Page 39 of Where the Wind Whispers

“You really haven’t,” Caesar said, glancing down at Violet when she didn’t reply.

He was a handsome man, Violet thought, and she figured it was something he probably used to his benefit more than he should. She had no interest in him, though, so she was confused why he suddenly seemed interested in her.

Or why her father had called his family in from Philadelphia.

“Enlighten me,” Violet said dryly.

“You could sound interested.”

“You could be interesting.”

Violet didn’t know why Caesar was there, and she wasn’t about to lead him into believing she cared.

“Be nice,” Caesar drawled, “like I know you can be.”

“You’re wearing on my patience, Caesar.”

But he had given her some entertainment for the evening.

More than this fucking party.

“Seems you and I have something in common, Violet Gallucci,” he told her quietly as people passed, watching them and whispering at the same time.

“Oh?”

“Yes. You see, we both have fathers that we’ve royally pissed off, sadly. Seems my taste for unavailable women is neither appropriate nor respectful as the son of a Don. And being the son of a boss is just about the only reason my half-brother didn't put a bullet between my eyes when he found me in bed with his wife.”

Violet seized stiff, silenced.

Caesar didn’t mind, simply continued on with, “And now, I have to … do the right thing. Make my father happy enough to get him off my ass.”

“You slept with your brother’s wife?”

He shrugged, unbothered. “Half-brother. And I’m a bastard.”

Clearly.

Carmine probably thought he was a special case where Caesar’s asshole nature was concerned, but obviously, he wasn’t. Not at all.

“What does that have anything to do with you being here?” Violet asked after the shock had worn off a bit.

“Something else we have in common,” Caesar replied calmly, “is that you too need to do the right thing where your father is concerned. And so, here I am.”

Violet’s throat tightened.

No …

He couldn’t mean what she thought he meant.

Surely not.

Caesar dropped Violet’s arm as a server passed, taking a step away to grab a glass of wine on the moving tray before it was out of reach. “Due time, Violet. It’ll all happen in due time. Tonight, though, is for your brother. Shame that wife of his is pregnant—that doesn’t hold my interest at all.”

Wonderful.

Despite the predilection to the contrary, money didn’t always buy safety.

No one was safe, no matter how much protection came with the position that called for it. And when it came to the men in the Bratva, someone somewhere was always trying to put a bullet in their heads.