Page 94 of Venomous Vows

“Well, if your men flew the plane, then why didn’t you just reach out to Zane?”

“Well, after we killed the pil—we wanted Spencer to think we were dead. We cut all communication so that he’d receive confirmation of a possible crash.”

“But the men?—”

“Saw the plane take off. The pilot was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong amount of money.”

“Then why did you kill him?”

Adrian looked at Zane and then back at me again. “We don’t leave behind any loose strings,piccola diavola.Too risky.”

“And you’re sure Spencer thinks you’re dead?” Zane asks from behind me.

“Should. However, without a plane crash and a dead body, it’s all hearsay.”

“Then maybe I should start making funeral arrangements to make it look like there’s something he doesn’t know.”

Adrian smirks. “Make sure it’s something cheap to bury that little bastard in. It’s the least I can do.”

“You’re not going to be killing anybody,” I quip with a scowl. “You need to see a doctor?—”

“I’m fine,” he retorts with some exasperation. “We didn’t crash.”

“I feel as though you’re keeping the story light and fluffy for me, Adrian. And while I appreciate that, I’d still like a doctor here.”

“Better do what she says, Adrian,” Zane says supportively. “You will need to listen to her soon, after all.”

Adrian’s eyes fall to my lips. “Eventually. But if you want the doctor so bad, I’ll call him.”

“Zane will call him.”

“Fine.”

“Are you thirsty? Hungry? Did you want me to run you a shower or?—”

“I’m fine,piccola diavola,” he mutters, running his thumb gently over my upper thigh. “Stop worrying so much about me. You’ll give me a complex.”

Rolling my eyes, I wiggle out of his grip anyway and start for the fridge to make him something—anything because I’m not sure when the last time this man slept or ate anything was.

“On second thought,piccola diavola,” Adrian quips from the spot I left him, “a shower sounds great.”

Like a trained maid, I waste no time heading upstairs. “I’ll warm it up and while you’re showering, I’ll make you something to eat.”

I don’t hear him respond, just go upstairs to do what I’m told because I’m sure he has some mob talk to do with his brother.

He’s going to plan an all-out assault on The Disciples because they’re making too many attempts on all of us.

And I can’t say I’m empathic toward it.

Not at all.

Because if there’s one thing I know that I want to protect, it’s the ones they’ve already tried to destroy.

30

ADRIAN

“Two minutesbefore she’s back downstairs,” I urge the moment I know Elena’s at the top of the stairs. “Go.”