Page 71 of Blood Vows

Dante ignored the threat that he heard in his boss’s voice. “Vincenzo Hale called Elena.”

“What?” Luca asked.

“He’s alive,” Dante said.

Luca swore. “What did he say?”

“He said that Elena opened the door her father spent twenty-seven years trying to keep closed,” Dante began.

“The Crimson Empire?” Luca asked.

“Yes.” Dante paced toward the window. “And he told her not to trust the Camorras.” Luca went quiet again, and Dante stopped. “He also said one of us killed her father.”

That landed like a punch. Dante could hear it in the silence. “Who did he say killed her father?” Luca asked.

“He didn’t say,” Dante said.

“That’s convenient,” Luca grumbled. “You believe him?”

Dante looked toward the stairs. “No.” The answer came immediately.

“But she does?” Luca asked.

“I don’t know,” Dante lied. He could see in her eyes that she believed Vincenzo.

“You don’t know?” Luca asked.

“She locked herself upstairs.” Luca made a low sound.

“What?” Dante asked.

“Nothing,” Luca mumbled.

“That wasn’t nothing.”

“It’s just interesting, is all,” Luca said.

Dante’s temper flared. “Choose your next words carefully.”

Luca ignored the warning. “You’re pissed because she doesn’t trust you.”

“I’m pissed because someone is manipulating her,” Dante shouted.

“Same difference,” Luca challenged.

“No, it isn’t,” Dante spat.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Dante gripped the phone tighter. “Do you know anything about Antonio Romano’s death?”

“Only what Isabella told me,” he said.

“That’s not what I asked,” Dante insisted. Luca went silent, and Dante’s instincts sharpened. “Luca.”

“I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re asking,” Luca said. Dante closed his eyes because he knew that Luca’s word wasn’t enough to convince Elena.

“Did anyone in the family kill him?” he asked.