Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
As I’m watching it, the phone chimes again. I look down at the text, hoping it somehow justifies what I’m seeing.
You should have made a better choice.
The words turn my stomach, and I have to grab the trash can under my desk and vomit. Dominic steps out a moment later, which feels terribly inconvenient. The last thing I want is for him to see me like this.
“What’s wrong?” he asks. “Is it the baby?”
I shake my head and push the phone in his direction. He picks it up and stares at the screen for a moment. When I look up, his face is so furious I’m afraid he might snap my phone in two.
“We’re going home,” he tells me. “Right now. Grab your things.”
I don’t even try to argue. I don’t think I could stay for the rest of the day if my life depended on it. As we’re speeding back to the penthouse, Dominic barks instructions to Rafe. He wants to increase the security perimeter around my dad. Security my dad doesn’t even know about for a threat he’s unaware of.
My hands are shaking, twirling my phone between my hands as I consider calling him to warn him and knowing it would do no good. He wants nothing to do with me.
For the first time since he gave me the ultimatum, I’m not sad about his decision.
I’m terrified it’s going to get him killed.
24
DOMINIC
“We have an opportunity here,” I tell Rafe and Tomasso. “Whoever sent this to Sofia is clearly watching Marco. This is how we smoke them out.”
“Is all this really necessary?” Tomasso sighs heavily. “We’ve sent plenty of messages like that in the past. It’s just a warning.”
“It’s not about what they could do to Marco,” I remind him tensely. “Whoever grabbed this footage slipped past our security undetected.”
“Assuming it wasn’t one of our security,” Rafe suggests.
“That’s possible.” I nod. “The point is, protecting Marco is only half the plan. The other half is to find the damn mole. Once we do, we can stop reacting and start cutting this problem out at the root.”
Tomasso leans back in his chair, looking bored. It irritates me more than it should, but almost everything he does irritates me lately.
“And how do you plan on doing that?” he asks.
“We leak a route,” I tell him. “Make it look like we’re moving Marco tonight to one of our secure properties outside the city. The intel goes through the same channels that had access to the garage security and Sofia’s apartment detail.”
Rafe nods slowly, already following. “Different versions to different people?”
“Exactly.”
“Smart,” he says. “If Calderone moves, we see which route he bites on.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Tomasso asks.
“He will,” I answer. “Enzo sent that video to Sofia because he wants a reaction. I’m going to give him one.”
Tomasso studies me, his expression finally losing some of its indifference.
“Does Sofia know about this plan?”
“No.”
Rafe sighs.
I look at him. “Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he answers, holding up his hands in surrender.
“Your sigh was loud enough,” I grumble. “I’m not giving her false hope until Marco is safe.”
Rafe watches me for a moment. “Then we better make sure he stays safe.”
We spend the next hour building the trap. Rafe handles the route variations, working only with the men he trusts most. Tomasso hovers over his shoulder, tossing out suggestions to feel useful.
He points out gaps. He marks the version most likely to tempt Calderone. He recommends sending the false movement through a warehouse district where traffic thins and cameras are easier to cut.
My phone buzzes halfway through the planning with a text from Sofia.
Will you be home soon?
I stare at the message for too long. Rafe glances at the screen, then back at me. He has the good sense not to say anything this time.
I hate lying to her. Lying and hiding things has not worked well for us in the past. We’re just starting to find a good groove. I’m just starting to think that maybe she’d be willing to build some kind of life with me.
All of that would be ruined if she knew what I was doing, and shattered if she found out I’d kept it from her.
I type back carefully.
I’m just working on some non-Vieri Holdings things.
It isn’t a lie. Not the whole truth, sure, but I don’t feel terrible about sending it. Her response comes almost immediately.
Does it have anything to do with my father?
Damn it. How could she possibly know? This woman has a sixth sense, I swear.
I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.
I set the phone face-down on my desk, knowing the answer will drive her nuts, but it’s all I can give her right now.
I call the head of my security to collect Marco. This part will be tricky, since Marco has no idea we’ve been watching him. Essentially, this is a kidnapping, but it’s for his own good. I just hope he’ll forgive us for it.