Page 168 of Brutal Vows

“Gianni said the vote had been postponed.”

“They told him it had been, but it went on without him.”

“Why?”

“Because they’d already decided he was no longer welcome in the family.”

My voice rising along with my anger, I say, “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means they were provided indisputable proof that Gianni has been funneling money away from the family operations for years, in addition to many other acts of disloyalty.”

I say flatly, “Let me guess. You provided them the proof.”

“Not me.”

“Who, then?”

“An interested third party.”

I can tell that’s all I’ll get there, so I change gears. “I need to speak with my brother about all this.”

After a pause, Declan says quietly, “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

It sounds like a threat.

The air goes static. My heartbeat surges. Every muscle in my body tenses.

Beside me, Quinn has also tensed, looking back and forth between us with his hands white-knuckled around the arms of his chair. Every cell in his body is ready to spring into action, primed to the crackling stress in the room.

It hits me with a blast like a nuclear explosion.

If Declan tried to harm me, Quinn would kill him.

His boss, his friend, a person he once described as the best man he’s ever known. He’d kill him to protect me.

The emotion I feel is so raw and overpowering, I have to inhale several slow breaths before I can speak again.

“Why not?”

“Because Gianni’s dead.”

When I leap from my chair, Quinn moves at the same time, jumping up to stand in front of me protectively with a blistering snarl and a threatening scowl in Declan’s direction.

Declan regards us with his eyebrows raised and a look of incredulity on his face. “What the bloody hell is wrong with you two?”

Quinn growls, “This woman could be carrying my child. If you want to get to her, you’ve got to go through me first!”

Declan’s laugh is short and astonished. He looks at me as if he’s wondering what kind of spell I’ve put on his friend, then looks back at Quinn. He shakes his head and exhales.

“Sit down, you barmy bastards. I wasn’t threatening anyone. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I’ve got a mutiny on my hands. I knew today would be shite.”

He reclines back into his big leather captain’s chair with a sigh and waves a hand at us like we’re being ridiculous.

“Sit!”

Quinn looks to me for direction. I nod, and we both carefully take our seats.

Declan says crossly, “For fuck’s sake, lad, don’t be staring at me with such a black glower! Last I heard, I’m still in charge of you, so show some bloody respect!”