I Married His Enemy The Day He Married His Mistress Chapter 03
The Gun Between Us
I clenched my fists.
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Old Marco.” My voice didn’t shake. “Your gun.”
The Consigliere didn’t hesitate. He pulled the pistol from his holster and placed it in my hand.
I raised it and pressed the muzzle to Adrian’s forehead.
My hand was steady. Not a single tremor.
“Adrian Shaw. Touch my son again and see what happens.”
He froze for half a second. Then he smiled, cold and thin.
“That aim. I taught you that.” He let go of Leo and straightened up, wrapping his hand around mine, pressing the barrel harder against his own temple. “Go ahead. Pull the trigger. What’s one more bullet in this body? I’ve already taken three for you.”
I stared into his eyes. My finger tightened on the trigger.
“Fine. I’ll give you what you want.”
Before I could finish, Vivienne threw herself between us, shoving me hard.
I stumbled back. She crashed to the floor, crumpled in a heap, sobbing.
“Don’t! Donna Locke, please don’t hurt Adrian! If you’re angry, take it out on me! My life is worthless. But Adrian still has to lead the whole Family. His life matters!”
Adrian forgot about me. Forgot about Leo.
He dropped to his knees beside her, scooping her into his arms. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth where she’d bitten her lip on impact. “Vivienne, stop talking. Nothing matters more than you. If she ever lays a hand on you, I’ll end her myself.”
He lifted her and walked out without looking back.
At the doorway, Vivienne turned her head. Over Adrian’s shoulder, she caught my eye.
And she smiled.
Nanny Rosa picked up Leo, shaking with anger. “Madam, this is… insane! Back during the war, it was you who begged your father on his deathbed and then led the backup team to get him out! You nearly died for him! If you’d just let us tell him the truth…”
I raised my hand and stopped her. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Leo was still crying, arms reaching for me. I took him from Rosa, held him tight against my chest, and carried him back to our room.
I rocked him until his breathing evened out, until his little fist unclenched from my collar, until he was deep asleep.
Then I called for Old Marco.
He came in with his wrist wrapped in cloth, blood already seeping through from where Adrian had shot him. He said nothing about it.
I pulled the Locke token from around my neck and placed it in his good hand.
“Take this to the West Side. Tell Don Vale my answer is yes.”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “Boss, that man is emotional and dangerous. Everyone knows that even when your father was alive, he was already trying to swallow our territory. If you agree to this, he might…”
“I know exactly what he is.” I met Marco’s eyes. “Go.”
After hesitation, he bowed his head and left.
…
That night, the courtyard erupted with noise. Engines, voices, footsteps.
Adrian brought Vivienne back from the hospital, making a production of it. Leo jerked awake in my arms, eyes wide.
I held him close. “Shh. Mama’s here.”
He blinked up at me in the dark, his small voice barely a whisper. “Mama, does Daddy not want us anymore?”
My heart cracked. I kissed his forehead softly. “You have me. Mama’s here. That’s enough.”
He curled into me, his tiny fingers gripping my shirt.
My son would never need a father who didn’t deserve him.
The next morning, Adrian came to apologize. All smiles, all charm. “I know you’re still mad. But I was just putting on a show for Vivienne. She saved my life out there. She almost got torn apart by wolves protecting me. I owe her.” He leaned against the doorframe, casual. “Anyway, Leo’s birthday is coming up. Let’s throw him a big party. Let the whole world know I’ve got a son.”
I almost laughed out loud.
So this was it. The day he’d been planning all along.
I looked at him and felt nothing.
“Sure,” I said. “Whatever you want.”