Page 32 of His Dark Vendetta

“Persistence pays off,” I said with a shrug and wiped the sweat from my face.

Vito walked around the long end of the bench and stood in front of me, arms crossed and eyebrow cocked.

I picked up my water bottle and squirted it into my mouth.

“What’s eatin’ you, kid?” he asked.

Talk about a loaded question. I puffed out my cheeks and exhaled long and slow. I hadn’t been right all morning, not since I dragged Siobhán back into the house and told her I planned to use her to even the score between the Morettis and the Shaughnessys. Her reaction unsettled me to my bones.

Siobhán had moxie. She commanded any room she blessed with her long legs, impeccable style, and Hollywood-starlet looks. But that morning, her light had dimmed, her indomitable spirit shattered. No sly grins. No sharp replies. No tip of her tongue between her teeth. The spark I’d admired for so long had been snuffed out. By me.

I grabbed the back of my neck and rolled my head, trying to ease the tension there. But Siobhán’s vacant stare and the downturn of her playful lips gripped my insides and wouldn’t let go.

I’d dated a lot of women, fucked even more, but never once considered pursuing anything more than a casual lay or feeding. Not until I met Siobhán. The weeks between asking her on a date and the night she caught me feeding had been the longest dry spell of my life. I’d fed, of course, and enjoyed it, but I couldn’t bring myself to have sex. She did something to me, to my insides. Something that made me want to be far more than casual. I didn’t like it. It made me uncomfortable.

Only to find out she wasn’t Irish. That she was from Southie. I went straight from uncomfortable to pissed off.

“Just a lot on my mind,” I said and met Vito’s eyes, holding mine steady. I didn’t need him calling me out on account of a tell. “Lunch and meetings this afternoon with Matteo and Richie. Source traffic is picking up at Terme.”

He eyed me as if gauging for bullshit. “Helluva time to expand the Source racket,” he grumbled and turned for the ring.

A couple of civilians sparred. Another blood demon new to Marco’s crew—been around maybe five, six months tops—worked the speed bag.

I pushed off the bench and followed. “Why’s that?”

“Agent Johnson and his goons been showing up more than I like,” he said. “Especially after following us to Foxborough.”

“I don’t think that’s related to Sources. No way the feds are keyed into that yet. It’s barely off the ground. The first appointments at Terme were just last week.” I shook my head. “If I had to guess? It’s the new property in the financial district. It’s Pompeii.”

Vito narrowed his eyes. “They never stuck their noses in Vesuvio business. What makes you think it’s Pompeii?”

“The Shaughnessys were poking around city hall, right?” I grabbed a roll of tape and started wrapping my knuckles. “Asking questions about the financial district and that property? Wouldn’t be the first time those Irish fucks were in bed with the feds.”

“The Shaughnessys aren’t the source of all our problems, Luca. No matter how much you want them to be.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” I shrugged. “But it’s more plausible than the Source racket.”

“Doesn’t matter why that asshole’s hanging around. He’s got eyes on Terme. If Matteo isn’t careful…”

Level-headed as always, Vito was right. It didn’t matter. The feds were onto something and looking to cause trouble.

“I’ll tell Matteo and Richie,” I said. “We need to service demand, but the last thing we need is more federal heat.”

“Especially without Ms. Connelly around to chase ’em off.”

My head snapped up. “What did you say?”

“Ms. Connelly. She’s been a one-woman army keeping the feds off that property. Shame she won’t be around much longer.”

My stomach bottomed out. How could Vito know?

I blinked a few times and shook my head. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Siobhán Connelly. Marco’s GM. The hot blonde you’re always sparring with?”

“I’m familiar.”

“She’s on vacation the next two weeks. You didn’t hear it from me, but she’s looking for a new job. Has a bunch of interviews lined up.”

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