Page 96 of Dangerous Devotion

The line went dead before Vince could reply.

I sat there, frozen, while Zotov’s words hung heavy in the air between us.

My mind raced with questions. Why Gabe’s villa? Was Gabe involved somehow? And what did this mean for Sophie and Cara who were there, and for Isabella and Mira? My pulse started to race. Italy. The one place I’d sworn I would never go back to.

I looked at Vince, at the storm of emotions playing across his face. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, knuckles white with tension.

Vince dialed again. “Everyone meet at the office,” he barked, then ended the call.

Vince stood, put me down on the chair, and marched up and down the office.

The others slowly filed in, and everyone focused on Vince. The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch.

When Vince stopped, I got up, crossed the room, stood right next to him, and took his hand, offering my support and presenting a united front as he briefed everyone on Zotov’s call and the instructions he’d sent.

When he finished, my dad looked troubled and Hawk looked pissed, as did Hero and Dante.

I turned sideways and didn’t expect to catch Vince looking at me with hesitation clearly visible in his dark eyes.

Was he torn between wanting to protect me and needing to save his sisters? Did he think I wouldn’t come with him?

I took a deep breath and squeezed his hand. “We have to go, asap,” I said firmly, looking directly into his eyes. “Together.”

He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me protectively.

I melted into his embrace, drew strength from our connection.

Somehow, he seemed to sense the fear that lingered beneath my determination. “Are you sure?” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “I know what happened in Italy is still…”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I’m sure.” I raised my chin and gave him a smile. “Isa and Mira need you, and I refuse to let you go alone. And I…I think I need to do this.”

Vince stared at me for a long time before he nodded. “Let’s prepare then.”

As the team bustled around us, preparing for our next steps, I felt a strange mix of anxiety and determination settling in my chest. The thought of returning to Italy terrified me, but with Vince by my side, I could face anything.

Facing my demons instead of running and hiding. Yes. That was what I’d do from now on.

Vince’s arms tightened around me. “I promise,” he said, his voice low and fierce, so nobody but me could hear them. “I will never let anything happen to you again. Not for as long as I breathe.”

I smiled up at him. “I’m glad, and, you know…same.”

He looked down at me, raised a single brow, lifted the corner of his mouth, and then kissed me.

Sealing our promise.

“Now, what’s your grandfather’s favorite book?” I asked when he pulled away.

He let go, walked toward one of the bookshelves, and didn’t even hesitate when he pulled an old red book off the shelf—an edition ofAround the World in Eighty Dayswith a dark red cover, the font a golden embossed imprint, and a key with a circle stamped on the cover.

I froze as soon as I saw it. I’d seen this before. Vince froze, as well, pulled the metal card out of his pocket, and held it next to the cover.

The same symbol was on both the book and the piece of metal.

“Why is the same symbol of your grandfather’s favorite book on Ivan Zotov’s business card?” I whispered.

No idea why I whispered, but somehow, this felt like the sort of information that shouldn’t be mentioned out loud.

Vince shrugged his shoulders, took my hand, and squeezed. “No clue, but we’ll find out soon enough.”

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