Page 77 of Wicked Rivals

There had to be another way to look at this.

I pulled the first yellow envelope out of the drawer and went through the pictures again. So many. Different days, different seasons, multiple locations. Some taken with a magnified camera lens. Some captured at close range.

The connection I’d been missing hit me.

“You son of a bitch.”

Whoever he was, he had some kind of privileged access to get close without being caught. It had to be someone Val knew. Nothing else tracked.

I snatched up the photos and jogged down the hallway.

Inside the security room, an enforcer watched the estate’s monitors while Tony and Bruce scanned the city’s feeds.

“Tony,” I snapped. “Where are the photos from last night?”

He shook his head with a dumb fucking look on his face.

“The photos from last night? We didn’t take any?—”

“The photos from the second envelope, goddamn it, Tony.”

He stood and held up the yellow envelope.

“Good. Go through them and find the similarities.”

I shoved the photos in my hand at his chest.

“These too. Look for minor details that might give us some indicator about the shooter. Not just his identity but his profession, his height, his favorite spot for taking the photos. Anything that might seem remotely relevant.

“And search all images for his reflection. Windows, doors, vehicles. Every-fucking-thing reflective.”

Bruce jumped up, the lines on his forehead deeper now.

“Something’s up, boss. What is it?”

“The shooter knows Val and Enzo, and he had complete fucking access to them.”

CHAPTER 16

VAL

Benedetta Capaldo came back into the kitchen on her way out to say goodbye. She didn’t hesitate to accept the bag of cookies Enzo had set aside for her.

I’d assumed she would politely decline with an excuse about too many carbs or maybe about fitting into her wedding dress.

She proved me wrong by opening the bag right away, pulling out a cookie, and devouring it.

Surprising move for a woman getting married the next day.

Had she just moaned while chewing the last bite?

“Oh god, how do they taste even better than they smell?”

Enzo put his quick-witted humor on full display for her.

“Witchcraft.”

Benedetta stared at him for a second, then she burst out laughing as he flashed a huge grin at her.

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