Page 28 of Blood Vows

Luca opened the refrigerator like Dante hadn’t just threatened him. “Go ahead. Hit me.”

Dante glared at him as Luca grabbed a bottle of water. “Then Isabella will kill you.”

Dante snorted. “She’d try.”

“She’d succeed,” Luca said. That was probably true. Luca twisted off the cap. “Take Elena upstairs.”

Dante’s expression hardened. “Where?”

“Guest room,” Luca said.

“No.” Luca froze and then slowly looked at him. Dante swore under his breath.

“No?” Luca asked.

“She shouldn’t be alone,” Dante said, trying to cover his tracks.

“Then sit outside the door,” Luca said.

“I’ll stay in the room,” Dante said. Luca stared at him for a second, and then laughed—actually laughed, and for a second, Dante hated him.

“This isn’t funny,” Dante said.

“It’s fucking hilarious,” Luca countered.

“I’m protecting her,” Dante insisted.

“Sure.” Dante shoved away from the island.

“You know what? Fuck you,” Dante spat.

“Love you too,” Luca said. Dante flipped him off and headed back toward the study. Luca’s voice followed. “Try not to marry her before breakfast.”

Dante stopped, turned, and found Luca grinning back at him. Dante pointed at him. “One more word.”

Luca held up both hands. “I said nothing.” Dante muttered several things under his breath and left.

When he walked back into the study, Elena looked up, and her eyes narrowed immediately. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Dante lied.

“You look angry,” Elena challenged.

“I’m always angry,” Dante admitted.

Marco slid a legal pad toward him. “She started the list.” Dante glanced down at the names on the paper. There were twenty-three so far, mostly family friends, employees, accountants, attorneys, drivers, and housekeepers. One name caught his attention.

Vincenzo Hale

Dante tapped the page. “Who’s this?” Elena went still. It was just a tiny reaction, but he caught it. Dante looked at her. “Elena.”

“He worked with my father,” she said.

“Doing what?” Dante asked.

“I don’t know.”

Dante’s patience thinned. “ Want to try that again?”