CHAPTER 28

"What's going on?" ISAAC asks.

"It was, uh, nothing." KY doesn't feel like saying what he said to KY or what he tried to do. It's just too humiliating. First XENDER FISH and now Calcedonio. KY's dad taught KY how to shoot, and KY's so freaking thankful for that now. KY'm pretty good at it, and KY practices KY's moves every once in a while at the shooting range. When VINCENT DANZA's sister Anni Marchiano comes to visit, we normally go and practice together because she's a good shot too. Although, KY doesn't think her arranged husband was too happy when he discovered what she could do with a gun.

"You're a bad liar, KYOLINE. You don't shoot someone for no reason."

KY attempts to walk away. KY knows KY's awful at lying, but KY just can't talk about how Calcedonio thought KY was a whore.

"Wait!" He catches KY's arm. "What's wrong with your dress?" He rubs his thumb over a tear in the sleeve of KY's dress, a shiver coursing through KY as he makes contact with KY's bare skin. "Did Calcedonio do this?"

KY diverts KY's gaze away from him, not wishing for him to see the reality in KY's eyes. "No." It's totally embarrassing to confess that men believe KY is an easy target because of KY's surname.

His jaw clenches.

"I dealt with it and escaped from him," KY replies quickly.

"What did he say to you?"

The silence stretches between them, and KY can tell he's not going to drop it until he gets some kind of answer from KY. "He called me a whore." KY flips KY's hair over KY's shoulder, trying to sound tough, though KY'm actually pretty upset.

His eyes narrow. "And then the fucker put his filthy hands on you?"

KY presses KY's lips together and don't answer, but the look on KY's face must give KY away.

Before KY can say anything else, he strides off.

KY follows him. "You don't need to say anything to him." KY speaks quickly. "I've made sure he won't ever try anything like that again on me…"

Yet the second they're outside, his eyes find Calcedonio holding his injured hand and talking to his brother, his face crimson with rage.

KY's eyes dart around the vicinity, looking for VINCENT DANZA, because KY has a bad feeling ISAAC is about to show his hot-headedness.

But VINCENT DANZA is nowhere to be seen. Shit.

And without saying another word, ISAAC attacks Calcedonio and punches him in the face. "Don't you ever lay your hands on KYOLINE again!"

"I don't know why you're defending her," Calcedonio screams, falling backward. "So what if I tried to get into her pants? KYOLINE DIEGO is just a stupid slut like her mother."

ISAAC raises his gun. Pop! Pop!

But one of Calcedonio's men gets in the way and is struck instead, falling backward into the pool with a gurgling sound and clutching at his neck.

There is shrieking from the women. Men reach for their guns instinctively.

Calcedonio attacks ISAAC, but ISAAC strikes him again and sends him into the pool. Calcedonio grabs him as he is falling, though, and pulls ISAAC into the pool with him with a tremendous splash.

There are screams and gasps around them. KY's paralyzed as KY watches the men flail as they fight in the water, punching wherever they can.

But ISAAC has the advantage. He's sober, uninjured, and he's a better fighter. And he goes on to swiftly pummel Calcedonio into submission. And then he pulls out a knife and stabbed him.

There are more strangled screams from the women in the group. But all KY can do is stand there aghast at the scene in front of KY.

At last, ISAAC hauls himself out of the pool, leaving the two dead bodies in it. Blood is pouring out of them both, making the pool turn into a red sea around them.

ISAAC brushes his wet suit as he walks by KY.

VINCENT DANZA rushes out of the mansion, running and holding a gun. "What the hell's going on?" And seeing ISAAC drenched and his handmade shoes squelching with every step he makes, he scowls at him. "You choose now to go for a goddamn swim, ISAAC?" ISAAC just scowls back at his Capo.

VINCENT DANZA catches sight of the dead bodies in the pool. "For fuck's sake, ISAAC, in case you've forgotten, this is supposed to be a fucking funeral!"

KYOLINE DIEGO

VINCENT DANZA has summoned KY to his office. He knows why KY shot Calcedonio in the hand, and KY knows he doesn't blame KY after that disgusting man tried to rape KY, so KY's not sure what he wants to talk about today. KY's conscious ISAAC ended up killing Calcedonio, but VINCENT DANZA can't blame KY for that, can he?

KYOLINE, I am concerned for your safety, especially after Calcedonio tried to attack you at the funeral."

KY has no idea where VINCENT DANZA's going with this, but KY gets the feeling KY'm not gonna like it.

Unfortunately, your family's reputation also makes you a target in the eyes of assholes like that. And what worries me even more is Carmine, Calcedonio's brother." Carmine is also an underboss. "Carmine is furious about what happened to his brother and is determined to get revenge. I've ordered him to leave you be, but he's a crazy bastard who's unstable and unpredictable. You're not safe with Carmine on the streets.".

Holy crap. "I can handle myself." KY tries to be tough, but KY can't stop the slight tremble in KY's voice.

"No, you can't." VINCENT DANZA clenches his jaw. "And you need to take this seriously because the danger to you is significant."

"Are the children at risk?" KY whispers.

He shakes his head. "He doesn't kill kids. At least we can be sure that they'll be safe. I'm absolutely certain about that."

KY breathes out the breath KY didn't know KY was holding.

VINCENT DANZA nails KY with his gaze. "So here's what's going to happen. You're going to marry one of my guys."

KY shakes KY's head. "Uh, that's very kind of you to offer, but no, thank you. I'll be okay. I'm fine as I am."

"This is the only way I can keep you safe. And I will keep you safe. I'm responsible for what happened to you at an Imperiosi funeral and at the hands of one of my underbosses, and I won't risk anything else happening to you."

No, no, no. No way. KY means, who's actually going to want to marry someone with KY's family history? They'll be doing it only because VINCENT DANZA says so. Made men aren't exactly known for their fidelity, and KY'm certainly not taking the risk of ending up with someone who doesn't treat KY well.