Page 63 of Vito

"Why was it so important for you not to return here?" Vito's eyes search mine.

"That's not part of the Cliff's Notes version."

Vito clearly doesn't like it, but he doesn't press it further.

"That's amazing." Raf still sounds in awe of having spoken to Ohith, a legend in their world and the deadly assassin. "You stumbled on him, and he didn't kill you." Vito stiffens, and Raf chuckles. "What? That part is fucking amazing."

I frown. "Ohith never could explain why he let me live after that first encounter, or why he felt the need to watch over me and finally rescue me. He always said it was a connection… a feeling of kinship he couldn't explain."

"So, you are an assassin, too?" Raf looks a little awed.

"No, but I may have picked up on a few pieces of the trade, so don't piss me off."

"Fuckin' rights." His eyes are wide.

"Okay, fanboy. You're both killers yourself; why is this such—"

"It's theBlack Ghost," Raf breathes. "I know someone who knows the Black Ghost personally."

I roll my eyes at his fanboying, then turn to Vito. "I need to shower and get back to Gilly's."

His jaw is tight. "I need to stay here until I get cleaned up and get some new clothes. You'll be there alone."

"I'll be fine." I tilt my head, trying to assess that statement and his expression, but then give up. "Text me the address of where to meet you so we can head out to the dump site."

He jerks. "You're not coming."

"Three digging is faster than two. Plus, I'm the one Ohith is giving the coordinates to."

Vito drags his hand down his face as his jaw clenches.

Gritting my teeth, I say, "This is my mess—"

"Fuck. Eden…"

His blue-green eyes glow with a searing heat. I glance down, noticing the prominent bulge in his pants.

Christ, he's hard as a rock.

Me demanding to be part of the clean-up of this shitshow is turning him on?

He catches me looking, but doesn't smirk. "This isn't your mess. It'sourmess."

"There is noour, Vito. There can't be."

I stalk to the shower, avoiding the bodies and blood as much as I can, and hear Raf say to him before I close the door, "First time you ever do complicated… and you do complicated even fucking more complicated than I could've imagined."

Chapter 18

Eden

Ireallydodeservea Golden Globe.

Vito called Gus and told him he had overreacted—Jax and Cutt were nowhere to be found around my place—and I was pissed off with him barging over there. When I arrived back at Gilly's, Gus was still agitated, but eventually calmed down because I seemed fine.

As the night went on, no one suspected anything, as I acted normal, serving drinks and making sarcastic comments.

When Vito called with the address for me to meet him and Raf, I claimed a headache, and Gus was more than happy to close the bar.

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