Page 56 of Brutal Vows
Gianni’s voice hardens. “I don’t know yet. But I’ll find out. What did they say to you?”
Both times I was confronted by the intruders, they spoke to me, which Gianni obviously saw as he watched on the security camera bank in the safe room. But there’s no audio feed, so he wouldn’t have been able to hear.
“They asked me where Lili was. Said they’d shoot me if I didn’t take them to her.”
Gianni curses under his breath. “I should’ve known.”
“Known what?”
“This joining of our families, the Mafia and the Mob… it’s made Lili a high-profile target.”
Realizing what he means, my stomach turns over. “For kidnapping.”
“Yes. Now I’m not the only one who’d pay a fortune to get her back. Mr. Quinn has a vested interest in her safety, too. Someone wanted to double his money.”
He pauses. His voice drops. “Or prevent the match completely.”
I know what he means without him having to spell it out.
There are plenty of people who’d be glad if the Mafia andthe Mob remained enemies forever. By joining our houses, we’ve made powerful allies, but also put ourselves in the sights of those who’d be happier if we stayed at odds.
Lili’s not only in danger of kidnapping. She’s in danger of something far worse.
Murder, for instance.
My blood runs ice-cold.
Gripping the phone so hard it shakes, I say, “Russians?”
“Doubtful. Declan O’Donnell has a tie to them. By blood.”
“The king of the Mob is related to the Russians? How?”
“His wife’s sister is pregnant by the boss of the Moscow Bratva.”
That’s shocking news. The Mob and the Bratva have been at each other’s throats for as long as I can remember. “How didthatmatchup ever happen?”
“By force. She was taken.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Exactly.”
Wonderful. So not only is Lili in danger of being kidnapped and held for ransom or killed to prevent the alliance altogether, she’s also in danger of being stolen and purposely impregnated so an alliance with some other third party would be forced.
She’s now on every mobster’s radar in the States.
And probably worldwide.
Fuming, I say, “Christ, Gianni! I told you not to make the match with this Irishman!”
“Don’t be so shortsighted. We’ll gain far more in the long run than the danger we face now. It’s just a turbulent period we have to navigate until the venture pays off.”
“You know this is your daughter we’re talking about, right? Your own flesh and blood? She’s not an investment in the damn stock market!”
Bored by my concern for his offspring, Gianni sighs. “We’llcome up when Leo arrives. Don’t let Mamma drink too much wine. She gets mouthy when she’s tipsy.”
He hangs up, leaving me growling.
