Page 75 of Under His Control

After the celebratory moments, Uncle Dante filled us in on what happened last night. We had most of the details now, according to the surveillance cameras and what the guards and Danicia remembered. Everyone was recovering from the darts, and that was the best news we could’ve hoped for.

Liam and Romeo also shared what happened when they chased the biker to the property wall. I knew they were watering it down. Their summaries were brief and to the point, but conclusive so we wouldn’t have any questions and would feel satisfied with answers. I would never ask Liam how many people he killed. I didn’t want to know, and I didn’t want him to think that his kill count mattered to me. Part of his appeal was his rugged masculinity, and even if it did reduce my feminism, knowing he could go to the extreme of killing people made him all the more attractive. He was no coward. He was a bold fighter, fighting the good fight with us.

“A middle man?” Nina asked after Liam and Romeo finished talking. “Who could be this middle man in the governor’s office?”

“Oscar Morelli,” Franco said as he entered the spacious kitchen, overhearing us as he came into the room. “I had Andy and a couple other spies look into it based on who the bikers were talking to.”

Romeo narrowed his eyes and nodded. “That sounds familiar.”

Franco seemed pleased with this information. “I’m not surprised. Once we tracked where Reaper’s bike was going, we realized he was making a habit of visiting someone near the governor’s house. Once we had a name, we looked up surveillance, and it added up.”

“He’s definitely the one helping the MC?” Dante asked.

“Yes.” Franco nodded. “We’ve got video of him meeting with Reaper. Then our hackers found a trail of transactions. It seemsOscar’s got a fondness for coke and young whores, which Reaper provides.”

“When do we go after him?” Romeo asked, glancing at his father. “If we kill him, they don’t have an ace up their sleeve anymore.”

“Always one step ahead,” Dante agreed.

“Not so fast,” Franco warned. “I have a feeling it won’t be awesituation.” He pointed at Liam. “More like a sniper and expert marksman situation.”

Liam nodded as he rubbed his chin. “Why? Is he a hard man to get alone?”

“Very,” Franco replied. “He’s heavily guarded and seems super paranoid. It would be a challenge to get to him directly.”

I squeezed his hand, nodding at him.

“Today? Or tonight?” Liam asked, seeming to understand that I was giving him permission. He didn’t need permission from me, but we were hoping to ask someone to watch Olivia here while we had dinner, just the two of us in our room, to celebrate our engagement.

This would put a damper on our plans, but I understood. This was the way of the Mafia life.

“Yes. The sooner, the better,” Franco said. “Before he can try to hide any better.”

“You say jump, and I’ll jump.”

Franco smiled, just now spotting the ring on my finger. “Ah. Planning to celebrate tonight?”

I waved him off. “I can wait.” I felt like I’d been waiting all my life for someone like Liam, a strong man who could understand me and be able to handle me. But one more night wasn’t impossible. He’d proven this morning that he wanted to give me all of his days and every one of his nights.

“Shouldn’t take long if we leave soon.” Franco tipped his head toward the door. “We can talk about the details on the way.”

“All right.” Liam stood, but he didn’t hurry to follow after Franco. First, he downed his coffee. Then he leaned in toward Olivia and kissed the top of her head. “Be good for your mama,” he told her and backed away before she got him with a syrupy spoon.

“Who do I need to be good for?” I teased him as he approached me to kiss me goodbye.

“Me,” he replied. After he framed my face, he kissed me so tenderly that I wanted to swoon. But he didn’t let go. Slanting toward my ear, he whispered, “But I like it when you’re bad for me too.”

I smiled, pressing my lips together to keep from grinning.

Watching him leave was getting easier. He’d proven time and time again that he was capable of surviving all odds against any other man. Each time he headed out to do something for the family’s security, I knew that he wouldn’t be rash or foolish.

He couldn’t, not when he had so much to live for and enjoy with me and Olivia. Even though he could be stoic and guarded—like me—at times, it was impossible for me to miss the happiness and zest for life that shone in his light-blue eyes. They pierced me, reaching to my soul every time we locked gazes, and in his loving stare, I felt the excitement he couldn’t hide. The excitement to start the rest of his life with me at his side.

“I’ll be back,” he called out before he left through the doorway in the direction toward the garages, where Franco had gone.

Yes, you will.I agreed with his claim, and I knew he wasn’t saying it to be cocky or sound smart.

I had all confidence that he’d come home to me. And when he did, we’d spend the night celebrating the next step of our relationship.

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