Page 31 of The Last Vendetta

Two Bernardi soldiers stood outside, likely curious and concerned that their new Mafia prince’s car was still idle here.

“Shit.” Talking with Renzo had taken longer than I anticipated, and I hated to go at all. “Cover for me.”

“What? Wait?—”

I scrambled off his lap, going for the opposite door. “Get out on that side and make an excuse. Cover for me while I slip away.”

He scowled, adjusting his semi-erection in his pants.

“It’s the least you can do for my sharing that intel with you, isn’t it?” I snapped.

“I thought we were supposed to be enemies.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, me too.”

“Not… partners.”

Damn, that sounded too good to be true. To have a sexy, strong man like him to rely on, that would be a dream. “Co-conspirators,” I amended.

He did as I requested, stepping out to address his men, and I went out the other door to run to the car I’d driven here.

Being seen with him wouldn’t bode well, but as I got into my car, I wished I could be running to him, my supposed enemy, rather than hurrying away.

10

RENZO

Renzo

Before Luka married Cecilia and died at his wedding, I seldom went into the office at my house. Luka lived with Gio in the Bernardi mansion, but because I was the spare brother and always preferred to remain out of sight and out of mind, I had my own residence.

Nowadays, I was in that damn room constantly, dealing with what felt like nonstop supervision.

I need to delegate. Or I need to delegate more.

We had a whole organization to rely on, and I didn’t understand why Luka was so deeply involved in so many things at once. Didn’t he ever trust our Family and our men?

Or maybe he just liked to micromanage. I did not, and already, I was leaving the capos and leaders to handle the little shit I didn’t want to get tied up with.

Like leading an orchestra. I didn’t need to be hands-on like Luka was. And I bet letting the men see that I trusted them would boost morale.

Dean was too valuable to ever dismiss, though. I spoke with him late into the night now, trying to piece together more details.

He was older than Gio, just barely, and the old capo knew goddamn everything about everyone. Loyal to the bones, the man was a diligent, dedicated, and highly resourceful man to lean on. Luka liked him too, so when I stepped into Luka’s position, Dean became my right-hand man like he’d been for Luka.

He paced from one end of the office to the other, shaking his head. “I’m telling you, there are no leads. Anywhere.”

I pursed my lips, taking his word for it. He’d been on the case from the start.

“Did you confirm that Isabella was drugged, though?” I didn’t doubt Giulia, but I had to check and learn all that I could. Dean had spent hours following up that angle, and I wasn’t shocked that he nodded now.

“She was, but her tox screen reports were erased.”

I narrowed my eyes at the thick paperweight on the corner of my desk, zoning out. “Why?”

“She’s as vain as they come, high-maintenance in her looks and reputation.”

Unlike her eldest daughter. Giulia dressed impeccably, fitting right in with the other women of our world, but she never flaunted it. She knew she looked good, or she should know it, and I assumed that she was simply too confident to have to flaunt it. I had yet to witness her being selfish and vain, but I’d be waiting a long time.

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