Page 120 of Vito

"Massimo," I growl. "I'm certain at least Lixin and Amazu are connected somehow."

"Your theory is far-fetched, and there's no evidence."

"Are you willing to risk Eden's life?"

This feels like my brother and I have reached a make-or-break point. I've already chosen Eden over my family, but this could be what makes me pull the trigger on my idea about leaving this city and my family behind forever.

His jaw clenches so hard that the muscles at the back bulge and twitch. Then he relaxes. "You really do love her."

I relax. Marginally. "This might be what Aiken stumbled on; if someone in the Chamber is connected to or supporting human trafficking or a death ring…"

Massimo fists his hands. "I won't inform them for now."

With Glass's intel, I better understand Massimo's reconnaissance-only orders. We need to know the full threat and which part to cut off first. Otherwise, we could focus our resources on taking out the lower-level threat, and the bigger one could attack us while we're distracted.

"We could be dealing with separate unrelated events," he warns.

"True. But there's one too many connections here to ignore."

And in our dark world, we don't do coincidences.

"I should be in San Jose." The last thing I want is to leave Eden here, but I can't be on-site to protect her myself. I'll give Ohith and Axin the heads-up for that; they'll be all over it. So, Ineed something to distract me from my current impotence as the protector of the woman I love.

"I need you here coordinating and overseeing all the security parts." Massimo rams his hand through his hair, mussing it up from the usual neatly styled state. "What a goddamn nightmare."

And one big convoluted fucking mess.

"I'm goingaloneto debrief Ed that Santoro family problems are overlapping or connecting with Gilly's."

It's like packing salt into a festering wound—which I've been known to do before—the reminder I need to stay away from Eden.

"No one has suspected anything," I grit in a low voice. "I know how to act and keep my feelings hidden."

His nostrils flare, and he looks on the verge of losing control of his monster before he resumes control. "I'm not risking your life, Vito."

"Massimo—"

"I'm just being the grumpy motherfucker you always accuse me of."

My mouth goes slack. He's never been much of a jokester, and sinceBabbodied, I haven't heard a single one from him.

"But don't push me on this," he warns darkly, sliding right back into that broody, unreadable brother he's been lately. "I have enough on my fucking plate, including trying to convince the 'Ndrangheta to push back our meeting. I can't leave with the enemy on our doorstep."

That reminds me of the text I saw.

"Who's travel plans are you monitoring and have plans for?"

Something passes over his face before he's back to his stoicism. "Focus on what's currently on our plate."

"Mass—"

"I'm not at liberty to say right now."

He's the Don; he's at liberty for whatever the hell he wants.

I snort. "You're a dick as well as a grumpy motherfucker."

His jaw shifts, and his expression darkens. "I'll tell you when the time is right. Now go and do your fucking job."

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