Page 32 of Depths of Desire
Va tutto bene, Nico?His voice is deceptively calm, but the steel under it is unmistakable. I can feel the heat of his displeasure pressing against me like a hand around my throat.
Yes, Father. I’m fine.
You should have told us Luna was with you. His thoughts bouncing in my head are cold and controlled.
It didn’t seem relevant.I pause, then push forward. It was just an odd… coincidence that she was on board. And speaking of that—any idea who would want to make that kind of a statement? It’s a very bold move,” I offer to distract him.
I agree. Very risky behavior, my father replies with a sigh.I’ve held off asking any of the other vampire kings, but I’m worried. Honestly, it would be better if it were just a human enemy—someone who wants to take over the drug trade. Inflict a major loss, then swoop in. That we could handle.
But if it’s a vampire trying to sabotage our new blood trade,I reply quietly,that makes things more serious. And much more complicated.
He doesn’t respond, but I can feel his agreement like a tremor under my skin.
Do you think you’ll have to ask the vampire kings eventually?I press.I mean… there are orcs involved. Doesn’t that lean toward the magick realm?
Yes and no,my father replies.As much as we’d like to believe humans don’t know we exist, some do. We’ve seen what happens firsthand.
The memory of Luigi Catelli slams into me like a blow to the gut. The betrayal. The blood. The pain. I can almost taste the bitter metal of rage on my tongue.
I guess you’re right,I concede.It’s a possibility. One I really don’t want to be true.
The other option is no better,Luca chimes in.If it’s someone from the magick realm trying to step into our world and takeover the blood trade, that could lead to an all-out vampire war. And no one wants to go down that path.
Renzo, who’s been unusually quiet, finally speaks.
You’re all right. None of this is good. Either way, someone has declared war on our family. We need to take this very seriously—and come up with a game plan as soon as we have more information.
Renzo is correct,my father says.Until then, everyone lay low. Keep your eyes open. Pause business operations where you can, and if not—double your security. No risks.
Confirmed,Renzo replies.Already in place.
All right then,my father says.Be very careful and watch yourselves. No risky behavior. I will not lose one of you over this. We have many enemies who would love to see us fail. Do not give them the opportunity to hurt us.
The connection goes silent.
And that’s the crux of it.
How the fuck am I supposed to keep myself—and Luna—safe… when I don’t even know who the enemy is?
The next hour is a blur of dead ends and frustration. I reach out to every informant, contact, and back channel I know of. No one’s heard anything. Not a whisper. Not a hint.
I go over the video footage again. Pause. Rewind. Zoom.
Nothing. I don’t recognize the creatures trashing my flat. No identifying marks. I pick up my phone and call Rinaldo.
“Boss,” he answers, voice steady.
“Has anyone come by yet asking about the cargo that was on the freighter?”
“Not yet. But I’m expecting them anytime now,” he says. “There’s too much heat for them to stay away long.”
“See if you can get anything out of them about the explosion. Any details might help.”
“Will do, boss.”
I pause, then lower my voice. “Rinaldo, do you have any idea who might want to start a war with us?”
It feels absurd, even asking. But someone already has.
