Page 180 of Forced Vows

"Thank you." She presses a soft kiss to my chest.

That tiny expression of appreciation goes through me like a stiletto, touching something I could swear is nothing more than cold ashes. The remnants of a soul incinerated by a lifetime of damning choices.

"The Shaughnessy mob has a lot of enemies." Róise's swollen, pretty lips twist in a grimace. "They're not all Italian."

I squeeze her in reprimand. "With our marriage none of those enemies are Italian."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. The powerful Genovese will keep the rest of the Cosa Nostra at bay." Her sass is back in full force.

And I lov—like it. A lot.

"I've looked into the likely candidates. No one took responsibility."

"They wouldn't would they?" she asks, her brows drawn together.

"They would, at least among their own circles. Someone would know something. Even if it was your Grandfather Shaughnessy taking a hit out on himself anonymously, there would be a whisper of it somewhere." At the very least, speculation on who might have done it.

But there's nothing.

"Are you saying you have contacts in all those circles?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Oh." She looks impressed despite herself.

I want to smile, but the topic is too serious.

"If it wasn't an enemy, but someone who didn't want anyone to know they had your dad killed because doing so would make an enemy out of an ally…"

I stop talking, letting her draw her own conclusions.

The narrowing of her eyes says she's reached one. "You think it was my grandfather, Gabriel Lion."

Got it in one, my smart fiancée. "If he knew your dad's intention to stop doing business with the AOG once he became boss, it's almost a certainty."

And he doesn't have to outsource a hit. He has his own people for it.

She doesn't look shocked or disbelieving.

"I'll find the answer," I promise her.

She nods, swallowing back emotion.

I want to tell her not to do that, not to hide her feelings. To cry again if she needs to. The words stick in my throat though, just like so many others I forgot how to speak.

"I spent so many years, hating the Cosa Nostra, and I probably would have anyway because of my mom. But we're not enemies. Not anymore."

"I'm glad you finally realize that."

"Pretty sure I realized it a while ago or we wouldn't be sitting here naked."

"There's such a thing as hate-sex."

"Well, I'm not into that."

"Good." I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss her palm. "I'm not either."

The only sex I'm into now, is sex with her.

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