Page 46 of Devil's Vows

“Yuri is there. If you need anything, just ask.”

Yuri almost triggered me into a panic attack last night, but I can’t tell him that. He doesn’t mention Milana. Clearly, I’m not going to be officially introduced to his sister or be able to count on her for help. “What about the gate? At night? The girls can’t sleep alone?”

“Sleep in my bed. Yuri will give you the code to the gate. I prefer it that way.”

In his bed?Madness.

But so delicious.Chiara giggles.

Totally,I agree.

I want to slap the voice in my head. “Will you be back tomorrow?”

“I’ll let you know. I’ve got to go. Phone your brothers.”

With that last instruction, he rings off. I lower the phone,heart beating wildly. How does this man make me feelseenwith a simple phone call?

“Does he do this often?” I ask Yuri. “Stay at work for the night?”

Yuri just gives me that cold stare as he takes his phone. “He is a businessman. He does what he needs to do to get the job done. After hours is after hours. None of my business.”

Right. That went down a path I didn’t expect from Grandpa here, but the idea of Ivan spending the night with another woman… It leaves mecold. I clearly need the distance. Especially after what happened last night and this morning. Especially since he is going to have awife.

“I have all your brothers’ numbers. Who do you want to call? Matteo? Dominic?”

“Dominic,” I say, not thinking twice. I’ve spent much more time with him than I did with any of my other brothers.

“Here.” Yuri hands me his phone. “It’s ringing.”

“Those are so good, girls,” I say, giving their activity a once-over. Irisha is concentrating very hard in doing black outlines on whatever person she’s roughly painting. Katya is busy painting her hand and using it as a stencil to print patterns in different colors. It looks quite artistic for a fumbling three-year-old, and she’s extra cute with the tip of her tongue sticking out as she paints the lines of her fingers.

“Thank you.” I walk a few steps away, to the veggies trellised by the one glass wall. “Dominic? It’s Gabriella,” I say in Italian when he answers.

“Thank God, Gabi, we’ve been worried,” he says, his voice strained. “How are you? Are you safe? What’s happened?”

“Everything is fine. The girls are wonderful. They are crawling into my heart at speed.”

“Good. And Petrov? How is he treating you?”

“He’s fine, very busy. He’s been working, so hasn’t been around a lot,” I say, knowing that even the slightest pause willmake Dominic assume things he shouldn’t. I don’t need my brothers rushing to my aid or messing with my plans. “He’s been the perfect gentleman in every sense of the word.”

“Okay. Good, very good.”

I can almost hear how he deflates over the phone. “It’s all going to be fine, Nicky.”

“Well, keep us posted. If you can call every day, even better.”

“I’ll try to message and call, but to be honest, the two girls keep me busy.” Kids are, after all, a full-time job, especially at this age.

“I understand.”

I clear my throat. I must ask, even if I’m not going to like the answer. I dread to learn what the outcome of Mother Lucia’s torture was.

If she gave away where I went, that I left Italy with my American brothers, it would be just a matter of time until that Russian comes looking for me here. If she didn’t say a word, then the hunt will go on in whichever form it takes, and similar deaths will make headlines.

I brace myself. “What news is there from Italy?” I ask, tentatively, testing the water. It’s not as if Dominic or any of the others know about my suspicions regarding Mother Lucia’s death.

“Everybody is doing well. Stephano and Gigi are fine, Don Trapani is in good shape, better every day, actually?—”