Page 134 of Bride By Initiation

I leap up from the table. "I'm going to New York."

"Now?" Zara questions.

"Yep." I go into the bedroom and toss on some clothes.

"Sean, you're acting irrationally."

"Why am I acting irrationally? I need to talk to my mom."

"Sean, I don't think your mom knew anything. It seems to be painful for her too, bringing up your dad all the time and making her relive his death. It couldn't have been an easy time for her, knowing her husband had been murdered and having two young children to care for on her own."

My heart beats faster, and my gut dives. "Yeah, I know it was horrible for her, but I still need to talk to her."

"But what if she knows nothing and then you talk to her about stuff you shouldn't? The Omni will know!"

"I'll figure out how to talk to her about it without revealing anything," I claim.

"That's not possible."

"It is," I declare. I kiss Zara on the forehead and brush past her.

"Sean, you can't just fly off."

"I can and I will," I state as I leave the apartment.

I text my driver on the elevator ride to the lobby. Within minutes, I'm out of the building, in the SUV, and heading toward the private airport. I text my flight crew to get ready, and when we stop on the tarmac, I quickly get on the plane.

It takes a couple of hours to get to New York. When I get there, I go directly to the Marino compound.

I still have gate access, so I get to the front entrance and walk inside. I run into Dante's father, Angelo.

His face lights up when he sees me, and he grins. "Sean, what are you doing here?"

He's in his nineties, and still mentally sharper than anyone I know. He's also very mobile, thanks to this strict exercise program and diet his daughter, Arianna, insists on.

I hug him, replying, "It's good to see you, Angelo."

He hugs me back and then cups my cheeks. "I don't get to see you very often. I remember when you were little, and now look at you. You're all grown. A true man."

"Thank you. Is my mom here?"

He releases me. "I think she's in the sitting room."

I nod. "Thanks. I'll find you later, okay?"

"Sure." He pats me on the arms.

I brush past him, heading down the hallway. I enter the sitting room.

Mom's at her desk, working on her computer. She looks up. "Sean, what are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you." I shut the door.

She rises. Her face turns pale. "What's wrong? Did something happen to Fiona?"

I hold my hands out. "No, Fiona's fine."

She releases an anxious breath. Even though we're adults, and Dante always assures her of our safety, she still worries about us.

---