Page 84 of Beautiful Vows

“Please. You and Lia together can change the face of the mafia. And I know you can do it.”

Dante’s gaze roams across to me. I feel the weight of his decision, like it rests on me.

“Please.” Dominic’s eyes soften. “Please, Dante. Change things. Make them better.”

My eyes go back to Dante’s across the space between us. I see his conflict, his desire to break free warring with his sense of duty. I nod, my heart racing as I watch Dante wrestle with his decision.

“I…”

Boom!

The car rattles as a deafening explosion shatters the somber atmosphere. The vehicle rocks violently, its frame groaning under the assault.

People scream.

My heart races as pieces of twisted metal clatter onto the roof of the car, the impacts sounding like rapid gunfire.

The ground beneath my feet trembles, and I instinctively duck as another shower of debris rains down around us.

I grasp Amara’s hand as she squeals. Dominic grabs her in his arms, plonks her on his knee, and whispers, “It’s fine.”

But is it?

All I can see is a car behind us in a ball of flame. Thick, pungent smoke billows into the air, stinging my eyes and choking my lungs.

Through the haze, I can see people scattering, their screams now barely audible over the ringing in my ears.

My mouth is frozen in a gasp. I straighten up, my heart pounding in my chest.

The air is filled with drifting ash and the acrid smell of burning rubber. But as the smoke clears, the full impact of what just happened sinks in.

“It was your car, Dante.” I mumble the words as I stare at the tangled metal behind us. “Someone targeted us.”

“We need to go home,” Cade says, staring at me.

“No fucking way. Someone could’ve killed my wife and babies,” Dante hisses. “And that someone isn’t expecting to see us at the wake. And when I find out who it is, there’s going to be another fucking funeral.”

Dante takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders before he reaches out and takes the ring from his father’s hand.

Chapter 28

Lia

After leaving Amara and Milly with Xander at Dominic’s home, we travel to the wake in Dominic’s car in silence.

Dante’s trying to appear calm, but despite the tension in his shoulders, I can see the calculations happening behind his eyes. I can see his hands forming into fists. I see the tic of his jaw.

“We need a plan, Dante.” Dominic’s voice is steady despite the circumstances. “You can’t do anything until there’s a sign.”

“I don’t need a sign. It’s Eduardo.” Dante says, “he knows about Lia.”

Deep down, I know the truth. I knew it was about me. This attack wasn’t random. It was meant for me and I hate that Dante, Cade, and Rafe were supposed to be collateral damage in Eduardo’s twisted plan.

There’s a bitter taste of indignation in my mouth and a fiery rage engulfs my stomach, burning. Knowing that this person callously disregards the well-being of others makes my blood boil.

“How does he know?” Dominic twists to Dante and waits.

“Because I overheard his hired assassin talking to someone on his phone before I killed him. He repeated Lia’s name, and not Aurelia Moretti. The person told him the name was Lia Bailey. “

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