front of Marina. Twirling the knife intricately in his hand before pointing it at her chest. "Not bad, though next time you throw something make sure you hit your target. Others might not take too kindly to being aimed at. Even if you miss."

"Oh, I didn't miss."

"I would say that too." He flashes her a cocky grin. "Now last chance, you gonna run off to get your nails done so the men can do some work? You shouldn't be here anyway. Women don't belong in mafia business, in fact they don't belong in anything aside from warming a bed.” He pauses raising his eyebrows. “If you're interested I could send you on your way to warm mine while I finish some business here. That's a much more suitable place for you to be."

I watch as she drops the nice girl facade, sneering at him with an icy glare. Lifting her knee, her skirt rises, bunching up as she jams it up into his groin. Yanking her knife from his hand as he doubles over swearing. "Fuck. You little bitch!" He pulls out his knife as he glares hatred at her. I'm about to pull out my gun when another voice echos into the room.

"Jace! What the fuck are you doing?" I look up as Dante enters the room. Though I haven't met him I have seen him before and he looks the same as I recall. After a moment of collecting himself, Jace stands up straight, still red with anger, in acknowledgment as Dante comes up to us. Another man shuffles into the room with him, standing back a ways. I realize