Excerpt: He Will Show No Mercy [Working Title]

“But nothing!” Conti spat angrily. “You are not welcome here. You will leave now. Maria, you will go up to your mother.” He let go of the young woman, pushing her away roughly.

Maria stumbled backwards and caught herself on the wall to keep from falling. “No, Papa!” she whispered in defiance. It was not loud, but it caught her father’s attention immediately. His head whipped around and he stared at her, his anger growing more obvious with every shuddering breath he took. “No, Papa,” she said again, louder this time. “You can’t make him leave. I’ll go with him.”

“You will not go with him!” Conti bellowed, taking a threatening step forward towards his daughter.

Before Conti could walk far, Antonio leapt into action; he stepped between Maria and her father, pulling his wife close to his side. “Signor,” he said firmly, “your daughter and I have been married tonight, and—”

Again, Antonio was interrupted by Conti’s anger. Conti reached out and struck Antonio in the jaw. The blow landed so hard on Antonio’s face that a small trickle of blood immediately began oozing down his chin. Maria screamed, taking a step away from her father and dragging her husband with her.