Page 74 of Blood on Ice

“Yet you came to us to borrow more money.”

A low rumbling sound came from Vito, and he moved forward on his chair.

Lucien held up his hand. “I know you want to protect your man. But I need to understand exactly where we stand.”

“I did because I started receiving threats from Benito’s organization. I knew they had people watching me. I got notes in my locker at the arena and in my mailbox at my apartment.”

Vito scowled. “You didn’t tell me he knew where you lived.”

Lucien cleared his throat. “I’m handling this.”

Dom glared at Vito. “Back off.”

Vito leaned back in his chair and gestured for Lucien to continue.

“Thank you ever so much,” Lucien said. “You were convinced that if you could get the money to pay them off in full, they would back away, then you’d only have us to deal with?”

“That’s right, and I had no idea Vito was a Marchesi. That was?—”

“Fate,” Vito said.

Devil snorted. “I thought you didn’t believe in shit like that.”

“So did I,” Vito said. “But Zeke changed me.”

“Not enough,” Val said.

“Stop,” Lucien growled. “I saw that you proposed a payment plan.”

I nodded. “Yes, and I will follow through with it.”

“Did you give him the money, Vito?”

“Not yet. Once I realized Benito was involved and we would need to eliminate him, I wasn’t sure what the situation with his loan would be.”

“No use paying a dead man,” Angelo said.

Lucien gave a put-upon sigh. “So you’re holding off on making a payment until the situation is resolved?”

“That’s right, but I’ll clear my debts to them and to you. I don’t want to owe anyone.”

“You’re going to owe us a hell of a lot,” Lucien said. “But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

“It’s not.” Liam spoke for the first time since we’ve been introduced. “They are a lot of trouble, but it’s worth it.”

Val gave a look of mock offense, but Angelo and Devil just laughed.

“I suppose my husband would say the same,” Lucien said. “We do protect everyone in our family, and if Vito has claimed you, then you are included.”

That was far more than I’d expected from him. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate all that your family has done for me so far.”

“And we will appreciate any assistance you can give us in bringing Benito to justice.”

“Our kind of justice, right?” Devil asked.

“He married a cop, you know,” Angelo said.

My eyes went wide as I stared at him. “Seriously?”

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