Page 109 of Sinner's Vows

“Benedict,” he answers. “Yep. I got your email. Yes. All killed around nine days after Randazzo’s death. Yep. Let me put you on speaker for Ariana to listen in.”

“I’m sorry, Ariana,” Benedict says as Dominic puts him on speaker. “There must be a link with Randazzo’s death, but for that, we’ll need time and more resources.”

Nine days after Randazzo got killed…just days after I went undercover. Oh my God?—

“What about Pietro Garlini?” I ask, suppressing a sob. There was no screenshot, and it gives me hope. I can’t stomach that, too. Not the only dad amongst a group of singles.

“Last man standing,” Benedict says. “Unscathed. For now.”

Dominic’s gaze meets mine, and he hitches a brow. “I’d ask some hard questions if I were you, sweetheart. My guess is he is your bad apple. I’ll bet you a million dollars he’s working for the ’Ndrangheta or Cosa Nostra’s highest players. And the buck doesn’t stop with him in the DIA. There’ll be players higher up.”

I don’t want to believe it. “But how? Why?”

“Money, sweetheart. Everybody has their price.”

Seconds tick past as I just sit there, unable to compute this new reality. I’ve never imagined this would be my life, that the work I’ve been doing for years can be null and voided within minutes by simple police corruption. And we were getting so close…

“You should lie low,” Benedict says. “If Pietro Garlini was in cahoots with Franco Fiore, entering Italy with that passport could flag you on their system.”

“Benedict’s right, but it’s too late now. We had no choice but to land and enter the country,” Dominic says. “We’re one step ahead, though, and can plan to ambush him.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, not keeping up with him and Benedict, still reeling with my new reality.

“Ariana, in this game, you kill them, or they kill you. Until Pietro Garlini has your body, and your status changes on their system, you’re a threat to him and his cronies. I bet he is desperately trying to hunt down Franco Fiore, to be reassured that their sick little plan worked out exactly as they envisioned it.” Dominic’s voice has gone deep, his eyes dark. “We’re the only ones who know Franco is dead. Do we still have Franco’s phone on hand, Ben?”

“Sure do. Want me to see what’s going on in there?”

“See if there are any messages to someone you can pinpoint as Pietro Garlini.”

“Sure thing. What else?” Benedict says as he stifles a yawn. “I need some shut eye.”

“What are the chances you can arrange formissing, presumed deadon Ariana’s file to be changed to justdeceasedon the DIA’s systems?”

Benedict chuckles, but it’s dry. “Everybody has their price, bro. How much money do you have?”

“I don’t care. Don’t do it yet, but I’ll spend what you need to get it done. Get a quote, and line up your resources.”

“Right.” For a second, Benedict hesitates. “What aren’t you telling me, Nicky? Did you get those DNA tests back?”

Dominic sighs as he shoots me a glance. “Yeah, about that…now isn’t a good time, but I’ll fill you in as soon as I can.”

“Killing people with suspense now, are you?” Benedict says with a chuckle. “Have you filled Matteo in?”

Dominic huffs into the phone. “No.”

“Uh-huh. I’ll read between the lines there…good thinking. Let the poor man fuck his wife for a little longer in oblivious bliss.”

“Language, little brother, language.” Dominic mouths a sorry in my direction. “You’re still on speaker.”

“Oh, fuck. Sorry, Ariana,” Benedict says, smirk in his voice. “Better get used to it. It’s a big party we’re throwing here, in true Scalera style. I’ll check with my contact and let you know.”

“Thanks,” Dominic says and kills the call.

“What does he mean with a big party?” I ask, my head spinning, trying to keep up.

Dominic shoots me a sly smile. “Just a bit of a bash to properly welcome you to the family, sweetheart.”

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