Page 22 of Brutal Vows

“She’s your captive,” he says.

Gia sulks at the reminder, her shoulders drooping slightly. If she is thinking that this will earn her freedom, she is mistaken.

“Grab her a vest and some glasses,” I instruct Hiro. “We’ll take her with us.”

The little princess perks up at my words, her eyes shining as Hiro helps her into a tactical vest and fits her with a pair of safety glasses. She is going to be sorely disappointed when we return and nothing has changed. But for now, I’ll let her believe she is gaining something.

It will be fun to watch the smile fall from her face when she realizes I’m not letting her go. Because if this is going to end how I think it is, Gia Nardoni just became the pawn I need to regain what is rightfully mine.

And she isn’t going to like it one bit.

Twelve

There isan awful lot of waiting. I’m not good with waiting. Never have been. The revelations that have come forward in the past two weeks are enough to make any soap opera’s head spin. A mafia telenovela.

And here I sit, just waiting.

Waiting for what, I’m not sure.

Not that the break from whatever Vitali has stuck in his panties regarding my brother isn’t nice, but it almost feels like a calm before the storm. Serene waters create a false sense of security before what’s underneath drags you into the depths of the sea.

It’s been several days, and I’ve barely caught a glimpse of Vitali. Dario is always around, keeping a distrustful eye on me, but that is it. Evaline is still healing and Vanya returned with Adrian’s second to Las Vegas to make sure the opening of her woman’s shelter goes smoothly.

So, it’s been just me, and my best friend boredom.

We’re besties.

“We can’t just wage war, Adrian,” Vitali’s thunderous voice booms through the walls as the elevator opens into thepenthouse. “Even if we came up with a plan, we don’t have the numbers to stand against Salvatore’s army. He has the entire Italian-based mafia at his disposal.”

Fear clutches my lungs at the mention of Vitali’s uncle, causing my breath to catch in my throat. Even an ocean away, he still has that control over me.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on his operations, and he doesn’t have as much loyalty as you think,” Adrian tells him. He’s right. Salvatore De Luca has burned too many bridges by stabbing his allies in the back. Many of his men have left over the years, and the ones my father brings in to replace them are practically children.

“You can’t know that for sure,” Vitali growls. He stomps into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. Angrily, he unscrews the cap and downs its contents like he is chugging beer at a frat hall. “You heard what my mother said. They are just going to keep coming at us.”

None of the men seem to have noticed that I am in the room. If they did, I doubt they would be talking around me so freely.

“Not if we hit them all at the same time.”

Vitali throws up his hands in frustration. “We don’t even know whotheyare.”

“We don’t,” Kenzo admits candidly. I wonder if I can sneak out without them noticing or thinking I’ve been spying on them. “But her brother might.”

Halfway up from the couch, I freeze, eyes wide as I stare at the three of them like a deer caught in headlights. Kenzo has his thumb pointing directly at me as if he’s known I’ve been there all along. Adrian and Vitali turn to face me, their eyes narrowed.

“Sure,” Vitali drawls. “Let’s trust the man who tried to assassinate me.”

What?Elio would never do that. It’s suicide. I’m smart enough to keep my trap shut on that little comment. Something tells me Vitali wouldn’t appreciate me defending my brother right now.

“Why not?” Adrian ponders as he comes to take a seat in one of the chairs across from me. His gaze meets mine, hard and unrelenting. “Where is your brother, Gia?”

My gaze bounces between him and Vitali, who is rolling his eyes like some petulant child.

“She isn’t going to tell you anything,” he tells Adrian. “If my belt on her ass couldn’t get her to spill his whereabouts, I doubt you’ll have any better luck.”

Is my face on fire? It feels like it is. Heat spreads up my neck at his casual mention of the spanking he gave me on the plane.

“I don’t know.” It is a whispered truth. I have no idea where Elio is. If I did, I wouldn’t have been stuck in that cabin with letting my sell-by-date approach without doing something more. Vitali scoffs and shoots Adrian a look that screams,I told you so.

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