Page 4 of Deceitful Oath

“No, no, nothing like that.” He shrugs. “She was extremely attentive though, if you know what I mean.”

“She was,” Uncle Joe cuts in, nodding wildly. “She was at our table every few minutes.”

“She was acting pretty strangely,” Rocco confirms.

A waitress. A useless, weak little pawn in someone else’s game, surely.

“Tell me more,” I command, turning away from the crowd of men so I can think more clearly. I wander over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stare out at the skyline. It sparkles and shines like a jewel.

My jewel, now. But I didn’t want it like this.

Voices ring out around me and I can’t understand a single word they’re saying until Vince cuts in. Everyone quiets down for him. He carries my father’s deepest respect like a weapon.

“She was young,” he says slowly, his voice low and controlled. “Friendly enough at first, but she started lingering by the table too often. It seemed like she was trying to listen in—not that our guys would share anything worthwhile in a public place, of course.”

“You think she’s a spy? Working for someone?” I ask, spinning around to face him.

“I think that seems like the most logical answer.”

“Thank you. Vince, I need you here. Everyone else, you can go,” I tell them, keeping my voice level while my blood boils.A fucking waitress killed my father.

The men filter out of the room, giving me their condolences as they go. Finally, it’s just me and Vince. We sit in silence for a minute, both of us contemplating what to do next.

“Rafael,” he begins, his eyes meeting mine. “I know your father prepared you for a situation like this. But I also know he would’ve wanted me to help you with the transfer of power…regardless of whether or not you’ll keep me on as your right-hand man.”

“Please, Vince,” I say, cracking a rare smile. “You think I’m just going to throw you out and promote Enzo? My father placed the utmost trust in you, and I’ll follow his lead.”

Vince nods his head graciously and flashes me a tight smile. He might be cold, calculating, and kind of dead inside, but my father trusted him with his life. Besides, if I’m going to maintain control of this city, I need him by my side.

“I need to see her,” I say suddenly. “I want to see the woman who thinks she can kill Dominic Romano and get away with it.”

All of the anger and hurt I hold simmers below my skin. I’m ready to destroy, to kill. It’s my natural instinct, but I push it down. I need to play this right.

If she’s a spy or working for someone, I need to know who. She might prove to be useful—before I destroy her life. Besides, a quick kill isn’t good enough for her, and putting her through my little torturous game will make it more satisfying for me.

Vince rises, a grave look on his face. We head into the parking garage in silence, both lost in thought. As we pull up to the curb across from Rocky’s Cafe, Vince nods at the door. We watchcustomers go in and out through the tinted windows of my armored SUV.

“Maybe she already left?” Vince asks when half an hour has gone by. I shrug, but somehow, I feel like she’s there. And when she finally shows her face, I’ll be ready.

A few more people enter and exit. Finally, Vince sits up straighter and taps lightly on the glass. I watch as a woman exits the restaurant, golden hair with streaks of pink spilling around her shoulders.

I study her as she searches through an oversized bag. She’s standing framed in the doorway, like an image from a spread about the daily life of people living in the city. She’s of average height, athletic yet curvy, with vivid blue eyes that catch my attention even from across the street.

A man walks out of the cafe, hitting her with the door and making her jump. He smiles down at her in an indulgent way before passing her an ancient-looking flip phone. She laughs, smacking her forehead, and gives him a one-armed hug before she floats away down the street.

Her smile burns into my memory. It lights her up from the inside out, making her glow golden—like a ray of fucking sunshine in this gritty neighborhood. The need to destroy that happiness, that inner light, hits me hard in the gut.

“Follow her.”

Vince nods, starting the car, and does a quick U-turn. We creep at a snail’s pace down the street, staying far enough behind that she doesn’t notice us. She takes a left down a small side street, and we make an illegal maneuver to keep up.

Finally, she stops at a crumbling three-story walk-up. The bricks are crawling with ivy and the first-floor windows have bars on them. Whoever she’s working for isn’t paying her enough, that’s for sure.

As she disappears into the pitch-black lobby, Vince glances at me, waiting for instructions. I consider my options.

I could burst in there and kidnap her without a hint of struggle. Take her to the basement where we bring all the suspects. I could torture the fuck out of her and get answers. It would be easy and pain-free—no fuss, no mess.

But a voice inside my mind tells me to play the long game. There’s something about that smile, that golden hair. Something that makes me want to mess with her.

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