Page 137 of The Don’s Omega

“I’m aware,” I say quietly.

He lifts his brows. “Did Elio tell you?”

“No, Dante did.” While Dante’s main job is to protect Elio, he also reports to me what Elio has been up to. I don’t keep tabs on Elio to control him. I do that to protect him. I doubt Elio would see it that way, but that’s only because he doesn’t understand this world.

He nods. “Of course. Dante would be sure to report back to you. I didn’t think Elio would have told you about our meeting. He was very insistent that you not find out. He swore me to secrecy.”

I frown. “Elio did that?”

“He did.” Salvatore grimaces. “He worries you don’t approve of me. That you wouldn’t want us to get close.”

“I never told him he couldn’t befriend you.” That’s technically true. Although I did make a point of telling Elio not to trust Salvatore and the other older alphas.

There’s a skeptical gleam in his eye. “Oh, come now, Marcello. I’m well aware you don’t want Elio to associate with us older alphas. Elio is aware too, which is why it would have surprised me if he’d volunteered that we had coffee together.”

I let a few moments pass. “I don’t think you came all this way just to tell me about having coffee with my husband.”

“No.” He shifts in the chair, tugs at the crease in his trousers. “That isn’t why I’m here. I’m here more to warn you, than anything.”

I narrow my eyes. “Warn me of what?”

He meets my gaze. “You won’t like what I’m about to say. But I think Elio meant well. He simply doesn’t understand our world.”

I sip my whiskey, trying to control the uneasiness shifting through me. Once I’ve swallowed, I say, “How about you tell me what it is you’re trying to say, Salvatore? I’m a busy man. I don’t have time to pull it out of you.”

“Of course.” His tanned cheek twitches. “Well, to be blunt, Elio told me the reason you took the ports from the Lucchese syndicate.” He lets that sink in, then adds, “He told me how Valentina tried to have him murdered.”

I stiffen and the room goes quiet. The clock on the mantel ticks and the fire shifts and settles. “He told you that.”

“He did.” Salvatore’s voice is careful.

“I see.” Chest tight, I go to the window and look out at the grounds. My reflection is faint in the glass, but not so faint I can’t see the anger glittering in my eyes. I made it very clear to Elio that no one could find out about what Valentina tried. Yet he told Salvatore about the attempted hit? Why the fuck would he do that? I specifically told him not to trust Salvatore.

“If it’s any consolation,” Salvatore says. “I don’t think he intended to tell me. It came out in the course of our conversation.”

“What sort of conversation could you have been having where that would come up?”

“At first we simply discussed things like his brother and people at the club. But I’m not a fool. I could see he was worried about something.” He shrugs. “All I had to do was ask. He was eager to tell me what has been on his mind.”

“Oh, really?” I grate. “He just spilled his guts to you because you asked?”

“Yes.” He sighs. “I think he was dying to tell someone. He’s frightened for you, Marcello, and frightened people say more than they mean to.”

I’m seething, but trying not to show it. I can’t believe Elio handed over an incredibly sensitive piece of intelligence to a man I don’t trust. A man I told him not to trust.

“I understand why you’re upset,” Salvatore says.

“I’m not upset,” I lie.

He sighs. “I would be in your position.”

I turn to face him. “What’s the real reason for your visit?”

“You’re so suspicious of me, Marcello. I came to you because I’m concerned for you.” He frowns. “If Elio is sharing this information with me, when he barely knows me, who else is he sharing it with? Today it’s an old man with no ambitions. Tomorrow it could be someone less harmless.”

“Elio wouldn’t try to hurt me,” I say. “He’s not from this world. He doesn’t understand how it all works.”

“I agree. I’m not suggesting he would do or say anything deliberately to cause problems for you. He’s not stupid and he’s not disloyal. But he’s young, and he’s scared for you.”