Page 102 of My Solemn Vow

Royal won’t be happy. It takes forever to make the customized pieces in his printers. But body disposal isn’t cheap, especially when they’re shot to pieces.

“You know that only covers one man.” He negotiates right back.

This is the part of business I like.

“Well, we want our dead back to bury. That’s a delivery charge at best. So that only leaves two and an SUV to clean up.” I sigh like it’s such a big deal to compromise. “What do you want if the M-9s aren’t enough?”

“You get me two of those fully armored SUVs that you got off the Callahans and my kid into that fancy private school that Kerrianne goes to? The one in River North?” He groans. “The wife is all sorts of pissed about a current administrator at our school and the bodyguard situation.”

Good.My wolf sighs with some good news.Not everyone knows our pup moved to someplace safer.

“Two SUVs fully loaded, and I’ll get you in touch with the administrator at River North who was willing to talk aboutnontraditional tuition options. You’re on your own to buy your way in, but I’ll act as a reference.” I won’t budge. I’m not spending money on a school I don’t use.

“Fair enough.” He agrees. “Text me with a new meet, and I’ll get your men back to you by dawn.”

One thing’s for certain: There was no way Antonella could have known about this meeting, and it got sabotaged anyway. This couldn’t have been something she had a hand in.

45

ANTONELLA

THE FULL TURKEY DINNER

Valor comes home in a different vehicle than he left in, and I only noticed because I was anxiously pacing the first floor of the house and saw him, from a window, get out of the vehicle some ways down the driveway.

“I’m fine,” he whispers, coming inside, and I pick up a distinctive burnt metal smell. “Delivery went poorly. I’ll go shower and dress, then we can go. I don’t want Kerrianne to see and smell me. I have work to do tonight.”

There’s someone in the basement. I read between the lines.

“I’d hug you or kiss you hello, but you look too pretty to grime up.” Valor walks past me, making a show of keeping his hands to himself, holding them upward and away from me.

“Well, for the neglect, you’ll owe me double later.” I try to flirt.

Valor nods, and a dangerous glint in his eyes is quickly replaced with the yellow of his wolf. “That’s one, princess. How many more can you earn yourself tonight?”

My mouth drops open in shock, and I turn away from him.

I barely hear his footsteps as he prowls away from me and up the stairs. Kerrianne never even looks up from the bonusworkbook of word searches and pattern drawings I brought out for her to work on to pass the time.

Ten minutes later, Valor is coming down the stairs, and I immediately feel underdressed. Slacks and a dark green shirt seem much more formal than the flowy dress I pulled out of my closet and paired with black stockings.

“You look fine. Don’t.” Valor loops his fingers in mine as he approaches.

“Do you read minds?” I whisper, leaning in toward him.

That gets a full belly laugh, and he shakes his head. “No, your face said it all for you. If you lose focus from that perfect Mafia wife facade, it’s like your face doesn’t know what to do, so it broadcasts every single one of your thoughts.”

“Oh.” I try to school my emotions, keeping my face neutral, but my cheeks flush anyway.

He lets it go without another word, and with a little pressure, he pulls me with him toward the kitchen. “Ready to go, little raptor?”

“Let’s goooo!” Kerrianne charges past us to the garage.

We make the twenty-five-minute drive to his parents’ place, and the gatehouse opens for us without even checking the inside of the vehicle. We drive up to the house before I have a chance to process my surroundings. I’m not even sure what to expect, but as we pass through a row of fir trees, the home comes into view.

It’s a traditional style home complete with vinyl siding and a Welcome to the Den painted wood sign on the stoop leaning up against the house.

Valor carries the rolls, and I fuss with the skirt of my dress on the way up the walk.