Page 135 of Massimo

"I want extra eyes on Ivan and the Serpents…add Sean Finley and the Irish as well," I order. Vito pulls out his phone to coordinate with Raf, his right-hand man.

The Serpents had been tied to the car bomb at my gates, and there was very loose evidence connecting the Irish to it as well. With the bounty on Nova's head, I wasn’t dismissing anyone who even remotely seemed guilty of playing a part in these attacks.

"If needed, pull in the Havoc Guardians and the Saints for surveillance," I remind Vito that Ash and Dom had committed resources.

Vincenzo is my biggest concern right now.

And if the explosives detonating around the perimeter wall and Vincenzo's arrival weren't coincidental separate events—and in my jaded experience, 'coincidental' was rarely a thing—then that means my enemies are not only circling closer but my conspiracy theory was correct and they're all uniting. Mancini, the French, Ivan, Sean, and Vincenzo; throw in Gastone, Camillo, and Achille, and I was about to have my handsveryfull.

I have Vincenzo here, so my biggest threat at the moment was somewhat contained. Rage flares within me, though, that he—my supposed ally—came to take Nova from me.

Not. Fucking. Happening.

"I want Crispin and Daniele to investigate Vincenzo's movements. I want to know if he actually left the States, and if he has any connectionbetween the Serpents and the Irish mob. And dig deeper than we already have into his ties with Mancini."

Gemma pulls out her phone. "On it, Mass."

Next, I turn to my baby brother. "What do you have regarding Nova?"

"Nathaniel Kessler contacted me," Creed says. "He's the CEO of Synovex Biotech."

The pharmaceutical company with Glucoaid-X.

This intel getsallmy attention. "What did he want?"

"He said he knew your mother, Nova. Before she died, she put something in place to protect you. He's never been able to get to you, but with the rumors flying around that Massimo stole you, he tried to reach out to you through me, suspecting Massimo might not take his call."

I feel Nova push in closer under my arm. "Do you know this man, Nova? Or have heard of him?"

She shakes her head. "No."

"Could this be a trap?"Zioasks. "Trying to get Massimo to openly admit he has Nova?"

"I honestly don't know," Creed says, looking at me. "What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing. You're not involved in mafia-related things."

"You know when it comes to family, I'm all in, Mass. At least let me broker the connection between you two," Creed insists.

"Thank you, baby brother," I accept his offer. "We'll make the call in my office. Jerome, can you bring some food in there, please?" I need to get something into Nova besides the smoothie, as she still looks way too pale. "Come, Nova. We'll eat first, then call Nathaniel Kessler."

I smile at her shock that I'm involving her directly in this, and I pull her against my chest. My thumbs caress her pulse points on her neck. "I want you by my side to speak with this Nathaniel Kessler, but if it's too much right now…"

"I was just surprised. My father would never—"

I press my thumb against her lips. "I think we've established I'm not like your father."

She shivers, leaning into me. "No, you're my husband. Mymonster."

My smile is dark. "Hear me roar."

Chapter 56

Nova

Massimosnarlsandbanisheseveryone from his office when they try to follow us in. Vito grumbles that he’s like the beast, keeping his beauty locked away from the world.

When Massimo shuts the door behind them and turns to me, I practically melt for this man. He scoops me into his arms, carries me over to his desk, settles me on his lap, and begins to feed me.

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