Page 131 of Vito

She smiles and pats my cheek. "Good."

Once she's with Creed and Sophie, Creed takes them to safety in the far wing of the house before Ash and Dom can make it to this section.

"We don't mention the USB," Massimo says to Raf and me. He rushes to put it in his safe.

Raf grabs the weapons that Massimo and the men had relieved me of earlier. I check the magazines of my guns to ensure they're full of ammo before putting them in my shoulder holsters and slipping my knives into my boots.

I'm ready. I feel like a predator, ready to pounce and kill whatever comes in my path.

The need to get to Eden is fucking with my patience and head, but we can't look at the USB to figure out who took her just yet. I also need to let Ohith and Axin know if they already don't know about Eden. But we need to deal with this immediate, potential threat that's walking toward us.

Both Ash and Dom are weapons themselves. As leaders of their organizations, they're ruthless and brutal—lethal—but so am I. So is Raf and Massimo.

And they're on our turf.

"If they're going to attack, they won't do it here," Massimo says quietly as we hear boots thudding, walking closer to the office.

Alfonzo, the head guard at the estate, stops in the doorway. He nods at Massimo and me, and then steps to the side.

We're about to discover why Ash and Dom are here, and if they're friends or foes.

Chapter 36

Vito

AshandDomstandside by side inside Massimo's office. Ash's silver rings flash when he hooks his thumbs in his jean. Dom raises the eyebrow with the scar I gave him; his brown eyes level as we study each other.

The tension in the room is thick as we all stand silent and still. This isn't how we usually interact; like we're studying the person, trying to decide if they're for or against you.

Dom clears his throat. "We'll cut straight to the chase."

"By all means," Raf says in a cocky voice, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. His posture may look casual, but I know his hand is tucked under his bicep, gripping the gun in his inside jacket pocket.

"How many people did you lose in the attack today?" Ash asks.

I'm not surprised they know what happened at the medical building. Word travels fast in the criminal underworld.

"Three." Massimo's voice is low with anger. "Four are in critical condition."

"Ed was the target," Dom states, not as a question. "We know she's been taken."

I want to lunge at him, fist his throat, and demand he tell me what the hell he knows.

I force myself to remain stoic and still.

The threat to Eden isn't only from whoever has kidnapped her. When we get her back, she's still Gilly's owner-operator and neutral territory. Nothing has changed there; she's still my forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden.

"And?" Massimo prompts, not willing to give anything away.

"We're here to help," Ash replies.

"Why would you come here if you're looking to help Ed?" Massimo's unreadable poker face ison point.

Dom narrows his eyes, but he answers calmly, "She was where your family was. There's a connection of some kind."

Ash runs his thumb over his bottom lip. "We're allies."

The Havoc Guardians were pivotal in helping to save Sophie. We've always worked well with Dom and the Saints.

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