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Chief Kincaid nodded. “That’s what our initial investigation suggests. We believe an accelerant was used to burn the cottage as well as the vineyard. The cottage was ignited first, then the fire spread to what you see here. We won’t know for sure until the samples come back from the lab, but I would guess gasoline from the smell.”
“I don’t understand.” I met my brother’s shell-shocked expression. “Why would anyone do this?”
“We understand there are security cameras.” Chief Kincaid looked at Vito. “We would like to see that footage.”
Vito folded his arms, but his expression was open, cooperative. “Of course. The footage is stored off site. I have a call into the company already.”
He did?
“Good. Mike and Maggie, I’m assuming you’ll want to press criminal charges on whoever is responsible.”
“Hell yes, we do,” I said at the same time Mikey said, “Damn right.”
Chief Kincaid passed out his card to all of us, including Vito. “I figured. I’ll let Chief Olyphant know.” To Vito, he said, “He’s the police chief. We’ll be in touch to get that footage. With the motorcycle tracks we’ve seen around the property, I could hazard a guess as to who’s responsible, but I try not to guess. I’d rather have facts, especially if it’s who I think it is.”
“You think this is the Red Raiders?” Mikey asked. “They’ve never bothered us. Why would they?—”
He abruptly clamped his mouth shut.
“What were you going to say?” I asked, nudging him. “Finish that thought.”
“Nothing.” My brother shook his head. “We’ll learn more when the security footage comes in. Thanks, Chief Kincaid.”
“You’re welcome, son. You kids have had a rough go of it these past few years. I’ll have Marge bring something over to eat later,” he said, referring to his wife. “That way, you won’t have to worry about tonight.”
We thanked him and he walked away, returning to his group close to the cottage. My brother shifted toward Vito and lowered his voice. “I need a word.”
“Not now,” Vito snapped. “I want to look after your sister. This can wait.”
“No, it fucking can’t,” Mikey said. “I want to ask you about?—”
“You need to wait.” In one step, Vito moved closer, his lips flat and angry as he stared at Mikey. “I said we will talk, but I’m more concerned with your sister at the moment. Then I need to speak with my brother and sister, as well as my men. And the security company.”
Alarm bells went off in my head. There was something happening here. Mikey was acting strangely, like when he’d gambled the winery away. “What’s so urgent, Mikey? Is it about the fire?”
Massimo and Paloma drifted closer, both of them appearing concerned. Maz came and briefly wrapped me up in a hug. “How are you holding up, mia cognata?”
I was too distracted to comment on the sister-in-law reference. My brother didn’t answer my question, instead his gaze locked on the rows of burnt vines. In my bones, I knew what was going on. Mikey was keeping something from me, something important. Again.
And this secret also involved Vito.
I stepped out of Maz’s embrace and looked at both Vito and Mikey. “What are you two hiding from me?”
“I’m not the one hiding anything,” Mikey said quickly, his meaning perfectly clear.
So Vito was hiding something. And it might be related to the arson and the Red Raiders. Un-fucking-acceptable.
I turned toward the man I’d fallen for, the man whose fresh fingerprints were all over my flesh. His expression gave nothing away, though. He was cool, like a marble statue, strong and inscrutable, secrets buried deep, but I pushed. “You have something to tell me?”
“I will find out who did this, amore. And I will make them pay.”
Vito Speak. “That wasn’t what I asked.” Rubbing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath of smoky air—which triggered a coughing fit in my lungs.
“Let’s get everyone inside,” I heard Paloma say. “This air isn’t healthy.”
“Good idea,” Maz said as he patted my back, gently steering me toward the winery.
“I’ll be there in a moment,” Vito said, the only one not moving with our group toward the winery.