Page 43 of Merciless Oath

Which reminds me.I pull out my phone and quickly dial our usual tow guy, giving him Valentina’s car details and location. Then I call the auto shop and ask them to squeeze her car in today for a set of new tires.

Feeling a little more accomplished and a little less like a useless kid, I stride into the house. Valentina and Luigi look like they’ve come to an impasse, silently staring at each other. I stand awkwardly in the entryway, unsure how to proceed.

“Cavalli,” Luigi finally says. “Thank you for taking care of Valentina last night.”

Valentina’s frown transforms into a beautiful, beaming smile, and I choke out a shocked, “You’re welcome.”

“Are you ready to see the damage?” Luigi asks, already heading up the grand marble staircase. We follow behind him, shooting shocked expressions at each other behind his back. At the top, he spins around and eyes us gravely.

“It will be quite shocking for you, Valentina,” he says, clearing his throat. He looks like he’d like to be anywhere but here at this very moment. “It’s… pretty bad.”

“I can handle it,” she says, determination painted across her face. I grab her hand and squeeze, which doesn’t escape Luigi’s notice, but he doesn’t react. When we reach the door at the end of the hall, Luigi pushes it open, and we gasp in unison.

The room can only be described as a crime scene of the worst kind.

Every surface is covered in red paint. All of Valentina’s clothing and personal items have been dumped onto the bed and set on fire. The charred remains of her bed are still smoking lightly, doused in fire extinguishing agent.

“Shit,” I breathe, not knowing what else to say.

“They set my bed on fire.”

“They also left a message.” Luigi hesitates, pointing to the en-suite bathroom.

Valentina and I exchange nervous glances and head to the doorway. I peek inside first, noting the smashed mirrors and more red paint.

“At least it’s not real blood,” I quip, but I choke on my own words when I see the message scrawled onto the wall.

Next time, it’s your blood.

I try to push Valentina back into the bedroom, not wanting her to see, but she shoves past me and stops dead in her tracks.

I glance back at Luigi, who is pacing the bedroom worriedly, and for once, we’re on the same page.

Find this bitch.

Valentine bursts into tears, and I pull her into a tight hug. She sobs against my chest until Luigi clears his throat. We break apart, and I gently lead her out of the room.

“Come on,” Luigi calls, his voice softer than I’ve ever heard. “I’ll make you some coffee.”

“You go.” I nudge Valentina toward him. “I need some air.”

She nods and follows her uncle down the stairs while I slip out the front door. My car is back in its place, surrounded by Rossi men, but I barely glance at it. I jog down the steps and veer around the house, looking for a quiet place to think.

There’s a small stone patio on the side of the house with a tarp-covered barbecue and a place for seating. The snow has been mostly cleared away here, so I stop and pull out my phone.I need to call the uncles and tell them about this.

I almost press Uncle Joe’s name, but I remember that my phone is probably bugged. Instead, I shove it back in my pocket and pace around the patio.

I need to get them both to a more secure place where The8 can’t reach them. I wrack my brain, trying hard to come up with a solution when it suddenly hits me.

We need to get out of the city, and we need to do it without The8 noticing.

Valentina would never agree to go into hiding, though. Unless I kidnap her?

I shake my head at my own stupidity. Kidnapping isn’t in my nature, and besides, I doubt she’d ever forgive me for that. A plan begins to form in my mind, one that might result in her getting only mildly angry at me.

That’s okay. Anger I can handle.

I head back inside and find her mindlessly stirring sugar into her coffee, staring out the window. She looks shell-shocked and empty, and it breaks my heart.

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