Page 115 of Vito

"My gut is telling me it isn't," I insist. "I may not know all the details—the whys, the hows, the who—but you're in danger. I can feel it. And Aiken involved me for a reason."

"He couldn't have known that we'd come to this, Vito." She waves her had between us.

"No, but he trusted me to… Protect… Tell…"

"Those were the ramblings of a dying man." Her eyes glisten.

"Who was coherent enough to get his phone out, unlocked, and called me, specifically." I move to her, stopping her pacing by caging her against the wall with my hands on either side ofher head. "Aiken knew Gus couldn't protect you on his own. And out of all the criminals in this city, he calledme."

Her teeth rake over her bottom lip. "Aiken respected your father. From everything Aiken said in the email and everything I've heard from others, I think he trusted Tommaso."

"He knew my father wasn't involved in whatever plot he uncovered," I guess. "He knows I'm my family's protector, so he probably hoped I'd extend that to you." I rub my thumb along her jaw. "Which adds more weight behind something is going down with the Chamber. I need you to be careful.

"I don't know the link between Manuel Morales and the two men last night, but they all had the same tattoo. Morales was part of the crew that went after Sophie a few months ago, Eden. They were planning on delivering her to a death ring. Morales was taken out, but that death ring still exists. Ineedyou to be careful."

"This…" Her throat works as she swallows hard. "This can't be about that."

"You don't know that. I don't know that. Until we do, we act like the ultimate worst threat is gunning for you."

"But how does Gilly's and taking out the owner-operator factor into a threat like that?"

"I don't know," I grit. "Maybe it doesn't, and I'm developing the worst case of paranoia known to man. Just be fucking careful."

Because I can't be by your side, protecting you, like I should.

Because that would put another target on her back.

Fuck, I hate this.

Her hands cup my face. "Okay. I'll be careful."

"Do you have any more meetings with the Chamber?"

If Massimo andZioMarco were going to Catanzaro, and there was a Chamber meeting with Eden, I'd go as Massimo's representative, even though the grumpy motherfucker wouldn'tbe pleased about that. But I could get a better sense of who the third one is involved if some coup is being planned.

If somethingisgoing down with the Chamber, I'd put my money on Lixin and Amazu—both because of what happened, and those two have always been the ones I can't stand. They're pompous, elitist, and narcissistic. I'm less sure about Ash or Dom. If it weren't for Cutt, I'd instantly dismiss Ash like Massimo had, but I can't rule out anything now.

"No, nothing at this time," Eden replies. "But Amazu asked me last night if I had a successor."

"Massimo told me." I smooth her hair back. From the pain on her face, she's thinking of Aiken.

"I need to watch the recording again."

"Wait to do it when I'm there, Eden. Or better yet, I'll watch it again for you."

She wraps her hand around my nape. "You can't protect me from everything."

"Wait for me to watch it with you," I press. The memory of her hellish anguish after watching it alone the first time weighs heavily on me.

"My head is swimming with all the possible angles of this." She presses her forehead into my chest. It's not lost on me that she didn't answer about waiting to watch the recording on that tablet.

I hold her to me. "We'll figure it out. Can you share my suspicions with Ohith and Axin?"

I'm man enough to accept help in protecting the woman I love.

She nods and pushes back. "I need to go."

Hour's up. Just like visiting hours at prison.

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