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“And you think Ms. Wynters either has kept it for him or isn’t aware of its existence.” Edwardo finally seemed to understand, although by his expression, he remained skeptical.
“I do,” I answered. “Which makes it highly likely her life is in even more danger than I believed it to be.” I didn’t want to consider the possibility she’d been in touch with him, becoming a part of the problem. My jaw was as tight as my muscles.
“Then it’s entirely possible he was in Raleigh to be close to the Irish, pretending to give a damn about Sierra,” Cruz offered.
Nodding, I polished off my drink, my grip on the glass firm enough I could crack it easily.
“I don’t like this, Alessandro. If you believe that by marrying her you’re going to offer her any protection, then you’re a fool and I’ve never taken you as one. If this is for the reason I think it is, that you like her, then I fear you’ll take another hard fall. She’s expendable, or worse. She could be working alongside him. If Tristen was an undercover agent, the work he handled under the guise of the Montenegro Corporation allowed him the ability to gain some access to several of our enemies as well as learning their practices. Not only is that information valuable to you, but it would be to anyone else attempting to gain an advantage, especially if you were out of the picture. Whether dead or imprisoned won’t matter at that point.”
I took a deep breath as I thought about what he said. “Exactly my point, Edwardo, and one I don’t take lightly. If the Irish are dead set on gaining territory in the north, then they’ll face a war.”
“If your timeline is correct, brother, then as of this morning, Tristen will know his attempt at ending her life failed.” Cruz walked closer, staring me directly in the eyes.
“True enough. I’ve already added extra security. My men will be on the lookout.”
“I’ll dispatch mine as well, although it is undoubted that he’s changed his looks.”
I laughed. “Trust me. I’ll recognize the motherfucker from two hundred fucking yards away. And I assure you that he’ll want to get very close.”
“What are your plans?” Cruz asked.
“There’s one way to determine whether or not I’m right in my hypothesis. I plan on going to the one person who would know if my assumptions are correct.”
Cruz caught on quickly enough, shaking his head. “You have balls the size of melons.”
“What the fuck are you going to do, Alessandro?” Edwardo demanded.
“I plan on having a frank discussion with the prosecutor.”
Edwardo’s face paled. “You will end up back in prison if you do that.”
“My, my, how you underestimate me. I have some powerful information that will help him understand obeying my command is in his best interests.” Matteo had been useful during my incarceration, finding several fascinating details about the prosecutor’s private life, ones he wouldn’t appreciate being out in the open. Now was the best time to use them.
“You’re insane,” Edwardo said in passing. “I won’t be there to pick up the pieces.” He grabbed his briefcase and walked out, cursing under his breath.
“He can be such an asshole,” Cruz snarled.
“Yeah, I know.”
“Do you think there’s a chance Sierra is working with him?”
The answer was difficult, something I didn’t want to face. I moved toward the bar, refilling my drink. After taking a swig, I rubbed my jaw to ease the ache. “I don’t know, but I will find out.”
I noticed Matteo as he walked in, his expression unreadable. But there was something about his eyes that troubled me. “A problem?”
“A delivery for Ms. Wynters,” he said.
A cold chill drifted down my back. While the various houses I owned weren’t kept secret by any means, the fact something had been sent here for my beloved bride meant the game was heating up. “What is it?”
“Maybe you should come to the entrance foyer,” he suggested.
I glanced at Cruz before making my way toward the front door, unable to keep from laughing. “The fucker just called our bluff.”
Positioned in a cut-crystal vase were at least three dozen roses, all with sharp thorns.
And every one of them black from decay.
CHAPTER18
