Page 110 of Ruined By Protection
"Sorry to interrupt," I say, pausing at the threshold.
Damiano waves me in. "You're not interrupting. We're discussing the casino expansion with Sartori."
Enzo turns in his chair, eyeing me with that calculating look he reserves for business matters. "The numbers from last quarter are fucking impressive. Even Riccardo had to admit we're exceeding projections."
I nod, taking in the blueprints. The Venetian Rose has been a gold mine for both families and expansion has been on the table for months. But I'm not here to discuss casino business.
"I need to speak with you about Montgomery," I say to Damiano.
Damiano exchanges a glance with Enzo. "We were just finishing up." He gestures to the chair beside Enzo. "Tell us what's happening with Hazel's situation."
I remain standing, too restless to sit. "We've got eyes on Hazel's family in Austin—they're safe for now but Montgomery's been making threats."
Enzo's jaw flexes. "Threatening her family? Fucking coward."
"What kind of threats?" Damiano asks, his voice deceptively calm.
"Specific ones. Her father's upcoming surgery, her brother's sports practice schedule." I grip the back of the empty chair. "He knows their routines, their vulnerabilities."
"And Hazel?" Damiano's dark eyes fix on me.
"She's..." I search for the right words. "She's stronger than she looks. But this is wearing on her."
Enzo smirks slightly. "You would know."
I ignore the jab. "There's more. We've connected Montgomery to the disappearance of his previous girlfriend, Melissa Winters. She was pregnant when she vanished."
The room goes silent. Damiano's expression hardens to granite.
"You're certain?" he asks.
"As certain as we can be without a body. The timing lines up—she disappeared right before he married Hazel."
Enzo lets out a low whistle. "So he kills his pregnant girlfriend, then immediately marries Hazel? Cold-blooded bastard."
"He needed a replacement," I say, the words tasting bitter. "Someone he could control."
Damiano leans back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin. "And Hazel? Does she know about this Melissa?"
"I told her last night." The memory of her face when I explained it—the horror, the guilt, the dawning realization—still cuts through me. "She remembered meeting Melissa's mother once. Montgomery dismissed the woman as a crazy stalker ex."
"How did she take it?" Enzo asks, and I'm surprised by the genuine concern in his voice.
"About as well as you'd expect. Finding out your husband might be a murderer isn't easy. But she understands what needs to happen now."
Damiano nods slowly. "We discussed this before. My position hasn't changed. Montgomery needs to be handled, but cleanly. Nothing that comes back to the family."
"The casino expansion is too important," Enzo adds. "We've got the commissioner and half the city council in our pocket for the permits. We can't risk complications."
"I understand."
Damiano studies me for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable. "Do you need backup for this? Someone specific?"
I shake my head. "I'll take Daniel with me. He's discreet, thorough."
Enzo leans forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. "Noah's going with you too."
It's not a suggestion.
