Page 72 of Broken Prince

“I think it is.”

“And I assure you, sir, it isn’t.”

He sighed wearily. “Cassandra…” He said in a warning tone.

“Sir…” I replied with the same tone.

“I’ll see you when I get there.” And it sounded much more like a threat than a promise.

The line went dead.

“That was nice, and not awkward at all.” Dom sighed, putting the phone back in his pocket.

“You think someone wants Luca dead?”

Dom nodded sharply. “I don’t have proof yet and this is why I needed Luca away. I wanted to look in his papers and all because…” He leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. “Luca never drank much in public settings, and especially when he was in a car with his family. He did fight with his father that night. Gianna and Arabella were not supposed to be in a car with him, but I know him better than that. It just doesn't add up. And he had been drowning in his pain and self-pity for so long, spending every day drunk. He didn’t have the right frame of mind to think it all true. But his father was killed in a shoot-out in a place where he should not have even been!” Dom threw his hands up in exasperation. “It is so obvious and nobody is saying anything, and then Luca gave everything to Benny and Savio and they act all…” He turned toward me. “I think it’s an inside job and I will prove it.”

I nodded. I didn’t like the vibes I got from that Savio douchecanoe last night anyway.

“Benny always had a megalomania to the highest level. Neither are the brightest—definitely more brawn than brains but…” He slapped the steering wheel in frustration. “You brought Luca back to life; he is more responsive, drinks a lot less. He is looking into famiglia stuff again. If I'm right and Benny and Savio are behind it, they’ll be back for him and I want proof so I can take them down before they take him down.”

I couldn’t help the happy pinch I felt knowing that I may have been part of Luca's recovery despite what happened last night. “Can you just, you know.” I wiggled my fingers at him.

“What does—” He mimicked my gesture. “Mean?”

“You know…make them disappear.”

“Oh, I see…” He nodded. “Like feet in concrete in the bottom of the ocean? Or more like in the foundations of a building in construction or even the good old buried deep in the middle of the woods type scenario?” His lips quirked up at the corner.

The bastard was mocking me! I crossed my arms on my chest and glared at him. “Forget it!”

“No, no, it’s interesting.” He smiled earnestly now. “What reference are we working with?The Sopranos?The Godfather? Don’t tell meMcMafia; that’s just insulting.”

I flipped him the bird, making him laugh.

“No, I wish.” He let out a sigh. “But there are rules that we all need to abide by. I can’t just take one of my famiglia out without proof and even then I’ll need to get approval from the council who basically is Matteo Genovese.”

I winced.

“Exactly. Luca is Genovese's favorite but still…” He cocked his head to the side. “And I’m far from being one of his favorites. He sees me as an irritating puppy at best.”

“So what are we going to do?”

“We?” he asked, arching his eyebrows in incredulity, a small smile tugging at the side of his face.

“Yes,we. I’m not letting you go in alone, and I won’t risk Luca’s life if I can help it.”

Dom grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “He wouldn’t want you to get in harm’s way.”

“And I know you will keep me safe.”

He nodded. “Yes, of course I will.”

“What do you need?”

“I don’t know what he did to anger you, but I need you to forgive him. I can’t have him go back at being a sullen drunk.”

“I’m not angry at him. It’s…” I blushed with discomfort. “He didn’t do anything wrong…not really. I’m just— I’ll talk to him.”

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