Page 78 of Gin & Trouble

I couldn’t take it another minute. Part of me refused to believe she was behind this, but the sane part recognized there were too many unanswered questions. Too many odd coincidences. And…

All of those “we’s.” How did I not see it? Fuck. She was working with Sophia this entire time.

A sledgehammer to the skull wouldn’t have hurt as much as my realization. Frankie had all but told me she was living with Sophia, and I’d what? Missed it? Blown it off? Willfully ignored it or looked at her as a victim for having a psycho for a sister?

I’d forgiven her everything. The lies, the espionage, the manipulation. I’d let it all go because I loved her. But she’d played me all along. There was no way the woman I thought I knew would live with a cold-blooded killer.

The rotten fucking apple couldn’t have fallen that far from the murder tree. They have to be working together.

My mother said, “Frankie was sheltered from thelife. As far as I know, she hasn’t been back to Sicily since she was a girl.”

“That’s not good enough. I need to know what the hell she’s up to. She lied to us to get the job. Is it that far of a stretch she’s following in her big sister’s footsteps?” Leo glared at Marco. “You’re thecapo. Make the call. Find her and bring her to the house.”

I opened my mouth to tell them what I knew about Frankie, but Marco cut me off.

“You worry about Dahlia and your son and let me worry about thebusiness.”

Leo balled his hands. “Thisismy business if she shot Dahlia and Enzo.”

“Mommy got a shot?” Gunnar’s voice rose, high and shrill.

My mother narrowed her eyes at my brothers before turning to the boy. “The doctors are taking good care of her.”

“She got a shot?” He pressed his hands to her cheeks and forced her to look at him.

“I don’t think so, but we’ll ask her when she’s all done.”

“I want Mamma.” He let out a cry that would have made banshees jealous.

Glaring at Marco, Leo crossed the room and picked up the boy.

“No!” He kicked and struggled to break free. “Nonni hold me.”

My mother pulled the frightened child from Leo and murmured to him in Italian.

“This isn’t over.” Leo pointed at Marco. “If you won’t track Frankie down, I will.”

“Don’t step on my toes, big brother. I’m not going to warn you again.”

“Basta. Stop it. You’re upsetting the baby,” Ma hissed, rocked Gunnar, and gave them what we used to call the evil eye. “Sciò.”

I’d heard enough, and my mother shooing them out of the room gave me the perfect opportunity to slip out. I stood and inched my way to the door.

I had to find Francesca Abruzzo before she left the city.

If I’m not already too late.

Leo said, “You heard her. Let’s go outside.”

“My pleasure.” Marco marched past him.

Leo rounded on me. “Where are you going?”

“To get coffee while you two jackasses give the reporters outside a show.” I walked out and went in the opposite direction as the two morons.

Unfortunately, Shanna caught up to me before I could escape. “Dante, wait.”

That I had to force myself to look her in the eye hit me like a battering ram. I might not have pulled the trigger, but I was at least partially to blame.

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