Page 3 of Shield

“If you want Aurelio out of the picture, why did you stop me from killing him?”

“Two reasons. No offense, but he’s my father, and I will be boss of the family when he’s gone, so it’s my responsibility. Not only that, but if there’s fallout from the men, I want it to me, not you.”

I nod. That’s fair. Aurelio has fucked with Vin in so many different ways over the years that what he did to Siena is just a drop in the bucket by comparison. And Vin will be boss one day. It makes sense for him to do it himself, own it, and then step into the big seat instead of standing by while I do it, when I’m slated to be the underboss.

“And the second reason?” I ask.

“Tommy.”

Right. Aurelio is keeping Tommy’s girl, Giovanna, hidden away somewhere, held hostage. Tommy wants her back, and if Aurelio is dead, that information dies with him and potentially triggers her murder.

I nod. “I should have told you about the risks associated with Siena. But I honestly didn’t know it was going to get so complicated.”

“I did. I knew it was going to get very fucking complicated the minute I saw your face when you caught sight of her on the steps outside of One Pearl Park Plaza.”

I don’t say anything, remembering the day we tracked Siena down at Aurelio’s building in the Battery, and I frisked her, looking for the flash drive. I’m annoyed that I was so transparent. But Vin’s one of my best friends, a brother to me, so I guess if anyone would see through any pretense, it would be him.

There’s a long pause as he runs both hands through his hair and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, as he lifts his gaze to meet mine.

“So we’re holding off on plans to handle Aurelio until Tommy finds Giovanna, is that it?” I ask, trying to swallow the rage that comes with that statement. When I’m not fantasizing about being balls deep inside of Siena, I’m dreaming about strangling Aurelio until he’s blue.

Vin gives me a short nod. “And what’s happening with Siena? Is she okay?”

“She will be. She’s home now.” I glance at my phone, making sure there are no notifications from Grit or from her.

“Home? Here or at her house?” When I don’t give anymore information, he nods and looks away for a second. When he meets my gaze again, he sets his jaw, determined. “We good?”

Taking in his sagging shoulders, his sallow skin, and slightly disheveled appearance, I cock an eyebrow at him. He looks worse than I feel and that’s saying something. “Areyougood?”

“I will be. But I need this shit with you and me fixed.”

Vin is usually an asshole, a guy who talks shit nonstop and with a grin on his face. But not today. Today, he’s sincere, serious, on the edge of losing his shit. I know he regrets what happened with Siena if only because it means something to me. Because we’re brothers.

“We’re good.” I stand and pull him to his feet, clapping him on the back.

As we head for the elevator, I open the surveillance app on my phone and check the cameras I have planted all over Siena’s little house. She’s there, safe but angry, stomping around her living room, picking things up and slamming them back down.

I smirk, remembering how I fixed up her place and replaced all her furniture after Franco broke in and tore everything apart. Let her be mad. As long as she’s safe.

The elevator arrives, and I switch the camera to the ones I have on the plane and playback the interaction between Siena and Valentina with the sound up. Grinding my teeth, I watch Siena’s expression change from curiosity to anger to embarrassment as Valentina runs her mouth.

Fuck. Siena looks self conscious, fixing her hair in the reflection of the window. How can she be so insecure when she’s so fucking beautiful?

Vin scoffs next to me in the elevator as we listen to Valentina say she’ll send me to come tuck in Olivia when she’s done fucking me, then gives a short laugh when Olivia calls her delusional. He shoots me a look when Valentina claps back that I sent for her, and I give him a little shake of my head. Putting Valentina on that plane with Siena was intentional, but not because I want anything to do with Valentina. I knew I could count on her to be the raging cunt that she is and send a message to Siena that we are over.

Watching Valentina make Siena feel insecure makes me want to grind Valentina under my heel more than I ever have. But I can’t help loving the fact that Siena seems to be very fucking irritated at the idea of me with someone else. Even though she thinks I’m a murderous monster.

Rubbing my hand over my face, I shake my head, trying to erase the memory of Siena and the last conversation we had. The sadness in her eyes. The way she pleaded with me to let her go. The memory slices right through my resolve to stay the fuck away from her.

But it was better than if she begged me to stay. I don’t knowif I would have been strong enough to do what I needed to do—whatsheneeds me to do to keep her safe by keeping her far away from me—if she had asked me not to let her go.

Vin gives me a side glance as the elevator doors open to the lobby. “Everything alright?”

I flip the camera view back to Siena’s house and watch her explore her injuries in the bathroom mirror, noting the bandage on her shoulder is still firmly in place.

“Just business,” I say, sliding my phone into my pocket.

“Business,” he murmurs, chuckling softly.

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