Page 51 of Brutal Vows

There’s still enough daylight left for me to see the long stretch of lawn leading down to the pool, the formal garden with its rosebushes and fountains, and the pool house off in the distance.

And the fast-moving line of men dressed in black combat gear making their way toward the main house, snaking in and out between the trunks of the trees, tactical rifles held at the ready.

I also see four men lying facedown on the lawn, scattered around like discarded dolls.

Gianni’s guards.

“We’ve got company,” I tell Mrs. Caruso.

She chuckles. “Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

I turn and glare at her. “Will you get under the bloody table, please?”

“I can get shot there as easily as I can right here. And you should be worrying about Lili, not me. She’s up in her bedroom, in case you were wondering. Turn left at the top of the staircase, last room at the end of the hall.”

Shaking my head, I pull the revolver from my ankle holster and set it on the table in front of her. Then I switch off the lights in the kitchen and leave Mrs. Caruso with her wine.

I head swiftly down the corridor outside, where I encounter Gianni coming out of his study with a shotgun in his hands.

“I counted six,” I tell him. “There may be more.”

“Where?”

“North side of the yard. Headed in fast. How many armed guards are on property?”

“A dozen.”

“You’re down to eight. You have a safe room in the house?”

He nods. “In the basement.”

“Lili’s in her room. Get her and take her to the basement. I’ll deal with our visitors.”

“I’ve already put everything into lockdown mode,” he protests. “The doors and windows are bulletproof and the walls are reinforced. There’s no way they can get in the house.”

“There’s always a way.”

As if proving my point, an explosion somewhere nearby ripsthrough the house, setting the chandeliers swinging and plaster tumbling down in chunks from the frescos on the walls.

“Any idea who your friends might be?” I ask Gianni, eyeing the marble statue of Apollo teetering dangerously atop a column nearby.

“Maybe they’reyourfriends,” he retorts. “We’ve all got targets on our backs.”

“Fair enough. Where’s Reyna?”

Glancing around, he mutters, “Probably off somewhere sharpening her claws and boiling the skulls of her enemies.”

If we weren’t in the current situation, I might actually laugh at that.

“Get Lili and get to the basement. Don’t open the door for anyone but me.”

Without waiting for his response, I head toward the explosion, moving swiftly and staying away from the windows. After turning down several corridors, I find the one with smoke drifting in the air and rubble scattered over the travertine.

I back up a few steps, crouch low against the wall, and listen.

It’s silent for several seconds. Then I hear the crunch of broken glass under a boot.

I lean around the corner and open fire.