Page 150 of Vito

Massimo sucks in sharply, twisting around to stand in front of me. He grips the back of my neck. "I promise you, we'll figure this out. Don't do anything rash. You'll get your happily ever after." He jerks me closer, pulling our heads together. "I fuckingpromise,Vito."

I grip the back of his neck, too. "I don't want to abandon our family, but Eden's safety comes first."

"I know, brother," he rasps and backs away. "I'll figure this out. Go shower and go to Eden."

"Such a bossy motherfucker."

He grins. "Nah, just a grumpy one."

But there's something unresolved.

"Mancini," I spit his name.

Massimo's grin falls, and darkness crosses over his face. "He'll pay.Soon. I promise that, too."

My jaw tightens. "That death ring popped up again, with Mancini connected to it. He can't be allowed to live long, Mass. Creed will lose his goddamn mind once he finds out about this."

"We're not going to tell him."

"Brother—"

"Think of Sophie," he insists. "This will increase her stress. That's the last thing she needs, especially since she already had a scare with the cramping and spotting."

"Creed will go ballistic on our asses if we keep this from him."

Massimo shakes his head. "Not us,me. I'm making this call as Don. As your Don, Vito, I'm giving you a direct order."

"Jesus, Mass—"

"It's an order," he growls, his brows pulled tight before he eases. "You and Raf ensure the security for both Sophie and Creed is covered, over and above what Creed already has in place."

I shove my hand over my hair, reminding me that I'm covered in blood and it's drying and sticky. I need a shower and then my woman.

"Fine," I relent, even though my gut tells me this is the wrong play.

Massimo turns to go, but I call to him, "Thank you. For everything." My voice is thick with emotion. The family is everything to me, and it means absolutely everything that Massimo himself is here, plus allowed our family's resources to fight and get Eden back.

"Eden is family now, and family protects family. That's what we Santoros have lived and died by for generations, brother."

"Thank you," I force out.

"Go," he orders huskily.

I don't need to be told again.

When I stalk to the door that leads out of the open main area of the factory to the showers, Axin is there waiting.

"How is she?" I demand.

"She's strong." He sees I need more. "Shaken up, but steady. She's waiting for you." He examines me from head to toe, covered in gore.

"Yeah, I know. Shower first."

"Come with me." He turns on his heel and leads me with his slight limp down the hall into a large room filled with a long wall of shower stalls.

He holds a plastic bag open, waiting for my soiled clothes. I had taken my tactical vest off earlier, and I remove my shirt now. Next, I kick off my boots and strip off my jeans, which stick to my thighs as the blood dries.

"Guess you're all going to get an eye full." Naked, I shove it all into the plastic bag.

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