Page 62 of Deadly Wolf Bite

I swallow the bile.

The worst part is that I can’t really feel sorry for Anthony, only fury and shame for what we’ve all become. And what we’ll all be before it’s over. I left this town so it wouldn’t break me. Now that I’m back, the only option is to break it instead.

At the end of the service, Lexi finally releases my hand. I feel the absence of her touch like a hole in my heart, but I force myself to focus on the room. On this moment. And whether either side will use it to make a move.

Franco and his people stand, but they don’t leave, instead chatting with one another and greeting guests. A quick glance at the back shows Mia and Razor watching closely.

My father makes his way slowly down the main aisle, surrounded by his generals and waylaid every few seconds by those offering condolences. When he disappears into the vestibule behind me, I exhale.

Mia keeps telling me he’s not stupid enough to pull some shit out in the open like this, but Franco’s never executed a Diavolo general at a board meeting either.

“Let’s get going,” I say when I’m convinced my father’s left.

“I’ll get the car.” Dutch slips away.

I turn to lead Lexi out using the far aisle by the wall, but Charlie Reyes blocks my path.

“Jericho.”

I frown, a little surprised both that he’s speaking to me directly—a rare thing despite him being around for most of my life—and that he’s choosing to do it so publicly. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“May I have a word?” His gaze flicks over my shoulder to Lexi, making his message clear. He wants to speak alone.

I open my mouth to refuse him, but Lexi lays her hand on my arm.

“I’m going to wait with Mia,” she says, nodding at the back of the room.

“Don’t talk to anyone else.” I try not to sound completely paranoid. “Go straight back. Stay with Mia until I return.”

“I will,” she assures me. Then she slips into the center aisle and makes her way back.

I turn to Charlie. “Where would you like to talk?”

“I think the refreshments are this way.” He makes his way up the side aisle before pushing through an unmarked door that leads farther into the church.

I follow, irritated that he’s wasting my time with refreshments and bullshit. But the moment I step through the door, he rounds on me, pushing the door shut and wedging it closed with the doorstop on the floor.

“What the fuck?” I demand.

“We don’t have much time,” he says, suddenly earnest.

“Time for what, Charlie? What is this?”

“If anyone asks, I’m inquiring about Ramsey’s mental state so I can report back to the generals.”

“His mental state is fucked.” Exactly what Charlie’s going to be if he’s pulling something.

“Yes, I’m aware. Mia’s already updated me.”

My mind races as I try to catch up to…whatever this is. What else has Mia told him? No. She would never betray me. Maybe my father ordered him to isolate me. Fuck. There are so many reasons he would do that—none of them good.

“Then what do you want?” I demand.

“Vincenzo wants revenge for what Franco did to Anthony.”

This gets my attention. Alarm bells ring in my head. For Charlie to admit that…to me…must mean it’s bad.

“Do you know what he’s planning?” I ask.

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