Page 33 of Depths of Desire
“Boss, if I knew, you’d already have the names and addresses. I’ve got nothing. But I’ll ask around. See if any of the guys have heard anything.”
“Thanks. Let me know once the investigators come and go. You good with the paperwork?”
“Of course. It’s all in order. We were shipping coffee and olive oil. We’re angry about losing the shipments. It’ll hurt our bottom line, even with insurance.”
I can practically hear him smirk.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got it under control.”
“Thanks, Rinaldo,” I say.
After I hang up, I stare at the phone in my hand, wondering just how far this thing is going to reach—and how many bodies it’ll leave behind.
War is coming for the Valdicis. Whether we want it or not. I lean back in my chair and rub my temples, the pressure behind my eyes like the edge of a migraine. Who would dare challenge us like this?
If it’s a human—cartel, rival mafia family, mercenaries—it could be anyone. But it would be bold. Reckless, even. Renzo, with all of us at his side, has built an empire carved from blood and ash. And Luca’s sleek, glittering nightclub empire, walks the line between power and temptation. Could he have pissed someone off?
A quiet throat-clearing breaks through my thoughts. Carson stands just inside the doorway, his posture immaculate as always, but his expression edged with concern.
“What is it, Carson?” I ask, already knowing I won’t like the answer.
“Sir, I believe Miss Luna is quite upset. I wouldn’t normally disturb you, however… you did ask me to keep an eye on her.”
I sigh and glance at the clock. Just after nine. Much later than I realized. Time bends when your mind spins with vengeance.
“Thank you, Carson. Did you start supper?”
He nods. “It will be ready shortly.”
“Excellent. Luna and I will eat in the dining room.”
“Very good, sir.” He gives me a slight bow before vanishing down the hall like a shadow.
I sit there for another minute, staring once more at the grain of the wood on my desk, letting my thoughts spiral.
Whoever orchestrated this attack is playing with fire. I have my own empire—one my family knows nothing about. Could that be the cause?
I doubt it.
The wine business is clean. At least, as clean as anything in this world gets. My vineyards are global, tucked into hillsides and valleys that I’ve walked for centuries. Wine making is my escape. My art. The only thing left in this world that being a vampire hasn’t ruined to some degree. If I had to give that up…No. I won’t even consider it.
I rise, the floor creaking slightly beneath my boots. The last twenty-four hours have shaken the foundations of my world—and I’ve been alive almost four hundred years. If I feel unmoored, what must Luna be feeling?
I find her on the balcony, silhouetted by the waning light. She’s seated in one of the wrought-iron chairs, knees tucked up, hair spilling over her shoulders.
“How are you holding up?” I ask, stepping into the soft evening air. Unable to stop myself, I touch her shoulder as I take the seat beside her. Her skin, bared save for the thin straps of the top, is satiny soft.
“Fine,” she says, her voice a whisper wrapped in calm. She turns to me and offers a tiny smile, one so faint it could disappear if I blink.
But I smell it—beneath the perfume of night jasmine and sea salt. Anxiety. Fear. Adrenaline.
She’s masking it well, but it’s there. Tightening her chest. Spiking her blood. Her serenity is a lie, and I hate that she feels she has to fake it.
What is it about her that wrecks my control? I would have killed men for less than looking at her the wrong way. My need to protect her isn’t rational. It’s feral. Unforgiving. And completely consuming.
“Supper is ready,” Carson announces from the doorway.
I rise and extend a hand toward her. She hesitates—just a fraction of a second—then slips her small hand into mine. The moment our skin touches, I feel her heartbeat kick up a notch. She feels it too. This tether between us. Electric. Ancient.
