Page 31 of Stolen Vows

I stiffen as I read the text sent by an unknown number.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.Wear my gift under your dress.C u soon.

My heart stalls before kicking into overdrive.I read the text again.

Mario Luciano thwarted my father’s extensive efforts and obtained my phone number.

I should feel threatened.He’s testing me.Commanding me.

Relief and excitement flow through my veins.

I’m not alone.

The devil is coming for me.

Chapter 10

Mario Luciano

I bury my knifeinto the man’s shoulder again and yank it free without an ounce of emotion.He screams and pleads, but I scoff and push him over with the sole of my dress shoe.He flops onto his side and writhes in pain, but his bindings prevent him from stanching his wound.As the puddle grows under him, I tsk and back away.

Noah grabs the second man by the hair and drags him a few feet away to escape the pool of crimson.When he releases thestronzo, he gives his hand a disgusted look and grabs a wipe from the instrument table.

Dressed in full suit and tie with our hair styled and shoes shined, my righthand man and I had no intention of getting our hands dirty today, but thesebastardospoked their heads up at the wrong time.

They played dirty when I missed the meeting a week and a half ago because a little duckling stole my attention.It’s their fault we’re visiting this dank basement in the middle of the slums instead of watching Pietro enjoying what is—unbeknownst to him—his last few hours of happiness.

My phone buzzes in my pocket again, but I ignore it and take measured steps toward the remainingpezzo di merda.

“I don’t ask for loyalty.Just honesty.You lied to me,” I growl.

He shakes his head and mumbles into his gag.I press the edge of my knife against his throat before pulling the gag out of his mouth.

“Who else tried to betray me?”I snarl.

“It wasn’t me!I told him not to, but—”

I jab my blade into his outer thigh and tilt my head in amusement as he writhes in pain.

“Who else?”I demand.

He shakes his head.I twist the knife.

“Your brother!”he screams.

I snarl and wiggle the blade.He chokes on his spit and rocks back and forth as much as his bindings will allow.

“Alessio promised us twice as much for winning the bid for him.I swear, I—”

I lift my blade before plunging it into his other thigh, but this time, I aim closer to the bone.Thefigabites his tongue and gags on his own blood.

“You believed him?”I scoff.

The man leans to the side and vomits.Noah and I curse and step back.

“He gave half up front,” the man stutters.

I shake my head and step further away.