Page 109 of Vito

"Fuck." Massimo sighs. "This is getting more convoluted, not clearer. I need to cancel my trip for the 'Ndrangheta meeting."

"I don't think that's wise, brother."

"I can't leave right now, Vito. If this is all interconnected, that means our family is in the crosshairs, too. My leaving could be the window for our enemies to attack."

"We need to keep our activities as regular as possible," I stress. "If we change anything up, that could be a sign that we're on to them."

"Sophie has an ultrasound and doctor's check-up tomorrow afternoon." Creed looks like his protective monster is about torip the world apart at the thought of any risk to his woman and unborn child.

Massimo hisses a breath. "That's an important appointment to keep. You're bringing in the next line of Santoros, baby brother."

"I'll assign double the team to escort you and Triple S," I assure Creed.

"Fuck." He rubs his face. "I want to set up a medic suite with all the equipment here. Keep Sophie trapped inside the estate for the duration of her pregnancy."

"Pretty sure Triple S would go triple ballistic on your ass if you attempted that." I chuckle, but sober quickly. "I'll assign our best. She'll be better protected than the First Lady, okay?"

"I'll take point on the teams, Creed," Raf assures, and Creed finally nods.

"We all should get some sleep." Massimo levels me with a hard look. "Steer clear of Ed."

I go rigid at his order.

"As your Don, I'm giving you a direct order. You are not to go into Gilly's or her apartment."

Rage ripples through me. "Brother," I rumble in warning. "Don't make me choose."

His eyes widen. "There is no fucking choosing,brother. Your responsibility is to this family, not to your cock."

I lunge at him, and both Creed and Raf jump between us, holding me back as the unhinged beast in me snarls and snaps.

"Vito, fuck, just calm down." Raf tries to reason as he prevents me from attacking my brother, my Don.

Creed shoves me back, gripping my head, and jerks me to look at him as my chest heaves and I vibrate with fury. Massimo calmly straightens the cuffs of his shirt, back to being in control and unflappable, and I want to smash his goddamn face.

"You are not to go into her apartment ever," Massimo orders. "And you'll stay out of Gilly's for now." He flicks his dark eyes tomine—his unreadable and mine stormy—as I glare at him. "If I can't trust you while I'm gone, you'll be on that plane with me to Catanzaro. I need you here, though, Vito, so don't fuck with me. I need to be able to trust you."

Massimo has unwittingly given me a loophole because he didn't order me not to see Eden. I wouldn't go into Gilly's, but there's the passageway. I keep my face steady to not give anything away and nod at Massimo, indicating I'll follow his orders.

His broad shoulders ease slightly. "We'll discuss your… transgression later."

I grind my teeth. My love for Eden isn't a fuckingtransgression.

I turn my back on Massimo, then stalk to the door and slam it on my way out.

Chapter 30

Eden

Twenty-fivepairsofeyesstare at me as I finish relaying the shitshow that happened last night. The staff are grim; a few look scared. Gus looks ready to have a coronary.

Gus and I had already met with the security team to beef up our protocols, which were top-notch even before the attack. Ohith and Axin hadn't gotten wind of a threat, either. We're protected as much as possible, yet it still wasn't enough.

That's not overly reassuring. I understand the fear staring back at me. I had trouble sleeping locked in my office. The similarities between the attackers and what I watched on Aiken's hidden video wouldn't let me sleep for long.

Meg chews her lip. "So, with the security stuff, we're as good as we can be, right?"

Andre wraps his arm around her shoulders. "Working here, we always know there's risk."

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