Page 90 of The Mafia Assassin's Redemption-

This time, Seamus joins in. “We’ll visit Bianco. Look into him.”

“I will.” I try to rip free from my brother, but he won’t let me.

“No, and that’s a fucking order, Tor. An order,” Cal growls. “Think about the words. Garbled, trying to get us riled, chasing phantoms and triggers. Chances are this has to do with either her background or with us. You see what I’m saying?”

This time I pull free, and he lets me go.

Seamus looks at me, his face full of anger. Not at me, but over the fact we’re being messed with.

“This started with the hit, but it’s more than that, and I can’t work it out. The body and the drugs?—”

“Coulda just been there to get someone else and we walked into it,” Seamus mutters. “Stranger things have happened.”

“I’m going to Bianco?—”

“No.” Cal shakes his head. “We’ll do that. Because this dead fuck’s final words were either too neat or he threw out things to rile you. You have one job. Protect your wife. Keep her safe.”

He’s right. She is the number one thing. But the truth? I need that to protect her. And I’m going to find out. One way or another.

TWENTY

harry

We don’t stay longat the church. Father Luigi tells me to lay low with my husband for a while. Just to be on the safe side.

“You shouldn’t have run off,” Declan says, handing me Arnold’s leash once we leave. “See? He likes you. He has good taste, as does Clawzilla.”

From behind him comes a meow.

“I said you have good taste.” His smile doesn’t slip as he glances at me and adds, “Torin’s trying to keep you safe. We all are.”

“I’m not a prisoner.”

“But you’re lucky Francis had only gone to the bathroom and then notified Cal immediately that you left the house. Or else shit could have gotten real ugly.”

The gun to my head and the cold darkness aimed at the gunman from Torin play over me and I shiver, stomach turning. “I have a job,” I say.

“So do we… It’s to keep you safe.”

He says that with such utter innocence I almost smile.Almost because I know they’re all brutal. And I know Torin’s a killer.

Thank God… The words whisper in my blood as we arrive back at the brownstone. Declan slides the cat carrier off his back and hands it to me. He moves close behind me until a big, burly man opens the door, his suspicious gaze sweeping the street.

For once I don’t feel like a prisoner. I’m protected.

“Do you want to play Cards Against Humanity?” Dec asks as he takes the carrier the moment the door shuts and we’re in the foyer.

He releases Clawzilla, who stretches in such a way that would make an entire yoga class green with envy.

I unclip Arnold’s leash. He barks and then takes off with the cat. Seconds later, I hear a shriek of laughter from Lucie.

“No, I’m good,” I say, wanting to scrub my skin, wanting to curl into a ball, wanting to… beat something.

But Declan looks at his phone and only half nods.

So I make my way down to the bedroom suite.

I’m not sure what to do. Usually I’d be at the church, doing paperwork after flower duty… not that it’s duty at all. But I need something to do to keep myself busy. I begin tidying up the place even though it’s my things that are scattered… the bags of clothes I bought that I haven’t hung up because this is Torin’s space and I hate him.