Page 110 of Wicked Rivals

Good man. I nodded.

“Make sure he gets a healthy dinner and plenty of milk.”

Enzo seemed physically weak after what he’d been through. And too thin. His size might have been typical for a boy his age, but I had no experience with children, so I couldn’t be sure.

I wanted my son as strong physically as he was intellectually.

Bruce glanced back at me with a remorseful expression.

“You stay. Sit and keep your mouth shut,” I said.

He took a seat as I sunk into my father’s heavy leather chair with the yellow envelope still gripped tightly in my hand. This one weighed much less than the others.

My gut already knew what waited inside that envelope.

Every cell in my body rejected the idea of opening it. I couldn’t put the truth back inside and forget about it once it came out.

I didn’t want to see her that way.

“Where’s Mama?”

My head snapped around at the sound of Enzo’s voice.

He stood in the doorway, and Tony stood behind him.

The night before, this boy had come to me like a man, so determined, forceful even. He would grow into that man sooner than either of us realized.

But for now, he was still a child who needed his mother.

“Son, you’re supposed to be in your room.”

Enzo shook his head.

“Not until we know,” he whispered.

Christ, how could I say no to him? He had a right to know.

I pointed to the chair closest to me. After he settled on the velvet cushion, I summoned the strength to open the envelope.

One photo slipped out onto my desk. Nothing else inside the envelope.

The grainy image showed Val lying on the ground. A pool of blood surrounded her. She clutched her arm while glaring at the person taking the photo.

He’d hurt her. He’d already fucking hurt her.

I would kill that motherfucker with my bare hands.

“Looks like there’s a note on the back, boss,” Tony said.

I turned the picture over.

Call off the wedding or your whore dies today

Then we come for the bastard

I looked at Enzo.

He sat upright in the armchair, his eyes locked on my face.

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