Page 97 of Toxic

And then I see my dead husband's face and hear his voice. "He'll be okay, Bridge. And so will you. Just let me go."

I sit up in bed, covered in a cold sweat. I take several long breaths, glancing around the room, but he isn't there.

It's only me, my empty bedroom, and my blinking phone.

I pick it up and read the screen.

Dante:I forgot to tell you that I still love you.

19

Dante

Several Weeks Later

"It'slike someone tipped them off," I state, crossing my arms. It's been several weeks since the Abruzzos have gone into the gray zone. Our guys are ready, waiting every night, but the thugs never show up.

Papà arches his eyebrows. "How well did you vet the new guys?"

"They checked out. Why are you blaming them?" Tristano asks.

Papà studies each of my brothers and me as deafening silence fills the air. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and the longer he gives us his knowing look, the more dread grows in me.

Gianni and I exchange a glance, and everything he's feeling intensifies the churning in my gut.

Papà finally declares, "The four of you need to use this as a lesson. Why do you think I assigned the new guys to this?"

Shit. How did I miss this? Of course my father would test their loyalty.

"You think they're working for the Abruzzos? They hate them," Massimo proclaims.

Papà's eyes turn to dark slits. He shakes his head at my brother.

The pit in my stomach grows. "You think both Vincent and Nico are rats?"

My father shifts on his feet, taking a deep breath. "I don't know. Are they?"

"We put them under a rigorous test," Gianni claims.

Papà's head snaps toward him. "What would be another reason the Abruzzos would back off? Can you think of anything besides not wanting to get into a shootout with their own men?"

Thick tension fills the air. No other reasons stick out. Bile rises in my throat the longer I contemplate what could be happening under our noses. If either Vincent, Nico, or both are Abruzzos, how did we miss it? And what about our other two recruits, Daniele and Toni?

Gianni sniffs hard. "What do you want us to do?"

Papà's voice is calm, but his face is red with anger. He points to Massimo and Tristano. "Reassign Vincent and Nico. Tell them the threat is over. Dig into all four of the new guys' backgrounds again. Have them followed and their phones tapped. I don't want them to piss without knowing about it. Do you understand?"

"What about the port?" I ask.

He motions to Gianni and me. "My guess is the Abruzzos won't waste any time encroaching again. You two are on the night shift. Take those motherfuckers out."

"Consider it done," Gianni replies.

I don't need to look at him to know he's got the start of a smile on his face he can't stop or hide. Nothing makes Gianni happier than taking out our enemies.

"Where do you want Vincent and Nico reassigned?" Massimo asks.

My father walks to the window and glances out at the snow. "Split them up on truck duty. Vincent and Daniele guard the northern part. Nico and Toni take the southern. Tell them if the Abruzzos come within eyesight, to shoot them."

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