Page 42 of Wicked Heiress

My cousin.

Bastian Salvatore.

The man on his right was Damian. They were Salvatores but not by blood.

“The fifteenth anniversary of Mom’s death is coming up,” Luca said, the group’s apparent leader with how he stood with the full attention of every man. “Lorenzo Basile has waited a long time to get revenge.”

Cole had mentioned that name on our way over here. I couldn’t believe they had gotten mixed up with a Sicilian Mafia boss, but I wasn’t that surprised, either. I figured rich people did some shady shit to make their money.

“He was waiting for Alex to take her place with The Devil’s Knights.”

“Aiden, too. Does Wellington know yet?”

When Cole first told me about their queen, I almost laughed. Why did a bunch of grown men need a queen to rule them? But he explained it was a condition of the union between the Wellingtons and the Salvatores—a way for Carl Wellington to ensure his granddaughter’s safety.

“With both of his pawns out of play,” Luca said, “maybe he’ll get off his ass and offer us the help of The Founders Society.”

He walked over to Carl Wellington. The other men stayed behind and passed around the iPad.

“Any updates?” Cole asked.

Drake handed the iPad to Cole. “We just got a lead.”

Rhys was on my right side, his palm on my ass as he leaned over to glance at the screen. When I looked up at him, he smirked. I liked it when Rhys touched me. Anytime he was near, I couldn’t get enough of him.

Everyone stared at the iPad and watched as the man on the screen stood inside an empty shipping container and held up a note.

We captured your Queen.

Took your Knight.

Make your move.

I looked at Cole, confused. “What does that mean?”

“We’ve been getting played all along.”

Shoes slapped the blacktop, drawing my attention back to the oldest of the Salvatore brothers. He approached us with an evil sneer aimed at me. “What the fuck is she doing here?”

“Luca, we didn’t have a choice,” Cole said. “She’s not safe at my house.”

His hate-filled eyes landed on me again before returning to Cole. “The Knights were too busy to see another threat coming because of her. We wouldn’t have Russian scum on our doorstep if Fitzy didn’t leave her for us to deal with. So get her the fuck away from me before I trade her to get Alex back.”

I felt like I was going to be sick.

All of this was my fault.

Luca was right.

Those men wouldn’t have come here if my father hadn’t been looking for me. Sonny and the other Knights wouldn’t have been distracted. And maybe Alex and her twin brother, Aiden, wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped.

Without another word, Luca stormed off, kicking up dirt on the blacktop.

“Don’t listen to him,” Bastian said with an apologetic smile. “He’s just upset. Luca tends to overreact when he’s angry.”

I moved closer to him. “I remember you coming to dinner at Grandfather’s house. I was eleven years old. You gave me a key.”

“Do you still have it?”

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