Page 103 of Before Broken Vows

"He was involved?" I ask.

Theo shakes his head. "No. Whoever put him up to it. That's been my biggest problem with my father's killer. Every time we think we're making progress, it leads to someone bigger. But I think we're finally getting to the head of the snake. Dimitri's been doing work on it."

"So, that means whoever killed your father also happened to know I had your son? I mean, I was so careful. Paid people whoneeded to be paid. Covered all my tracks. How did they find out?"

Theo shrugs.

"No, seriously. They have to be connected. Like your family. You know I don't know much about the whole mafia world, but in order for someone to know all that, they have to have some kind of connection to things."

He nods. "Well, one of the blocks I have with my father has been restricted accounts funneling money. But it seems we may have cracked that. And a person involved is in government, and they tend to be just as dangerous as mobsters, so you're right in your thinking."

I take in everything he's just told me. And something hits me. Delayed. The note.

I inhale sharply. "Wait. Wait—the message. 'The sons will follow the father.' Does that mean someone's trying to kill you?"

I look down at Xander.

"Or him?"

Theo grabs my chin gently and brings my face back to his.

"My brothers and I will figure it out. We'll get to them before they get to us. I promise."

I nod, but my heart pounds.

"We'll be safe in Kalamata," he says. "Safer than we were in Italy. Safer than Chicago. I won't let anything happen to either of you."

I rest my head on his shoulder.

But something is already lingering under my skin.

Because if they killed his father, and now they know about Xander.

They're not just coming for Theo.

They're coming for all of us.

29

THEO

We land, and I carry Xander to one of the waiting SUVs. Stassi is close beside me, holding my hand. Under different circumstances, I'd feel like the luckiest man in the world, but right now, I just want to get them back to my estate.

There are seven SUVs following us home. Maybe a little overboard, but I have to protect them.

When we pull up to the gate, Xander sticks his head against the glass. "Wow, big gate. Big house."

I laugh.

"You think it's big enough for a dinosaur to live in?" I ask.

He looks at it for a moment, his little gears turning in his head.

"Maybe. Not long neck. His head would hit roof."

Stassi and I laugh.

"I think you're right, buddy," I say, then lean over next to him to look out the window. "One day this will all be yours."