Page 48 of The Veiling

“You don’t need to question me.”

“Fair enough.” He nodded, darting his eyes at the rest of the guys before bringing his gaze back to mine. “I’ll get you guys in then. But you’re going to have to disguise yourself a bit.” He waved a hand at me. “You’re kinda well-known here.”

Though I did not like involving Hayden, Joseph was trustworthy, and his suggestion made sense. It would help us get in and out quickly. I was just unsure of what I planned to do with Felipe and Jesse when I got them out of there. Or where I would kill them.

“You meet us here tomorrow at 10:00 p.m. and we’ll follow you there.” I gritted my teeth. “If you fuck up or double cross me, I will end you.”

With his hands pressed together, he bowed. “You have my word.”

As he turned to leave, I folded my arms over my chest, waiting for him to make the slightest mistake so I could have one of them take him down. He never once fucked up. William handed him his weapon when he stepped out onto the porch. He closed the door and strode into the living room.

“Well, do you trust him?”

“No, of course I don’t.” I took a cigarette from my inside jacket pocket and lit it. “I will, however, let him lead us to Felipe and Jesse, and I will make sure I’m ready for anything.”

“Isabelle.” Laura’s hand rested on my arm as I stared at the news on the television in the breakfast nook.

“What?”

“Pay attention.”

I pushed back from the table. “I can’t do this right now. Seeing my photo up there, followed by bloodied faces? I mean, what are these people thinking? Why are they fighting? It’s like The Purge.”

Jean Pierre sped over, taking my dishes from the placemat.

“Thank you,” I mumbled.

“Of course, miss.” He hurried away to the butler’s pantry.

Groaning, I closed my eyes. I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Like I said, I can’t do this. I feel trapped here. I want and need to get away.”

“Let’s go for a walk in theapprovedgarden.” Standing, she snickered.

“Let me go get Giacomo.”

“No need.” Alessandro entered the room. “I got it.”

“I didn’t even know you were here.”

“I got here about an hour ago, but I’ve been taking care of a few things for Valentino in the office.” He flickered his gaze between Laura and me. “I’m taking a few days off to stay here and keep an extra eye on you.”

“Won’t your casino suffer?”

“It’ll be alright.” He smirked. “I have a solid management team.”

“What are you here taking care of? For Valentino, I mean.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He winked. “The less you know, tesoro, the better.”

Knowing better than to question the constantly flirty brother, I rolled my eyes. Spinning around on my heels, I followed Laura outside. She had her arms folded over her iPad, tucked tightly against her chest. It was where she filed everything for my wedding.

“I’ll just hang back, so you ladies have some space.”

At that moment, Giacomo appeared on the back terrace. “I’m sorry, but you’re not qualified to watch the girls. I’ve got this.”

“Qualified? That’s my sister and future sister-in-law.” He flashed Giacomo the pistol tucked away in the shoulder holster at his side. “You know better than to speak to me that way. I’m more qualified than—”

“Actually, your brother gave me every bit of his permission to speak how I wanted, because he knew you’d test my fucking patience.” He took a step closer to Alessandro. “I know you’re a big shot in Atlantic City, but here, you’re just my boss’s baby brother, which means unless I tell you to do something to protect her,” he pointed at me, “you stay the fuck back and let me do my fucking job.”

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