---- Everyone froze. We all looked toward the source of the sound. Vincent Santoro was walking, step by step, toward Claire. His face was blank, but his deep eyes were churning with a hellish rage. He reached Claire, gently reached out, and stroked her hair. "Sorry I'm late." Claire grabbed his arm, about to say something, when a swarm of Santoro family soldiers in black suits stormed the restaurant, surrounding the fat man and his crew.
"Take Miss Murphy downstairs to rest." After Claire was gone, the fat man was shaking like a cornered rat, kneeling and bowing his head to Vincent over and over. But Vincent didn't even look at him. He stepped right ---- over his back and walked toward me. Just when I thought he'd see me, covered in blood, and help me up... The cold barrel of the gun, still smelling of smoke, was pressed against my forehead. "When did you find out about Claire." So. He thought I'd set this all up.
He thought I'd hired that fat pig to attack Claire. "Vincent, I was trying to save her..." BANG! The bullet slammed into the wall right next to my ear. A sharp ringing filled my head as fear crashed over me, and I screamed. "T don't like your answer." He turned his head to the fat man. "Now, you answer me." ---- The fat man was dripping with cold sweat. His eyes darted around before he shakily pointed at me. "Don Santoro! It... it was her! She told us to rough up Miss Murphy!
Said if we had a little fun with her, she'd get us a piece of your action, let us in on the score!" "What are you talking about?!" I stared at the man in disbelief. The next second, Vincent's hand clamped onto my chin, his grip like steel. "Isabella Romano. Tonight, you're going to learn what happens when you overstep."" "He gestured to the heavyset man and his crew, his voice devoid of any warmth. "She's yours.
Do whatever you want with her." The heavyset man touched his bleeding forehead, a vicious smirk spreading across his face. "Don, the bitch cracked my head with that bottle. Mind if I return the favor? Pour this down her throat?"