Tucking the extra weapon into the front of my black slacks, I approached them. Rivulets of warm blood ran down my cheek and dripped onto my white button-down shirt as I stood silently before the man who had just tried to kill me.

His dark eyes burned with the rage of his chauvinistic ancestors as he stared me down. “You will honor my daughter,” he ground out. “She was an innocent girl!”

I had to admire his balls. Even wrapped up in Luca’s death hold, he managed to sound intimidating. I stepped closer, ignoring the icy fire in Luca’s blue eyes that promised me a sound reprimand and maybe a...