“Youstay here.” I stabbed a finger at his chest, and when he opened his mouth to protest, I pressed harder. “I mean it, Vincenzo. That man catches wind of you within fifty yards, and you’re back in the big house.”
There was no way in hell I was ruining our dad’s Christmas by being part of my brother’s capture, when he’d only just come home.
My brother grumbled but relaxed in his seat. “Make him pay.”
“Always do.” I pushed the door open and stepped into the swirling vortex of white.
People called this freezing crap magical. They didn’t hear the haunted melody of the north wind’s howl. That keen cry of despair that promised death to any soul unfortunate enough to be left out on the streets. They didn’t know what it was like to shiver while the cold stabbed straight to the bone.
I cut across the street, slipping into the alley before pulling the balaclava over my face. While every single manicured backyard was fenced, there was no telling who had camera security systems and what those video feeds could capture. It was better to conceal my features if things turned ugly tonight.
Not that I had any intentions of that.
While Vincenzo had a wicked lust raging in his blood to make Loring pay, I understood that a cooler head would prevail. The boss wanted the attorney blackmailed and on our side. My father’s orders—as one of Don Morelli’s capos—were to make that happen. It was my job to keep my brother in check while fulfilling the orders, even though Vincenzo had two years on me.
The slimy attorney wasn’t slipping out of town without knowing that the Morelli Famiglia was coming for him. Tonight, Loring was going to start playing our way.
We might be a smaller criminal organization compared to the other sharks patrolling the East Coast, but it allowed us to operate under the radar. Which was exactly how I liked it.
Vaulting over the fence, I marched through Loring’s backyard. The lights in the second-story rooms were out, but the kitchen had a cheery glow. Most people kept a light on at night, so I didn’t think much of it, other than to proceed with caution. The snow was falling fast enough that it would cover my footprints by the time Ileft. There would be no trace of me by midnight. Pulling a high-end piece of technology from my pocket, I killed the alarm system. Except, it blinked green right away.
Had they not set it?
I frowned, pocketed the device, and proceeded to pick the lock. The door swung open.
A yelp, followed by the sharp crash of glass, greeted me.
My gaze fell on the curvy blonde in the center of the kitchen. She was breathtaking, like no other woman I’d ever seen. Usually, women were of little interest to me. They came and went after serving their purpose. Something about this one held my focus. I couldn’t tear my eyes off this goddess if I tried.
Her blue eyes were round, fixing on me with a healthy dose of fear. Creamy gold hair fell over her shoulders in liquid waves. That body was toned in all the right places and full where it mattered. The curves begged to be grabbed. Just one look had my dick twitching to life.
But it was the faint, silver scar on her forehead that had recognition snapping into place.
It’s her.
She was here.
My fucking pulse skipped with a painful thud.
The woman came to her senses a moment later and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Porca vacca!I slammed the door, crossed the distance, and captured her in a swift, unforgiving hold.
“None of that,” I snarled, yanking her body to mine.
Warmth spread through me at the contact, but I brushed it off.
Nostrils flared, she breathed hard against my gloved hand.
“Can’t have anyone hear you,” I murmured. “No one’s supposed to know I’m here.”
She gave me a pointed look, narrowing her eyes.
I read the unspoken jab. “Yeah, you weren’t supposed to see me, either.”
The woman responded with a huff and an…eyeroll. She garbled something against the leather covering my palm. Huh, same brave girl, reacting to this situation with spunk, when her point of view said she could be in danger. She wasn’t. Not fromme. But she didn’t know that. I took a step back, gaze snapping from her to the hall beyond the kitchen.
Something crunched under my boot.
