Page 14 of Deadly Don's Baby Contract

"Sure, boss," Marido says.

"Marido, what do you know about Aria Dilio?" I ask. "What have you been told?"

"I know she shares a name with a family Don Vito is trying to wipe out," Marido says casually. "Though I doubt she's related. It's a common name in the streets."

"Yeah, she seems too innocent for this kind of life," I comment. "Too sweet. The woman freaking sews for fun."

Marido chuckles. "Definitely not."

"What would Don Vito have against Marco then?"

"I don't know, boss. Why are you asking?"

"Because it was his man behind the knife attack. Either he's trying to hurt Marco through Aria, or worse, he's trying to hurt Aria for a reason we don't know." I scratch the five o'clock shadow forming on my face because I didn't shave yesterday. "I think either way, I'm going to find out."

Marido pulls up to the driveway of Don Cilo's estate, and the guards stop us. As Marido rolls down the window, a car pulls in behind us. I slide my hand under my jacket and wait.

"It's our men," the guard says, looking at me. "You can't enter if you're armed."

"Don Cilo will see me. I have his payment," I say.

The guard speaks in fast Italian on the radio, walking away. It takes a minute before he comes back. "Proceed."

The drop-off is quick and painless, and I have Marido drive me to the piers. It's always the best source of backyard gossip. Fishermen tell no lies, mostly.

I also know some of Vito's enemies hang around here, so maybe I can find out what he's trying to do. We approach some of the fishermen, sitting around sharing a beer. I lean against a metal pole protruding from the ground and cross my arms. "Hey guys, I'm looking for some information."

They keep chatting, so I take out my wallet, take out two hundred dollars, and hold it up. "I just want to know what Don Vito would want with the Morelli family."

The men all get up and start walking away, except for one scraggly bearded old man. He snatches the two hundred dollars from my hand. "Vito wants to wipe out the Dilio family. He's been trying to do that for years. He massacred a bunch of them, but apparently, one was with her Godfather when it happened, and he whisked her off to safety."

Aria.

Dominique.

It can't be.

"And the Morelli family?"

"He hates them too," the man says, taking a swig of beer. "Thinks they're cocky, and they are, but they got the balls to back it." He turns and starts walking after his friends.

I need to speak to Aria. I can't let this slide.

If she really is a Dilio from that Dilio family...

I go back to the car and climb in. "Take me home. I need to speak to Aria."

While we're in traffic, my phone rings. "Yes?" I answer.

"Did you do the delivery?" Marco asks.

"Yes, I thought you were going to see someone?"

"I'm with them now," he says. "Get back and protect Aria. I don't trust Vito not to attack the mansion."

"I'm on my way there now," I say quietly.

I hang up and look out the window, staring at nothing really while I ponder about this situation. If Marco finds out he's marrying someone from another family, he can react one of two ways.

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