Page 13 of Stolen Vows

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at his greeting.

“I’m not your boss,” I growl.

I don’t need to see him to know he shrugs as he speaks.

“Whatever you say, boss.What can I do for you?”

I fill my lungs through my nose, drawing out my response as though gathering my patience even though we both know I’d give my life to protect him.

He’s the son I never had.

Which is uncomfortable if I consider how similar his attitude is to Valentina’s sometimes.Quirky, lively, and resilient as hell, Noah is now a well-rounded, strapping young man.Now twenty-five, he’s only three years older than my ex-best-friend’s daughter, but he seems so much more trustworthy and capable.

Which brings me back to why I called.

“I need a log of any nightly activity in either of the Denaro rooms since they arrived in New York.Let me know if there’s anything suspicious,” I say.

“Am I looking for anything specific?”Noah asks.

I turn the corner and push through the door to the back parking lot.

“Did they visit each other again after saying goodnight?”I growl into the phone.

After a lengthy pause, Noah says, “Other than his nightly call to your brother and the occasional visit to the bar for cigars and whiskey, Pietro doesn’t trigger any of my alarms.”

The reminder of my brother’s betrayal implodes my mood.

He may not have played an active part in my demise, but he never sought justice for the wrong our don did to me.Instead, he took advantage of my misfortune and stepped into the vacant spot.My brother does not have what it takes to be a consigliere, but he’s a damn vicious soldier.

Pietro no doubt told him Valentina’s lies, turning my own blood against me.

“Check again,” I snarl.

“Whatever you say, boss,” Noah agrees.

I rein in my anger and push my fury deep into my chest so it no longer affects my voice.

“Still no luck in accessing their phones?”I ask as I press the fob for today’s vehicle.

The black sedan’s lights flash as the evening light glints on the sleek exterior.

“Pietro is one paranoid motherfucker,” Noah scoffs before murmuring, “He probably has them set to self-destruct or something just in case someone does get in.”

I roll my eyes as I drop into the driver’s seat.

“Just keep trying,” I demand.

He definitely takes a turn rolling his eyes as he responds.

“Of course, boss.”

I don’t need into Pietro’s phone to know what he plans, so I don’t push harder.With a curt command to keep an eye on the party, I say goodbye and hang up before pressing the ignition.

A small smile tugs at my lips as an idea forms in my mind.

I shift the car into reverse and head toward the nearest lingerie store.If Valentina uses those godawful nightgowns to manipulate her father, then it’s only right I change her bedtime apparel.

It’ll test my theory on whether or not she’s trying to seduce him, too.