Page 32 of Deadly Don's Arranged Vows

“You must keep in mind that your daughter-in-law is a very strong person. I’m sure she’s being treated well. Even the most idiotic people in criminal underworld know that if my wife is treated badly, the things that will happen to their families will be much worse.”

“I know you know what you’re doing, son. I just miss her and want her home.” Dabbing at tears with a napkin, she sighs. “I know you’ll have her back here before I know it.”

My mother can’t be let in on the details, but I can ease her worry. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I smile at her. “Things are happening as we speak. It won’t take much longer to get her back here where she belongs.”

With my mother feeling better about getting her daughter-in-law back soon, I head to my office to meet with some of my men. A set of blueprints sprawls across the top of my desk. “Nice. You got the plans to Barone’s mansion.” I walk over to check it out and see that a few rooms have been marked.

“We have a guy on the inside,” Titus, my most trusted adviser, tells me. “He’s a chef who used to work for us a few years back.”

“What’s he told you?” I take a seat, and one of the men brings me a cigar and a glass of something strong.

“He’s confirmed she’s in the house, but he hasn’t found out where she is yet. We’re sending in someone to help with that,” Titus says, then smiles. “He’s done work for us before. His specialty is finding those who don’t want to be found.”

“Sounds like just what we need.” I take a hit of the cigar. The smoke I exhale encircles me, and the aroma adds satisfaction to the taste. “I need this done quickly. It won’t be long before the new leadership of that family is established.”

“By what the chef has said, the man who took the call we made yesterday, Darius Stone, has already had lawyers coming and going through the night.” Titus nods at me, knowing that I know why that is.

And I do. “Her kidnapping has something to do with the things her father has left behind.”

Titus shrugs. “Maybe Daniel’s wife didn’t get all she thought she should have. Maybe she wants whatever your wife’s got.”

“And there’s little time left to make sure anyone gets anything with the power about to be given to another man. Daniel Barone had no sons, so the leadership will go to another in that family.” I sip on the smooth liquor and think about the males in the Barone line who might take over.

“There’s a shortage of males in that family,” another of the men says. “There will definitely be some trouble between those who are in line for that position.”

“While they’re fighting among themselves, the guards at the mansion will be in short supply,” Titus adds. “No better time than now to make our move.”

“As soon as we know where she is,” I say. “I’m not charging in there with guns blazing until I know where she’s being held. I want zero chances of her being harmed in the crossfire.”

Titus points to the basement, one of the rooms that’s been marked. “If she’s here, then I’m thinking maybe a car bomb could be set off near this area to give us access.”

I look at the attic, which is also marked. “And if she’s way up there in the attic?”

“Then we’ll need to get to her,” Titus says with confidence. “Chaos is a great distraction.”

“I do love chaos,” I say with a laugh, and the others join in.

The more chaos, the more things we can get away with. It has never failed us before.

I will get my wife back, no matter who I have to kill to make it happen.

Chapter 18

Isabella

The day comes to an end, and dinner is brought to me in my attic cell. Earlier in the day, I was let out of my cell and taken to a downstairs office to meet with the lawyer in charge of the whole estate thing. I had to sign papers that I was sure would lead to my death. They gave me no time to read anything, so I have no idea what the papers said or what I was heir to.

Now that I have been seen not only inside the Barone mansion but also with Vivian Barone, I have a feeling that others are aware of what’s going on. And with me being alive and in the care of my stepmother, she can’t exactly kill me herself. Still, I know she plans on me dying in one way or another. She can’t let me live—that much is clear. And I don’t want to die.

To my surprise, Vivian herself brings in my dinner. She’s followed by a male figure, and I see who it is as they step into the thin beam of fading light that comes from the window high above us.

I want to scream at them, tell them they will never get away with this, but I clamp my jaw shut. Yelling will only make them laugh, and that will further infuriate me.

After Vivian sets the plate of food at the end of the bed, the two of them step back, clearly afraid of getting too close to me. Vivian smiles. “Today went well, don’t you think?”

“You got what you wanted, so I’m not surprised that you feel it went well,” I snap.

I watch as the man she’s been calling her uncle slides his arm around her waist, pulling her close to his side. She says to him, “Soon we will be rich.”

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