Page 113 of Where the Wind Whispers

Alberto handed the now sleeping baby over to her uncle. He hadn’t made many people aware of his entire plans—Carmine was one of those people who did not know. “I made a promise.”

Carmine barely passed the baby a glance. A new father himself, Alberto thought Carmine might have some affection for the newborn, but he didn’t seem to care.

That was fine.

He only had to do his job, after all.

“Take her to the airport. All the information is in this folder,” Alberto said, digging through his desk. He found what he needed, a small folder filled with documents of a new identity for Anastasya. “Katie is waiting; she will take her for the first leg of the trip.”

Carmine nodded, taking the documents Alberto handed over.

He was a monster, to be sure.

He was angry.

He hurt.

But he’d harmed a child once, nearly killed an innocent boy with a bomb he had ordered to be set. And if not for that bomb, if not for his choices all those many long years ago, this all could have been so different.

Alberto knew that too well.

And so while he would take his daughter’s child from her, as he had promised to do, and while he would kill her husband so that she could finally understand the full consequences of her actions, he would never end the life of an innocent child.

It might have seemed like that was his plan—he was sure Violet would go on after all that had happened thinking her baby was dead by her father’s hand.

But no …

After all, she only needed to think it was true.

The pain was the very same.

It was time to finish out his promises.

Alberto Gallucci always kept his word.

“Where’s my daughter?” Kaz demanded the second the call connected.

Alberto’s laughter felt like nails on a chalkboard. “How does it feel, hmm?”

“Do not fuck with me.”

“I’d like an answer to my question,” Alberto said, amusement dripping from his tone. He was enjoying this—whether the kidnapping or Kaz’s panic—the Italian was thrilled.

“What question?”

“How does it feel to lose? How does it feel, after coming this far, to still be one step behind? I would be tired if I were you, Russian.”

Kaz’s fingers tightened so hard around the device in his hand that he feared he would shatter it before they’d even finished the call. Every step he’d made … it had all been to avoid this.

The moment when his plan had to change …

The moment when he felt a slice of fear through his gut at how this could end …

Hadn’t this been what he meant to prevent—the very thing he’d hoped to avoid?

His concentration wasn’t meant to be lacking, especially with what he intended to do, and the only way he could ensure that there wouldn’t be a problem for him was if he knew that Violet and Anastasya were safe. Alfie had already sent Vera and Irina out of the country.

One last step.