Page 23 of Blood Vows

“Yes, it is,” he agreed. That surprised her, and he could see it. Dante didn’t defend himself because there was no point. He was exactly what she thought he was—maybe worse.

The SUV turned onto Luca’s street. Dante immediately scanned the surroundings. There were no parked cars he didn’t recognize, no movement, and no obvious surveillance. His shoulders loosened only slightly as the gates opened and they drove through.

Elena looked out at the property. “I’ve never been here.”

Dante glanced at her. “I thought you knew where Luca lived.”

“I knew the neighborhood,” she said. The SUV stopped in the driveway, and Dante got out first. This time, Elena didn’t argue with him. He considered that progress. He opened her door, and she stepped out. The front door opened before they reached it, and Luca stood in the doorway with Isabella beside him.

Elena froze. For the first time all night, real emotion broke through completely. “Isabella.”

Her cousin moved straight toward her, and Dante stepped aside. Isabella wrapped Elena in a hug, and she winced. Dante saw it, and so did Isabella. “What happened to your arm?”

“It’s nothing,” Elena lied.

Dante cut in. “She was shot.”

Both women turned toward him, and Elena glared. “I was grazed.”

“You were hit by a bullet,” he reminded.

“Barely.” Isabella looked horrified, and Luca looked murderous. Dante could practically see the questions forming.

“I’ll answer all your questions inside,” Dante said. Luca nodded, and they moved into the house. Marco was waiting in the study with his laptop open and files spread across the desk. Dante followed Elena in and noticed that she stayed near Isabella. He didn’t like the distance, and that realization irritated him more than it should have.

Luca shut the door. “Start from the beginning,” he ordered. Dante did. He told his boss about the forged account and signature, the safe-deposit key, the note from Elena’s father, the attack at the safehouse, the shooter in Elena’s apartment, and ended with the newest body. By the time he finished, no one spoke.

Marco was the first. “Let me see the note.” Dante pulled it from his jacket, and Elena immediately stepped forward.

“That’s mine,” she said. Marco looked at her, and Dante handed it over anyway. She shot him a furious look, but he ignored it. Marco read the note twice, and then looked at Luca.

“This was written a while ago,” Marco said.

“Can you prove that?” Luca asked.

“The paper is older stock.” Marco turned it over. “The ink too.”

Elena frowned. “How old do you think it is?”

“It has to be years old,” he said. “At least.” Her face changed, and Dante saw it. Her father hadn’t written that recently. He’d known for a long time what was going to happen, before any of this started.

Marco looked at her. “What did your father do exactly?”

Elena’s spine stiffened. “He handled finances.”

“For who?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said.

Marco’s gaze sharpened. “You need to figure it out.”

Dante didn’t like his tone. He stepped in before he could think about it. “She’s told us what she knows.” Marco looked at him, along with Luca. Even Isabella looked at him as though he had lost his mind. Dante felt all their gazes. He’d just defended her in front of the entire room.

Marco’s brow lifted. “Interesting.” Dante gave him a look that promised violence, and Marco almost smiled.

Luca interrupted. “What about the key?” Dante pulled it from his pocket, and Elena’s eyes followed it. Luca held out his hand, and Dante hesitated just long enough for Luca to notice.

“Dante,” Luca warned. He handed it over, and Luca studied the number stamped into the metal. “I need you to look into this, Marco.”