Page 56 of Crimson Vows

Gia: What’s going on?

Me: Can’t discuss over text.

Gia: My place?

Me: No. Compromised.

Dante: WTF?

Nico: What’s going on?

If I want to figure out who is behind these dangerous words getting out, I know I will have better luck gauging each person’s reaction to the information when I can watch their faces. If we are followed, we can’t all head to Gia’s to discuss the matter. I debate where we can meet and avoid suspicion. The only cover that might work is if we make everything seem business as usual. Gia is supposed to be managing her father’s businesses with my supervision. A meeting at one of Anthony’s businesses would perhaps provide at least some mild form of cover.

Me: Warehouse where the cars are being collected. Thirty minutes.

Gia: Understood.

Nico: Dante is with me. We’ll be there.

I shove the phone into my pocket. My mind is a tangled web. Vincent’s return looms, and as I process the conversation with Amelia, I’m tempted to call him. To ask him how on earth he could actually believe I would betray him after everything we’ve been through. Yes, perhaps for a split second, I entertained the notion, but at the end of the day, I have never been anything but true to this family. But I don’t think I could have that conversation without my anger boiling over on him. Amelia is right about one thing. I have to know who is behind this rumor and their intent by sharing it.

As I make my way back to the parking garage, I can’t help but think of Amelia’s warning about Gia. Could this be part of a bigger plan for Gia to get revenge on Vincent for humiliating her? Am I really so blinded by my desperation for Gia to have real feelings for me that I can’t see what is right in front of me? Did she go to one of the captains with this tale of betrayal? Or even worse, are Nico and Dante working with her? Doubts riddle my thoughts as I cross the city to the warehouse. The truth will be apparent soon enough. I only hope I can do what I have to, based on what I discover.

Chapter Twenty-One

NICO

The door slams against the wall with such force it causes a reaction in the room similar to a gunshot. Marco storms in, his jaw clenched tight, eyes ablaze. Dante freezes mid-laugh, the humor draining from his face as he tracks Marco’s strides across the warehouse.

“Marco?” Gia’s voice wavers, a note of fear threading through her confusion.

He doesn’t spare her a glance. His focus is locked on Dante, who stands there, the ghost of his joke still hanging between them.

“What’s so funny?” Marco bellows, the words raw and edged.

“I was just joking around,” he answers apprehensively. I watch, confused by what is unfolding in front of me.

“Yeah?” Marco’s voice is still raised, and his nostrils flared. “Just joking around, huh? Well, go ahead then. I want to hear your joke. Go ahead and tell me.”

Dante shakes his head. “No, I’m sorry, it really wasn’t that funny.”

Marco reaches out and grips Dante by the collar, even though Dante towers above him in stature, and pulls him closer. “Tell me the goddamn joke.”

Dante swallows hard, and I can see he is just as surprised by Marco’s behavior. “Um—okay, well... I was just saying that you probably were pretending there was an emergency because you wanted to get us all here so we could go at Gia again.”

Marco’s grip tightens on Dante’s collar, his knuckles white. The tension in the room is suffocating, but I know better than to interject myself into the interaction.

“You think this is a joke?” Marco shouts, moving his face closer to Dante’s.

“I-I swear... I didn’t mean anything. It was just a stupid comment,” Dante stammers.

We all watch in disbelief as Marco releases one hand from Dante, draws it back as he tightens it into a fist, then thrusts forward with all his strength. It connects with Dante’s cheek, and a crack echoes off the walls. Dante staggers back, his hand flying to his face, clearly shocked by what took place. His blue eyes search Marco’s for an explanation but find none.

“Marco!” I shout, finally feeling as if I have no choice but to step in. I place my body between the two men. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Damn, man,” Dante mutters, shaking his head as if to shake lose the blur left behind by the punch. “It was only a fucking joke.”

Gia’s hand covers her mouth, and she steps back, pressing herself against the wall. Her dark eyes are wide, darting from Marco’s rigid back to Dante’s stunned expression.

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