Page 43 of Bratva Knight

Illayana was well on the way to achieving that already. She’d told me at Arturo’s party how she had to punish several soldiers for disrespecting her. A punch to the face here, a well placed kick there. As Mrs Don, she had the authority to do that.

“Having a man jump to my defense every time someone insults me undoes all the hard work Illayana is trying to do,” I finished, putting my iPad in my handbag and draping it over my shoulder.

“Okay, I see your point.” Vincenzo opened the wide double doors of the interrogation room and led us out. “What are your thoughts on him anyway? Rocco? Do you think he could be working against us?”

“No.” That, I was confident in. “He cares too much about the Cosa Nostra to ever do anything harmful to it. But, he’s definitely hiding something.”

“Really? Like what?”

“I don’t know. He’shidingit.”

Vincenzo looked to Nikolai as he walked us down the hallway towards the front door. “Do you agree?”

“Yes,” was all he replied with.

Vincenzo paused in the foyer, waiting as if he expected Nikolai to say more. When he didn’t, Vincenzo shook his head. “You don’t talk much, do you?”

“Depends who I’m talking to,” Nikolai grunted.

“Oh, it’s like that, huh?” he laughed softly.

Nikolai didn’t bother talking to people he didn’t like. He would reply with the basics: “Yes.” “No.” “Fuck off.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll grow to like me.”

“I highly doubt it,” Nikolai replied plainly, his face conveying his absolute boredom with the entire conversation.

“You will. Everybody does,” he winked. “Come on, I’ll walk you guys out,” he said, heading towards the door.

“Actually, Illayana asked me to grab something from her room.” I put on a bright smile, acting completely innocent. Nikolai glanced at me. His face didn’t change, staying exactly the same, but I could see the questioning look in his gaze.

Vincenzo didn’t suspect a thing, shrugging a shoulder. “Whatever. I’ll show you where it is.” He led Nikolai and I up the circular staircase until we reached the top floor, stopping in front of a set of double doors. “This is their room. Just don’t touch any of Arturo’s shit. He gets pissy about that kind of thing.”

“Got it. We’ll meet you downstairs.”

Vincenzo frowned slightly. I kept the smile on my face and he eventually shrugged, walking off. My smile dropped the second he stepped out of view. I gripped Nikolai’s hand, rushing back towards the stairs. “Come on.”

“What are you—”

“Shh.” I peeked over the railing, just catching a glimpse of Vincenzo stepping off the last stair and into the foyer. Taking light, quick steps, I raced down to the second floor, dragging Nikolai behind me. I turned right, went straight to the third bedroom and rushed inside, closing the door behind me.

“Quick, find the light switch.” I felt along the wall when light suddenly flooded the room.

“There. Now will you tell me what’s going on?” Nikolai asked, hands on his hips.

“No time. Just keep watch.” Blinking rapidly to adjust to the sudden light, I looked around the room.

It was as grand as you’d expect from the Don of the Cosa Nostra: four-poster bed, ornate gold oil paintings on the walls, expensive mahogany furnishings.

There were slight feminine touches, which reassured me that I was in the right room: make-up on the dresser, heels on the floor, pink clothes on the bed.

There were only two women staying in that house, so I was fairly confident I was in the right place. But just in case, I did a more thorough check. Any doubt was squashed when I glimpsed the photo frame sitting on one of the bedside tables. A photo of Gabriella with her parents.Gotcha, bitch.

I reached into my handbag and pulled out a pair of black latex gloves, snapping them on. I pulled out the small ziploc bag holding the leaves of poison ivy next, carefully taking them out.

Nikolai watched me with calculating eyes as I moved about the room, rubbing the poison ivy onto everything I could. I lifted up the blankets, smearing it into the sheets.

The pillow was next, and then I moved onto the dresser, opening the first drawer. It was filled with lacy underwear and bras.Perfect.Taking them out one by one, I ran the poison ivy through the inseam of each undergarment.

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