Page 103 of Mafioso's Muse

Lili’s face filled with pity. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

Willow began to shake despite the blanket. ‘Why not?’

‘Because he’s about to be in the middle of a shitstorm that you need to distance yourself from.’

Willow wasn’t sure if she was confused or concussed. ‘What do you mean?’

The ambulance pulled away from the theatre, lights flashing. Lili glanced at the paramedic, then leaned closer. ‘Vaughn got DeLuca Construction that contract. DeLuca built the stage.’

A cold realisation swept over Willow. There had been too much going on to consider why the stage had collapsed. More shortcuts and cost-cutting, no doubt. Something DeLuca was famous for.

But then she recalled Vaughn’s expression the night he’d told her about the restaurant roof collapsing on that family. That tragedy had changed everything.

‘I know him,’ Willow said quietly. ‘He would never have let me go on that stage if he thought there was any chance of this happening.’

Lili’s brow furrowed. ‘But itdidhappen.’

Willow turned her head away in an attempt to dispel the facts coming at her. Vaughn had been the first to reach her, to dig her out of the wreckage. He wanted her safe more than anything. Yet as she clung to that belief, she couldn’t ignore the truth.

‘Push all that stuff from your mind,’ Lili said, squeezing her hand through the blanket. ‘The only thing that matters now is getting you treated.’

Willow closed her eyes as a tear slid into her hair. Then sleep took her.

32

July 2024

Vaughn’s car was parked illegally at the hospital entrance, the engine idling. The hospital security guard must have recognised the car and knew better than to ask him to move it. Vaughn paced the concrete path like a caged tiger. The receptionist had refused to let him see Willow because he wasn’t family. He suspected Lili had also requested he not be let in, and he could hardly blame her. At least she would take good care of Willow. That was the only reason he didn’t make a scene.

Pulling his cigarette case from his pocket, Vaughn paused to light up, then resumed pacing. Finn watched him from the other side of the car, saying nothing.

Antonio’s Bentley pulled into the drop-off area at well over the speed limit. Vaughn watched his brother through the windscreen as he continued to smoke, surprised by the sharp rise of anger inside him. The driver’s door opened, and Antonio stepped out.

‘I got your message,’ Antonio called to him. ‘Is she all right?’

Vaughn shook his head, not ready to speak.

‘What the hell happened?’

Vaughn took a long pull on his cigarette before answering him. ‘Whathappenedis the piece-of-shit stage you built went down mid-performance like it was made from fucking sand.’ His voice was hoarse from the stress and nicotine.

Antonio appeared genuinely shocked by the news. ‘What?’

‘We said never again.’ Vaughn waved his cigarette in his brother’s direction. ‘After those kids… you fucking swore it. And I trusted you. We all agreed there would be no more cutting?—’

‘I didn’t cut shit.’

Vaughn stepped up to him—fast. ‘Who were the contractors? Huh? Did you actually think I wouldn’t find out?’ His vision blurred as rage pulsated through him. ‘You think a fucking stage collapsing wouldn’t clue me in? She could have beenkilled.’ The urge to put his cigarette out on his brother’s face had him taking a step back.

‘Listen to me,’ Antonio said, his voice deepening firmly. Then he raised his hands in front of him. ‘We used the same contractors we used for The Black Swan project.’

Vaughn exhaled smoke and shook his head. ‘Brilliant. When should I expect that bar to collapse, then?’

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Antonio replied, ‘You think I want to put the family back on the AFP’s radar? To save a fewbucks?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ Smoke swirled in his vision. ‘You gambling again?’

‘No.’

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