Dante and I exchange a look. If Rocco swore a blood oath to Blackwood, that changed everything. Blood oaths were unbreakable, and I couldn’t fucking believe Rocco was such a fool.
“Why bring in Blackwood? Your boss is smart. He had to know that would tip the power balance.”
Bruno clamped his lips together.
I plunged a knife into his thigh. Twisted.
“Why?”
“Because he thought Giovanni was losing control,” Bruno screamed. “His niece betrayed him, Emilia and Severin refused to back him, and then that day at council, he…” His gaze landed on Dante. “Hemade Marcello look like a fool.” Bruno exhaled, the sound rasping up his throat.
“They’d been planning this for decades, and everything was falling apart. The boss didn’t know about the poison,and Marcello…” His eyes shifted away. “Or any of the other plots Giovanni was working on. All Rocco knew was that they were floundering. He thought bringing Blackwood in would give them more leverage.”
“And Ember?” I asked, my voice dropping. “Whose idea was it to kidnap her and torture her? What, exactly, did you hope to gain by taking her?”
Bruno went still, eyes ping-ponging between us as he scrambled for an answer that wouldn’t end up causing him pain.
“Giovanni. Losing the Basin sent him into a rage, and Rocco already had spies planted in the Dominico household,” he choked. “Two of them grabbed her, brought her here, but she never talked. Which is why Giovanni left to…”
“Left to what?” Dante asked quietly, the sound of his voice making Bruno thrash all over again.
“Get the brother. After I softened her up, I was supposed to go to work on the brother.” His gaze drifted to the door, a flash of hope animating his dead eyes. “Should be back any moment.”
Well, that could be a problem or a gift, depending on how you looked at it, but if anything happened to Luca, Emberline would never forgive herself.
I turned slowly to Dante.
Bruno’s words came faster now, tripping over each other. “Giovanni knew the brother was her weak spot. He was going to make her watch…”
“Yeah, that’s not happening. Tell us about these plots of Giovanni’s. The ones Rocco didn’t know about.”
“I’ve said too much already,” he huffed. “I told you everything.”
“Not everything. What other plots, Bruno? You’re theone who opened the door. Don’t be shy, tell us what you know.”
“That’s all you’re getting from me.” The stubborn bastard decided now was a good time to keep his secrets. The next minute, my knife was buried deep in Bruno’s side, blood flooding over my hand like a fountain.
“One more question,” I yanked the knife free. “Why in the fuck do you know so much? You’re a bodyguard, for fuck’s sake. A nobody.”
“Not a nobody.” He tried to shake his head, but it was kind of hard to do with that hook sticking out of both sides of his neck. “I’m not just Rocco’s soldier. I’m his son.”
For a second, I wondered if I’d heard him right. Even Dante blinked.
Bruno started laughing then. “Didn’t see that coming, did you?” He pinned Dante with a stare full of jealous rage. “Imagine my surprise when, after dedicating my entire life to my father, he offeredyouthe crown to the Demente empire that night, in front of everyone. All you had to do was marry my sister. He still didn’t think I was good enough, even though I proved myself every day.”
“So… let me get this straight,” I held up my hand, “You’ve been working with Giovanni for months now, because you… have daddy issues?”
“Fuck you. I started working for Giovanni because he’s a fuckinganimal,”he sneered at Dante, hate gleaming in his eyes. “I used every one of my father’s contacts, every single spy and plant to bring you down. You’re not fit to dine with polite society, much less sit in one of the golden chairs at council.”
Other than his pupils dilating, Dante didn’t react, but this fucker…
“This male has more honor than your entire bloodlinecombined. I’d trust him with my life, and I have. I’m proud to call him a friend, while you…” I dragged my gaze over him. “Rocco was right. You’renotgood enough. I think we’re done here,” I said, rage burning through me so fast it blacked out my vision. “Finish up, will you? I’ve got somewhere to be.”
The second I was through the door, heat and flame exploded behind me.
The first thingI did when I reached the island was check on Emberline, tucked in bed and fast asleep.
“She fed from me,” Gabriel said, and while his voice was calm as the lagoon, there was a fresh bite mark on his wrist, and his eyes were brighter than I’d seen them in a long time. “The healers took care of her back.” His jaw clenched, eyes drifting back to the tiny female tucked carefully between white sheets. “And while I don’t want to leave her, we have to deal with Rocco.”
