"Good God, she's bleeding. This is going too far."
"She's the Don's wife, for pity's sake. If someone dies over this, there'll be hell to pay."
"Exactly. That woman has some nerve."
Gianna only glanced at the soldier. He pressed harder. I clenched my teeth and braced against the stone. My thumb found the underside of my wedding band and turned it, one slow rotation. The ring stopped. "You wouldn't dare. I am the Don's..."
The growl of engines cut through the air. A convoy of black sedans pulled to a hard stop before us, tires biting asphalt. "What is going on here?"
I looked up. Enzo Moretti stepped out of the lead car, surveying the scene, his overcoat still carrying the cold of wherever he'd traveled from. He had only just returned to the city.
The instant Gianna saw him, she threw herself forward. Enzo caught her. "Gianna. What are you doing out here?"
Gianna crumpled against him, tears streaming down her face like rain on pear blossoms. "My lord, your wife tried to beat our child to death."
"She kicked me in the stomach too. It hurts so badly now. You have to stand up for me and our child." Gianna clutched at Enzo, her voice pitched to carry.