Page 61 of Devoted to the Enemy

The older officer nodded and popped the trunk to reveal our dresses. “Release these women and let them go. It’s her wedding day.”

“But...”

“Now.” The older officer slammed the trunk shut.

Officer Barre looked furious as he released Courtney’s wrists and cut Mira and my wrists free.

“You’re free to go. You ladies drive safe,” he grumbled.

I fought back the urge to make a snide remark and instead, chose to simply be relieved that I hadn’t ended up in jail on my wedding day.

We climbed back into the car but before we could pull away, Officer Barre leaned into my window and whispered, “Domenico Romano sends his regards.”

I gaped at him with wide eyes as Mira quickly pulled out onto the road again.

“What the hell? Who is Domenico Romano?” I looked to Mira for answers.

“Andrea’s little brother. He’s the one behind all of this. I should have known.”

"Shit. You mean there's more of them?"

"Don Romano has three sons. Andrea was the middle."

"The middle? But I thought he was in line to be don?"

"He was. Romano’s eldest son abdicated from his role as heir.”

"He abdicated? Why?"

"I'm not sure. A lot of rumors floated around in regard to that, but we've never devoted much time to discovering the truth. All that mattered was that he said he wanted no part in it and took off to the US to distance himself from the family name."

"And the youngest?"

"More ruthless than his brother. Most of what I know about him are rumors too, but I guess with Andrea dead, Domenico would be next in line."

"So, we just traded one monster for another?" I sighed, feeling discouraged.

"No. We got rid of one so that we can move on to the next challenge."

"If he's so ruthless, why do all of these petty things to ruin the wedding? Not that I'm not grateful, but why not do something more sinister?"

"My guess? He's playing with you the way a cat plays with a mouse before it rips its head off."

"Well, that's a terrible analogy."

"But very true," Vittoria added. We need to be ready for anything.

"I'm starting to think this whole wedding is a bad idea. We should do things more low-key to not draw unwanted attention."

"Mia, there's always going to be some threat lurking around the corner, but you can't let it stop you from living."

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