Page 27 of Tortured Hearts (Marchesi Empire #2)

“Found that out the hard way,” I mutter into the bottle.

“Johnny, I?—”

“Gianni.”

“Right.” He drags his fingers across the blond stubble on his jaw.

“That may take some getting used to. Regardless, I hope you know I would’ve never walked you into a war zone if I’d known…

” When his hand drops from his face and goes for his pocket, so does mine.

However, as I go to draw my Glock, I see the black leather square in his hand.

I watch carefully as he flips it open and removes the silver star-shaped U.S.

Marshal badge. He twirls it between his thumb and forefinger and chuckles dryly before tossing it by his feet. “Checks and balances, my ass.”

I swipe it off the floor seconds before his heel comes crashing down on top of it. At his cocked eyebrow, I place the badge back in his palm. “Do the feds know Henry was dirty?”

Owen shakes his head and closes his fingers around it. “If we don’t report a problem, they don’t go looking for one. I forwarded the link to him, too. That’s why he shot me,” he says, clenching his teeth. “He knew it was just a matter of time until he was exposed.”

“Erase you, erase the link,” I mutter. “That asshole really thought he was the only one who’d seen it.”

“Henry could never see beyond his own ego. It’s why he assisted missions instead of leading them.” He glances down at his hands. “And why even after pulling that trigger, ransacking my office, and texting himself from my phone, he forgot one important detail…”

“Always go for the kill shot?”

“No. That every government-issued vehicle has constant GPS.” He tips his chin up, that uncaged look from earlier darkening his face. “Even the undercover ones.”

Son of a bitch.

“You ran his data history.”

He jerks out a nod. “Bulletproof vest or not, getting hit at point-blank range rattles your insides. Once I could move, I pulled a twenty-four-hour coordinate log that placed his car at my house. That’s when I realized my partner had shot me, you were missing, and Dr. Brennan’s office had gone up in flames.

” He shrugs. “The rest wasn’t hard to figure out.

Turns out common sense is easy after three bullets hit your back. ”

“Hindsight is a motherfucker.”

“And a curse,” he adds dryly. “Once the feds close in, we either spill or go to jail.”

“So tell me, Owen, what will you do?”

His nostrils flare as if I’ve offended him. “I’m here, aren’t I? I made sure I dropped off their radar because I didn’t know if Henry had you and Dr. Brennan, or if he’d…” Leaving the words unspoken, he clears his throat. “I wanted to play it safe.”

“Good thinking.” Understatement. It was the most vital test, and he more than passed. Still, there’s one thing bothering me. “Did you find any evidence Henry was working with anyone? Any local contacts or anyone outside of work he may have met with?”

“No. Why?”

“What about an older Irishman named Dagger?” I ask, ignoring him. “Someone with a couple decades’ worth of ties Marcello would trust to run Providence?”

He snorts. “Twenty-four hours ago, I didn’t even know Providence was under siege by one criminal mastermind, much less two.” His gaze narrows. “What’s with all the questions?”

I don’t give him an answer, mainly because I don’t owe him one. Our alliance is too new to show all my cards. Whoever set the fire is the same man who murdered Carol Reese, and the reason Marcello named one of his shell corporations after that damn tattoo.

Once I find the link, I’ll find his name. Then, I’ll write it in red beneath my father’s.

Owen clears his throat. “There wasn’t time to ask this before, but that ‘anonymous’ link I received back in Providence… You know where it originated, don’t you?”

I’ll give him points for bluntness. It takes balls to throw out an accusation like that while still in such a precarious situation. I could lie and say no, but what good would it do? By this point, most everyone’s veil has lifted.

“Yes.” Seconds tick by where neither of us speaks. I wait, but he doesn’t ask any follow-up questions. He’s learning. It’s because of that I pull the phone from my pocket and hold it between us. “This is Henry’s phone.”

He stares at it like it’s a trap. “Okay.”

“Take it.” Once he does, I lean forward, my gaze steady.

“Listen carefully, Owen. I’m about to offer you something that could change your life forever.

Once I do, you’ll have ten seconds to either accept it or walk out.

If you’re with me, there’s no turning back.

Ciò che il sangue lega, solo la morte spezza.

What blood binds only death breaks. But if you’re not, then know as long as your mouth stays closed, so does your chest. Are we clear? ”

I half expect him to bolt out of the room.

Instead, he gives me one solemn nod, and his fate is sealed.

Fifteen minutes and a full explanation of my sanctioned murder plan later, he stares at me with that same stone-faced expression from earlier.

I hate that look. I can’t read it, which is good for business but concerning for me.

I’ve never met a man I couldn’t mind fuck.

Owen Henley will be one to keep my eye on.

Finally, he lets out a heavy breath and extends his hand. This time, I don’t hesitate at passing him the bottle. After the bomb I just dropped, he needs it. He takes a long drink, meeting my waiting stare as he hands it back. “What do you need from me?”

“I need you to be near my father’s estate tomorrow night. At midnight, Becca will exit a door on the south-facing side of the east wing. Find her and take her back to Providence.”

“This is a hell of an obligation riding on a shitload of obscurity.”

I spread my arms wide, the bottle swinging from my fingertips. “Welcome to the mafia, Owen Henley. Now you know where the phrase ‘do or die’ comes from.” Rising to my feet, I start toward the door.

“Gianni?”

I stiffen, my hand gripping the door handle.

“If something goes wrong…” I can hear him grinding his teeth behind me because I’m doing the same damn thing. “I want you to know I’ll protect her with my li fe … just like you would.”

Wrong.

No one will ever protect her like me.

No one will ever die for her like me.

Because no one will ever love her like me.